The Good Dinosaur
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to The Good Dinosaur
The Good Dinosaur is a 2015 American animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The story reimagines a world where dinosaurs never became extinct, focusing on a young Apatosaurus named Arlo who, after a traumatic event, gets separated from his family. Arlo forms an unlikely friendship with a human cave-boy named Spot as they embark on a perilous journey through a vast and dangerous prehistoric landscape to find his way home. The film is targeted at a family audience, particularly older children and pre-teens, and explores themes of overcoming fear, loyalty, and finding one's place in the world. It features stunningly realistic animation of natural environments contrasted with stylized characters, but contains several intense and emotionally challenging scenes that may be frightening for very young viewers.
Things to Consider
Violence
The film contains moderate to heavy depictions of violence, including physical altercations, predatory attacks, and the impactful death of a main character's parent. Characters sustain visible injuries, and the struggle for survival in a harsh environment is a central element, making some scenes intense for young audiences.
Arlo's father, Henry, is swept away and presumably dies in a violent river storm while trying to protect Arlo. Arlo and Spot are repeatedly attacked by predatory creatures such as pterodactyls and a snake, often resulting in chases and fights for survival. Arlo frequently falls and crashes, sometimes sustaining painful-looking bruises and mild red cuts on his legs.
Scary & Intense Content
The movie contains numerous frightening and emotionally intense scenes, including a parent's death, perilous natural disasters, separation from family, and encounters with menacing predators. These elements can be quite upsetting and scary for young children, leading to reports of distress from parents.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Not recommended for children under 7, with parental guidance suggested for ages 7-9. The film's depiction of a parent's death, intense survival situations, predatory creatures, and moments of genuine peril can be distressing for younger viewers. While it offers positive messages, the emotional weight and scary elements necessitate a slightly older audience.
Good to Know
The film's animation is widely praised for its photorealistic landscapes, particularly the natural environments and water effects. While the core story focuses on Arlo's journey of courage and friendship, the visual intensity of some scenes, combined with emotional themes of loss and separation, is a recurring point of concern for parents of very young children. There are no significant differences across theatrical, extended, or director's cuts reported, as it is a standalone feature film.
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