PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is the third big-screen outing for the long-running Nick Jr. series, directed by Cal Brunker. When their ship is caught in a storm, the pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island full of dinosaurs. There they team up with Rex, a dino-expert pup who’s been stranded there — and when Mayor Humdinger’s reckless mining triggers a volcanic eruption, they face their biggest rescue yet to save the island before everything goes extinct.
The voice cast includes Mckenna Grace as Skye, Ron Pardo as Mayor Humdinger, and guest stars Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Terry Crews, Jennifer Hudson and Bill Nye. Our verdict: exactly what kids want from a PAW Patrol movie, with a kinder heart than you’d expect — and perfectly painless for the grown-ups.
Two Audiences, Two Scores
Rescues, dinosaurs, vehicles, a Backstreet Boys song and not too scary. Exactly what they came for.
Entertaining, disposable, never annoying — and one genuinely clever action scene. You might even stay awake.
Giving Kids Exactly What They Want
The franchise has been around for 13 years, and many parents know it the way they know most kids’ TV — through their children. Unlike something like Bluey, which works brilliantly for adults too, PAW Patrol is unapologetically made for young kids. The movies follow suit: entertaining, fairly disposable, and — crucially — they neither pander to children nor disrespect them.
The Dino Movie gives its audience fun rescue missions, the pups doing exciting things, and dinosaurs that are thrilling without being frightening. One critic took his five-year-olds to a packed early screening in a theatre with an indoor play area — and not one child left their seat for the slides until the credits rolled. That’s about the strongest endorsement a kids’ film can get.
Critics have generally agreed it’s exactly what you’d expect — The Hollywood Reporter called it a busy new entry in the franchise, and The Guardian described plucky pups doing their thing on a Jurassic-style island.
One Genuinely Clever Action Scene
A Parent’s Guide
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
| The Good | The Bad | The Ugly |
|---|---|---|
| A Lovely Message About MistakesA pup who thinks everything is his fault gets constant reassurance. Exactly what young kids need to hear. | Strictly for KidsUnlike Bluey, there’s little here for adults beyond the occasional clever moment. | Some Parents Will NapOne critic spotted a dad pulling his hat over his eyes for a snooze. We won’t judge. |
| A Clever Ash-River RescueA see-saw wire rescue across a river of volcanic ash is genuinely inventive action. | PredictableIt’s exactly what you’d expect from a PAW Patrol movie — no more, no less. | — |
| Dinosaurs Without the NightmaresExciting, but pitched well for young viewers. | BusyLots of characters, gadgets and guest stars competing for attention. | — |
| Great Animation and a Backstreet Boys BopPolished, colourful, and with an original song kids will love. | — | — |
The Verdict
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie isn’t trying to win over adults, and it doesn’t need to. It gives young kids precisely what they want — rescues, vehicles and dinosaurs — in a bright, well-animated package that never talks down to them. For parents, it’s painless, occasionally clever, and comes with a message worth reinforcing at home.
The honest read: if your kids love PAW Patrol, they’ll love this. Now that it’s out on digital, it’s an easy pick for family movie night. Just be ready to hear the Backstreet Boys a few more times afterwards.
For more reviews, check out our full reviews section.
Score Breakdown
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