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Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Play trailer Poster for Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story PG,  2005,  1h 38m,  Kids & Family/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 64% 113 Reviews Tomatometer 78% 50,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
64% Tomatometer 113 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a horse trainer who is struggling to connect with his precocious daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning). But then a horse by the name of Soñador suffers a broken leg after its evil owner (David Morse) races her despite Ben's advice. Rather than put his client's injured horse down, Ben adopts her and welcomes Cale into the family business. They train Soñador to race again as grouchy but kind-hearted Grandpa (Kris Kristofferson) lends his encouragement.
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Though formulaic, this horse story's saving grace is its strong performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Marrit Ingman Austin Chronicle Oct 29, 2005
3/5
It manages to be a watchable, even enjoyable movie about and for girls, and in our world of candy-coated sparkly pink crap, that's a rare and commendable thing. Go to Full Review
Neil Smith BBC.com Oct 25, 2005
2/5
Despite thoroughbred work from Dakota Fanning, by the time the movie hits the final furlong it's only good for the glue factory. Go to Full Review
Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper Oct 24, 2005
A great family film. Go to Full Review
Peter Sobczynski eFilmCritic.com Nov 18, 2011
4/5
Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope Dec 30, 2006
B
All the characters are familiar, the story is familiar, but it is well-constructed and the actors do a good job with the material. Go to Full Review
Carolyn Arends Christianity Today Sep 22, 2006
2.5/4
Dreamer is loaded with enough clichs and formulas to choke a horse. But truly, it works. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Poe W Aug 3, 2017 2005 family friendly film Dreamer is an American classic
Theodore P Jul 13, 2017 There's very little that doesn't captivate here. The script has a small part that gets a little beyond credibility but overall it's hard not to find it engaging. Actors, cinematography and music all converge on one another to make a gratifying viewing experience. For my full review of Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story (2005), check it out on this IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418647/reviews-124 See more
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Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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John Gatins

Director

Kurt Russell

Ben Crane

Dakota Fanning

Cale Crane

Kris Kristofferson

Pop Crane

Elisabeth Shue

Lily

David Morse

Palmer

Movie Clips

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Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

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Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Writer/director JOHN GATINS (left) and star KURT RUSSELL watch the playback of a scene on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' family drama DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. Star DAKOTA FANNING gets some direction from writer/director JOHN GATINS on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. (Left to right, foreground) Palmer (DAVID MORSE) and Prince Tariq (ANTONIO ALBADRAN) have reason to be concerned as they watch their horse race against Soñador in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Cale Crane (DAKOTA FANNING) dreams of being a part of her father's world, working with racehorses. Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL) and his daughter Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) face many challenges and obstacles as they try to defy the odds and bring an injured racehorse back to her former glory. Writer/director JOHN GATINS on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' family drama DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. Pop Crane (KRIS KRISTOFFERSON), Cale Crane (DAKOTA FANNING) and Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL) come up with a plan to get the entrance fee to race Sonador in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Director of Photography FRED MURPHY (standing) checks the lighting for a scene with star KURT RUSSELL on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. Balon (LUIS GUZMÁN) teaches Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) some of the ropes of horse racing in DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. DAKOTA FANNING films a scene on one of the mechanical horses created to protect horse and rider in some of the more challenging riding sequences. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a horse trainer who is struggling to connect with his precocious daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning). But then a horse by the name of Soñador suffers a broken leg after its evil owner (David Morse) races her despite Ben's advice. Rather than put his client's injured horse down, Ben adopts her and welcomes Cale into the family business. They train Soñador to race again as grouchy but kind-hearted Grandpa (Kris Kristofferson) lends his encouragement.
Director
John Gatins
Producer
Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins, Hunt Lowry
Screenwriter
John Gatins
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG
Production Co
DreamWorks Pictures
Rating
PG (Brief Mild Language)
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$32.7M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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