The Land Before Time

Name: The Land Before Time
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Animation, Family
Released: November 18, 1988
Duration: 69 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Gabriel Damon, Pat Hingle

1988

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Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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Universal acclaim based on 32 Ratings

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 32 Ratings

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Land Before Time

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 18, 1988 | G

Starring: Gabriel Damon, Pat Hingle

Summary: An orphaned brontosaurus teams up with other young dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a valley.

Director: Don Bluth

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Animation, Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 69 min

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Critic Reviews

Jay Carr

From its opening evolution sequence of squiggly things in the water through its references to the great circle of life, The Land Before Time embraces a larger perspective than merely that of the adventure story. It's an affecting work, and a work of quality. [18 Nov 1988, p.29]

Dave Kehr

It is, in the best Disney tradition, a story of childhood's end, of leaving the family and accepting adult responsibilities. Bluth relates it through a smooth counterpoint of humor, sadness and horror. Read full review

Roger Ebert

I guess I sort of liked the film. although I wonder why it couldn't have spent more time on natural history and the sense of discovery. Read full review

Hal Hinson

Though it's not a great film, it is an entertaining and, at times, emotionally rich one. Read full review

Janet Maslin

The Land Before Time isn't heavily plotted; it doesn't do much more than concentrate on the amusingly lifelike dynamics among the dinosaur children as they make their journey. Luckily, it isn't very long either. At a just-right length of 73 minutes, it ought to win audiences' hearts without wearing out their patience. Read full review

Empire David Hempworth

Sharp animation and powerful visualisation of scale will enthrall a young audience but the clumsy cub-scout moralising feels, well, extinct. Read full review

Peter Smith

This tale of prehistoric cuteness (sort of a Clan Of The Care Bears) is mostly dreadfully slow when it is not being overbearingly cloying. Bluth has done much better work in the past and certainly will again. This isn't it. [18 Nov 1988, p.7]

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User Reviews

timone

Dec 1, 2021

Just like The Secret of NIMH and An American Tail and just like The Secret of NIMH, The Land Before Time is another one of those movies I've watched on Cartoon Network the first time. I only seen this twice as a kid and by that time, I still remembered it to this day. The story I suppose isJust like The Secret of NIMH and An American Tail and just like The Secret of NIMH, The Land Before Time is another one of those movies I've watched on Cartoon Network the first time. I only seen this twice as a kid and by that time, I still remembered it to this day. The story I suppose is similar to Bambi, is about a young longneck named Littlefoot who befriends with Cera and the Tyrannosaurus rex known as Sharptooth and the earthquake seperated the families of Littlefoot and Cera. So now it's up to Littlefoot to go find the Great Valley along with his friends, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike. OK, so this movie is really short for about one hour even similar. Actually that how Don Bluth wanted it to be. He wanted to make it similar to Bambi but only with dinosaurs. That explains it the running time! What's even more is that it released in the exact same weekend as Oliver and Company which is my favourite Disney film. They actually prefer to go see The Land Before Time over Oliver and Company. Cause the message in this says it teaches dinosaurs about prejudice between the different species and the hardships they endure in their journey. Steven Spielberg uses the inspiration to Jurassic Park which is always amazing. Okay, while I was thinking about this, it never had any songs apart from the one in the end credits by Diana Ross. It never became a musical and for a fact this is not the only one. In most animated movies, they're never claim as musicals, Disney is and sometimes Dreamworks. It spawned many sequels which I've never watched before and the TV show. However I remember it being on Boomerang. So once again as a Don Bluth fan, I love this movie even when I remember watching it as a kid. Such a phenomenon!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Rollmop

May 3, 2020

Don Bluth propelled by Spielberg and Lucas, what else ? I can still remember other kids at recess talking about this movie. At the time, I didn't have the VHS, I was 7 or 8 and I had not watched it yet. I first saw a while after at one of my dad's colleagues, but it was only a bit of it,Don Bluth propelled by Spielberg and Lucas, what else ? I can still remember other kids at recess talking about this movie. At the time, I didn't have the VHS, I was 7 or 8 and I had not watched it yet. I first saw a while after at one of my dad's colleagues, but it was only a bit of it, then we had to leave. There is no word to describe the frustration I felt back then. Bluth's talent to stage intense scenes and fluff everything up from there made this movie a great movie for children. The dark yet real themes that are fearlessly dealt with in this monument only make it so much stronger, as it doesn't use any magical wand, only pure talent and the will to make something beautiful.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

545

Oct 29, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved this movie when I was a kid and my 7-year-old loves it now. however, the beginning was slow but dark especially when littlefoot's mother is killed by sharptooth. I don't think kids really understand what is happening during that scene and my daughter asked what happened to his mommy and I just explained and she seemed fine. As far as the dinosaurs fighting-I explained to her that there are meat eaters and leaf eaters, etc, and that is the way Dinosaurs are. Truth be told this film will grip you all the way to the end.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Primestar

Oct 25, 2019

Another great Don Bluth movie and the last great movie from her. Land before time is beautiful animated, well written and majestral composer by James Horner. This movie is great for kids and great for adults, and make Don Bluth a animated legend.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Legit_Lee

Apr 10, 2020

this is a really good movie, even after so long i can still watch this movie and have a joly good show.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Apr 19, 2020

Very simple story but quite beautifully told. Good voice acting, characters and drama make this something of a classic.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEROJ

Jan 26, 2019

I think every kid's gonna like this classic. The drawings are nice, the story is ok, the characters are interesting. Very adorable animation, i recommend it!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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