Barry Miller, Bruce M. Fischer, John Cusack

A sleeper when released in 1985, The Journey of Natty Gann has since become an enduring family classic. While following a familiar Disney formula (the perilous adventures of a girl and her pet ...( read more  read more... )wolf), director Jeremy Paul Kagan adds something fresh at every turn, aided by a first-rate cast and beautifully scenic locations. Then-promising newcomer Meredith Salenger is perfect in the title role--a scrappy kid in Depression-era Chicago who travels cross-country to the Pacific Northwest, hoping to find her father (Ray Wise), who had been forced to leave her with an awful landlady while he took a logging job in Washington. Natty befriends the wolf and a fellow drifter (John Cusack, in an early role), and her journey is a memorable one, intense and realistic but still appropriate for kids. Although Salenger's subsequent film career has been modest (she later graduated cum laude from Harvard), Natty Gann remains a worthy claim to fame. --Jeff Shannon

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72% liked it

5,864 ratings

DVD Release Date: May 21, 2002

Stats: 242 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (242)


  • November 19, 2007
    I remember it was okay, but I was pretty little
  • May 10, 2007
    One of my favorite kids movies of all time. I thought the girl was cute when I was younger and the adventure story is great. The first movie I can remember seeing John Cusack in. I love the whole pet wolf thing.
  • December 12, 2007
    I definitely remember this movie.
  • November 4, 2009
    This movie rocks love it
  • July 21, 2009
    Great movie, there's adventure, hardships, and inspiration.
  • March 27, 2009
    Interesting movie, sucks ya in.. But unless you think smoking, violance, and cussing are ok then I wouldnt lable this Kids & Family.
  • March 11, 2009
    it was alright, we watched in in english, its interesting and adventurous but kind of cheesy.
  • November 18, 2008
    This was such a good story. Meredith was so great, you really believed her in the role. I love the dog, very good acting by him. It's sad that things like this happened in those times. Kids and parents were separated due to needing money and jobs. It breaks my heart that the grea...( read more)t depression happened and it destoryed all those lives! Great adventure story, with a heartwarming touch!
  • November 1, 2008
    A young woman, Natty Gann's (Meredith Salenger) father named Sol Gann (Ray Wise) travels from Chicago to the state of Washington to find work in the timber industry to leave tomboyish Natty behind. Natty is left in Connie's (Lainie Kazan) care manages Natty's apartment building ...( read more)after overhearing Connie reporting her as an abandoned child, Natty runaway to find her father on her own to embark on a cross-country journey.

    Natty is befriended by a wolf travels with her for much of her voyage has a brief romance with another young traveler named Harry (John Cusack).
  • July 30, 2008
    BLITHER BLITHER BLITHER!

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The Journey of Natty Gann Trivia


  • In the movie "The Journey of Natty Gann" what is the boy's name who helps Natty?  Answer »
  • Who plays Harry in Walt Disney's The Journey of Natty Gann?  Answer »

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