Pete's Dragon

Pete's Dragon (1977)

  • 50% of critics liked it
    (22 reviews)

  • 59% of users liked it
    (58,490 ratings)

Based on a story by Hollywood old-timers Seton I. Miller and S. S. Field, Pete's Dragon divides its time between its flesh-and-blood characters and an animated green dragon. Pete (Sean Marshall), a lonely orphan boy in turn-of-the-century Maine, runs away from his abusive foster family. He… More

G,
Directed By
Genres
Science Fiction & Fantasy, Kids & Family
In Theaters
Nov 3, 1977 Wide
Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    An enchanting and humane fable.

  • , Time Out

    The dragon itself grunts, grins and goofs around, but isn't half as appealing as its creators obviously hoped. More character and better animation would have helped.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    You don't often see children's musicals as ambitious as this one any more.

  • Sarah Wenk, Common Sense Media

    Offbeat live-action/animation mix with lots of drinking.

  • Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

    The animation is much the best part of Pete's Dragon, a film not surfeited with great & timeless elements.

Read all 15 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Matheus C


    As a Disney animation enthusiast, not having seen this live-action/animation mix until now was my biggest sin (this and actually having seen a few of their direct-to-video sequelized offenders). Elliot the dragon is quite an endearing creation, but when he's not on the screen… More

  • Dean M


    Good heartwarming musical adventure filled with thrilling plot twists, this film is a wonderful blend of live-action and Disney animation. This is a sort of a children's version of <i>Harvey</i> and another attempt for repeat the <i>Mary Poppins</i> magic.… More

  • Conner R


    I will never fully understand what disney was thinking when they decided to make a live action movie with an animated dragon. If only all homeless slave orphaned kids had imaginary friends to distract them from their terrible lives. This seems like it should have been more bizarre… More

  • Jason O


    "Pete's Dragon" is one of the most underrated Disney movies ever made. It's one of the few Disney movies that I haven't ever heard a lot about. It's about an orphan named Pete (Sean Marshall) and his only friend Elliot, a dragon. Once Pete is adopted by… More

  • James A


    I hated this when I was a kid and I hate it even more now.

Read all 15 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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