Air Bud

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Air Bud

PG,

1997,

1h 37m,

Kids & Family/

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

50%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

34%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

34%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Diffident in the wake of his father's death, high schooler Josh (Kevin Zegers) struggles to adapt to his new home in Washington state. That all changes, however, when he signs up to be the school basketball team's manager and discovers that his pet dog Bud, a stray golden retriever he took in, can play the sport amazingly well. After Bud joins the team, Josh's life brightens considerably, until the dog's former owner Norm Snively (Michael Jeter) returns in hopes of reclaiming the pooch.

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Critics Consensus

Air Bud's wacky concept isn't entirely enough to fill a feature-length film, but this rather silly family-friendly outing is partly redeemed by its extremely charming title character.

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Mar 1, 2024

Admirable for the way in which writers Paul Tamasy and Aaron Mendelsohn have injected a sense of reality amid lots of rousing fantasy calamities...

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Mar 1, 2024

Dubious highlights include the dog wearing two pairs of basketball shoes and eating a frightening amount of vanilla pudding.

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Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

Mar 1, 2024

A smart pet trick that turns into a stupid movie.

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Amelia Navascues

Triple J

Mar 6, 2018

Who wouldn't love a story about a homeless golden retriever who runs away from his alcoholic clown for a father, Norm, to shoot hoops?

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Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Nov 27, 2014

2/10

The writing is so messy and aimless that when the film retrenches to generic kid flick mediocrity, it actually counts as a relief.

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Heather Boerner

Common Sense Media

Sep 9, 2010

4/5

A high-flying dog tale for kids.

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Leia R

Mar 14, 2019

I'm sorry kids but this movie is so stupid. And I can suspend my disbelief in some cases, but not this one.

Oct 16, 2018

Awesome movie, will recommend if bored, and very inspriantiol

Leia S

Jul 13, 2018

A simple concept and overall way too harmless for its own good but Air Bud benefits from its adorable main character, the chemistry between the boy and the dog and there is some fun to be had from Michael Jeter's over-the-top performance. Really bland but not a bad movie, per se.

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Abraham S

Apr 11, 2018

air bud is a family classic that is arguably one of the best movies ever to hit the box office. unfortunately, the movie is highly underrated and for whatever reason outshined by its successor, the buddies franchise. it is almost offensive to the 1997 movie. may buddy, the dog that played bud in air bud, rest in peace. he deserved better. thank you. use my hashtag #justiceforbuddy get the air bud rating higher. tell all your friends to get rid of the buddies and come back to the puppet who started it all: bud.

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Luke L

Jan 7, 2018

This movie had the BEST SGI

George S

Dec 28, 2017

Letting go of the past -- the regrets, the remorse -- and embracing the uncertainty of the future is the hero's journey of every sentient creature out there. Being able to wade through the sands of time requires a certain grace, poise, and confidence, and no one exemplifies those quite like the fury, friendly, and fearless AirBud, a golden retriever who leaves his house-dog life for athletic greatness. This is brave filmmaking at its best. Brutally honest and touchingly sweet.

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Charles Martin Smith

Director

Michael Jeter

Norman F. 'Norm' Snively

Kevin Zegers

Josh Framm

Wendy Makkena

Jackie Framm (Mrs. Framm)

Bill Cobbs

Coach Arthur Chaney

Eric Christmas

Judge Cranfield

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Synopsis

Diffident in the wake of his father's death, high schooler Josh (Kevin Zegers) struggles to adapt to his new home in Washington state. That all changes, however, when he signs up to be the school basketball team's manager and discovers that his pet dog Bud, a stray golden retriever he took in, can play the sport amazingly well. After Bud joins the team, Josh's life brightens considerably, until the dog's former owner Norm Snively (Michael Jeter) returns in hopes of reclaiming the pooch.

Director: Charles Martin Smith
Producer: William Vince, Robert Vince
Screenwriter: Kevin DiCicco, Paul Tamasy, Aaron Mendelsohn
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures, Walt Disney Home Video [gb]
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.6M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital

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