The Good Dinosaur – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Good Dinosaur

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2015

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Pixar's visually stunning but emotionally brutal dino-buddy road trip that'll make you cry in the first 15 minutes.

6.7/10

76%

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The Good Dinosaur

movie

PG, 2015

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Pixar's visually stunning but emotionally brutal dino-buddy road trip that'll make you cry in the first 15 minutes.

6.7

76%

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6.7/10

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Screenwise Verdict

The Good Dinosaur is Pixar's beautiful but brutal underdog — literally and figuratively. The landscapes are jaw-dropping, the Arlo-Spot friendship is genuinely sweet, and the themes of courage and grief are real. But this is heavy for a kids' movie. Dad dies in a traumatic storm sequence 15 minutes in, and Arlo spends the rest of the runtime in near-constant peril.

Parents expecting typical Pixar warmth should know: this is more emotionally exhausting than enriching. It's not a bad movie, but it's not a great one either — middling reviews (6.7 IMDb, 76% RT) reflect a film that's technically impressive but narratively forgettable. Kids 7+ who can handle intense emotions will be fine, but younger or sensitive viewers should skip it.

The verdict? It's fine. Not peak Pixar, not a disaster. Just... fine. And in the Pixar canon, 'fine' feels like a letdown.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-12. The emotional intensity (father's death, sustained peril) is too much for most kids under 7, and teens/adults will find it narratively thin. It's solid middle-grade Pixar, not all-ages magic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Pixar's heart-on-sleeve story about overcoming fear and finding courage models perseverance and loyalty. The Arlo-Spot friendship is genuinely sweet. However, parent reviews consistently note this is emotionally *intense* — themes of grief and loss (Arlo's father dies early on), separation anxiety, and relentless peril make it heavier than typical kids' fare. It's wholesome in message but emotionally taxing in execution, especially for younger viewers.

Imaginative

The 'what if dinosaurs never went extinct' premise is clever, and the photorealistic landscapes are genuinely stunning — some of Pixar's most beautiful rendering. But the story itself is pretty straightforward: a boy-and-his-dog tale with roles reversed. It doesn't spark the kind of world-building curiosity or creative play that Inside Out or Coco do. Visually imaginative, narratively safe.

Safe

Rated PG for peril, action, and thematic elements. Multiple parent sources flag intense scenes: father's death by drowning in a storm (happens early, emotionally brutal), scary predators attacking, Arlo in constant danger, and a generally dark tone throughout. No gore, nudity, or language issues, but the emotional content and sustained peril are genuinely rough for sensitive or younger kids. One Reddit parent noted it 'should be aimed at 7+ year olds' due to relentless heavy drama. This isn't a surprise-scary movie, but it's heavier than parents expect from Pixar.

Enriching

Tackles real themes — grief, facing fears, finding your place — but doesn't land with the emotional sophistication of Pixar's best. The lessons are there (courage, loyalty, family), but the execution is more blunt than nuanced. Kids will get something out of it, but it's not going to spark deep conversations the way Up or Inside Out do. Entertaining enough, but forgettable.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely gorgeous animation — some of Pixar's most photorealistic landscapes ever
Tackles real emotions: grief, fear, finding courage when you feel small
The Arlo-Spot friendship is sweet and wordless, like a reverse boy-and-his-dog story
Models perseverance and loyalty in the face of overwhelming odds

⚠

What to Watch For

Father's death by drowning happens early and hits hard — be ready for big feelings
Sustained peril throughout: scary predators, Arlo in constant danger, dark tone
Younger or sensitive kids may find this too intense; Common Sense Media recommends 7+
Not peak Pixar — it's fine, but forgettable compared to their best work

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if you got separated from our family like Arlo did?"
"Arlo was really scared but kept going. What's something that scares you but you do anyway?"
"Why do you think Spot and Arlo became friends even though they couldn't really talk to each other?"
"How do you think Arlo felt after his dad died? Have you ever lost someone or something important?"

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