The Secret Life of Pets

Name: The Secret Life of Pets
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Animation, Family
Released: July 8, 2016
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Ellie Kemper, Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Louis C.K.

2016

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 394 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 394 Ratings

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The Secret Life Of Pets

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 8, 2016 | PG

Starring: Ellie Kemper, Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Louis C.K.

Summary: Taking place in a Manhattan apartment building, Max's life as a favorite pet is turned upside down, when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke. They have to put their quarrels behind, when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is building an army of abandoned pets determined to take revenge on all happy-ownedTaking place in a Manhattan apartment building, Max's life as a favorite pet is turned upside down, when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke. They have to put their quarrels behind, when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is building an army of abandoned pets determined to take revenge on all happy-owned pets and their owners.… Expand

Director: Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney

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

Rating: PG

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

Steve Persall

Jul 6, 2016

The Secret Life of Pets is funnier than Zootopia and fresher than Finding Dory. Bonus points for a genuinely touching finale that had me crying behind my 3-D glasses. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Jul 7, 2016

The disposable, summer diversion that many families will be looking for as temperatures rise and the start of school seems so far away, but most won’t be able to remember after they see it. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Jul 8, 2016

The Secret Life of Pets is strong enough that parents won’t fall into a catatonic state while watching it with their offspring. Unlike top-notch animated fare, however, it’s questionable whether this can be considered “destination fare” for the single adult. Read full review

IndieWire Ben Croll

Jun 21, 2016

Moves like a bat out of hell from frame one, though if you’re looking for any kind of emotion you might be barking up the wrong tree. Read full review

E. Oliver Whitney

Jul 7, 2016

It might not be remembered in years to come, but it’s good family entertainment, and sometimes that’s enough. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Jul 6, 2016

It’s not ground-breaking, but there are laughs, and it is a good audience movie. Read full review

Justin Chang

Jul 7, 2016

Resisting the temptation to invest its characters and storytelling with any particularly winsome, distinctive qualities, the film quickly devolves into an infernally busy and overextended chase sequence crammed with desperately unfunny comic patter and noisy, pointless action. Read full review

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User Reviews

Mommyandme7905

Jul 9, 2016

I went to go see the secret life of pets. I was amazed at how funny it was . All the other people were laughing like non stop that was how funny it was.the pets were one of a kind . It was also very cute when they make the eyes really big . Go see it you be amazed like I was.

6 of 12 users found this helpful66

Tiber5

Jan 15, 2017

This is a very fun movie, even if you are not a kid. The theater was full when I went and the adults were enjoying the movie as much as the kids. There are lots of laughs and the characters are fun to watch. Some parts may be a bit intense for small children, but all in all, the kids in theThis is a very fun movie, even if you are not a kid. The theater was full when I went and the adults were enjoying the movie as much as the kids. There are lots of laughs and the characters are fun to watch. Some parts may be a bit intense for small children, but all in all, the kids in the theater were loving it. You don't have to take a child to see this movie. Plenty of adults without kids were there. I generally don't like to go to kids' movies, but I very often enjoy them after I get to the theater. This was one of the best I have seen. Lots of heart and lots of laughs.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Acacia

Jul 26, 2016

This is a very fun movie, even if you are not a kid. The theater was full when I went and the adults were enjoying the movie as much as the kids. There are lots of laughs and the characters are fun to watch. Some parts may be a bit intense for small children, but all in all, the kids inThis is a very fun movie, even if you are not a kid. The theater was full when I went and the adults were enjoying the movie as much as the kids. There are lots of laughs and the characters are fun to watch. Some parts may be a bit intense for small children, but all in all, the kids in the theater were loving it. You don't have to take a child to see this movie. Plenty of adults without kids were there. I generally don't like to go to kids' movies, but I very often enjoy them after I get to the theater. This was one of the best I have seen. Lots of heart and lots of laughs.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

skeptic303

Oct 24, 2016

The Secret Life of Pets is the breakout hit from the studio behind Despicable Me. It definitely looked good and I couldn't wait to see what they would do with the premise...but that's the problem, you see.
Any conflict that comes between Max and Duke in this movie is tossed into the desertThe Secret Life of Pets is the breakout hit from the studio behind Despicable Me. It definitely looked good and I couldn't wait to see what they would do with the premise...but that's the problem, you see.
Any conflict that comes between Max and Duke in this movie is tossed into the desert after ten minutes and left as a test subject for the next generation thermonuclear warhead. Yep, they ditch the premise in favor of a very goofy caper that doesn't go far. Instead, Gidget becomes the best character in this movie...by a mile.
This is one of the first times (but not the last time) you'll hear me complain that they should have focused on the side character. It's as if they thought that the main characters shouldn't be too miserable or that the audience can't take the two dogs fighting over ownership and room space for more than the first ten minutes.
Other problems with this movie stem from the fact that its abandonment of the premise (which would have worked so well) makes this movie nothing more than a mainly generic kids movie. Given that I'm in a post-Inside Out world, I am really hoping for much better because it can be both great for kids and profitable in the long run. More specifically, I'm looking at good vs. evil elements, jokes, and other things that are associate with a standard kids movie. I appreciate this film's moments of brilliance and the vast entertainment that comes with this film, but entertainment can only help so much as it is exploited by standard blockbuster fare. Therefore, it is kind of disappointing to only lend this film a seal of mediocrity.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nahtan1244

Jul 23, 2016

I definitely enjoyed this one a lot more than i thought in fact it does not deserve a 6 rather a 6.5 but sense metacrtic won't let me do that oh well. Every character was well voiced.. Thats one of the things great animated movies bring is well voiced characters. There was a funny nod toI definitely enjoyed this one a lot more than i thought in fact it does not deserve a 6 rather a 6.5 but sense metacrtic won't let me do that oh well. Every character was well voiced.. Thats one of the things great animated movies bring is well voiced characters. There was a funny nod to musical theater fans as well as few laugh out load moments. The climax will definitely make you cry and this movie is definitely illuminations best sense despicable me. The film does suffer from an uneven story focusing on max and the big does relationship, finding there way back home and a rabbit planning an uprising against all happily owned pet owners.I could have gone with just a buddy comedy type movie. This movie was good not as good as finding dory or even star trek but this film made me restore faith in illumination studios. lets hope sing is not a total dud… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

AxeT

Jul 13, 2016

At least it's a great original concept for an animated feature unlike Pixar's latest, but unlike Pixar it doesn't have quite the usual level of cleverness they exhibit nor the heartfelt warmth of emotion that can get adults as well. This is mostly played for laughs though, laughs for theAt least it's a great original concept for an animated feature unlike Pixar's latest, but unlike Pixar it doesn't have quite the usual level of cleverness they exhibit nor the heartfelt warmth of emotion that can get adults as well. This is mostly played for laughs though, laughs for the very young.
New York City has perhaps never looked more livably appealing in a movie with its shimmering Emerald City like epic glittering skylines and vivid colorful autumn setting. Unfortunately the story drags.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

iammoviefan

Aug 14, 2020

Wasted of my time, worst and its not PETS movie its just a DOGGYS movie lol. poor rabbit

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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