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“The Good Dinosaur”: Is It Good for Kids?

A parent's guide to Pixar's “The Good Dinosaur”, the story of Arlo the dinosaur and his best friend Spot: what happens, the big lessons inside, and how to watch it with your little one.

Quick Answer

Yes, for most kids around 6 or 7 and up. “The Good Dinosaur” is a gentle, beautiful movie about facing your fears, friendship and family. It also has a sad death and some scary storm and predator scenes, so younger or sensitive children will do best watching it with a grown-up nearby.

What Is “The Good Dinosaur” About?

Pixar's “The Good Dinosaur” (2015) starts with a big “what if”: what if the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs had missed Earth? Millions of years later, dinosaurs are still around. They talk, farm and raise families.

Arlo is the youngest and smallest in a family of Apatosaurus farmers. He's afraid of almost everything, and he wants to make his parents proud. When a storm and a rushing river sweep him far away from home, Arlo has to find his way back alone.

Then he meets Spot, a wild little human boy who behaves like a puppy. In this world, humans don't talk yet! At first they don't get along at all. But as they cross rivers, mountains and storms together, they become best friends, and Arlo discovers he's much braver than he thought.

Official trailer from Pixar's YouTube channel. Watch it together first to get a feel for the movie. More on the official Disney page.

Quick Facts for Parents

Pixar movie, released 2015

Arlo is an Apatosaurus

Spot is a human boy who acts like a puppy

What if the asteroid missed Earth?

About 1 hour 33 minutes

Rated PG, best for ages 6–7+

Meet the Characters

Arlo

A young, nervous Apatosaurus who just wants to be brave like his big brother and sister. His journey home is the heart of the story.

Spot

A fearless, funny human boy who acts like a loyal puppy. He's small, but he protects Arlo again and again.

Poppa Henry and Momma Ida

Arlo's loving parents. Poppa teaches Arlo that it's okay to be scared, and his words stay with Arlo the whole way home.

Butch and his T. rex family

Cowboy T. rexes who herd longhorns. They look scary, but they're kind, and they show Arlo that everyone feels fear sometimes.

What “The Good Dinosaur” Teaches Kids

Under the adventure, the movie is really about growing up. Here are the big ideas kids take away, and why they matter.

Brave doesn't mean not scared

Arlo is scared of almost everything, from chickens to thunder. He never stops being scared. He learns to keep going anyway, and that's what courage really is.

Friends can look very different

Arlo and Spot can't even talk to each other at first. They become best friends by helping each other, sharing food and keeping each other safe.

Making your mark takes time

Arlo's family leave a muddy footprint on the corn silo when they do something big. Arlo earns his mark by caring for others, not by being the biggest or strongest.

Talking about loss and feelings

Both Arlo and Spot lose family. One quiet scene shows them explaining their families with sticks in the sand, a gentle way to start talking with kids about missing someone.

Home and family matter most

Arlo's whole journey is about getting back to his mom and siblings. Spot's ending shows that family can also be the people who take care of you.

Nature is beautiful and powerful

The rivers, storms and mountains look almost real. They show kids that nature deserves respect, and that it can be stunning too.

💬 The movie's big message in one line: you have to get through your fear to see the beauty on the other side.

What Parents and Fans Say

Years after it came out, “The Good Dinosaur” is still one of Pixar's most talked-about movies among parents. Reading through parent reviews and online fan discussions, a few things come up again and again.

👍 What people love

Spot steals the show. Fans call him one of the funniest and most lovable Pixar sidekicks, and kids adore his puppy-like antics.
Breathtaking scenery. The rivers, clouds and mountains look almost like real film, and many say it is one of the most beautiful animated movies ever made.
The sand-and-sticks scene. Arlo and Spot “talk” about their missing families without words. It's often named as the movie's most moving moment.
Underrated. Many fans feel it gets overlooked next to bigger Pixar hits, and that it's better than its reputation.

⚠️ What parents warn about

It's sadder than it looks. The cute poster surprises parents. Arlo's dad dies in a flood early on, and some young kids cry.
Scary moments. Storms, flash floods, sharp-toothed pterodactyls and raptors chase the heroes. The realistic look can make these feel more intense.
A few surprising bits. Spot bites the head off a bug, and Arlo and Spot eat fermented fruit and act silly and dizzy.
Simple story. Some grown-ups find the plot simpler than other Pixar films, though kids rarely mind.

The overall feeling from parents: it's a beautiful, heartfelt movie that's worth watching, as long as you know about the sad and scary parts ahead of time and watch it together.

Tips for Watching With Young Kids

Preview it or read the plot first so you know when the sad flood scene is coming.
Sit together during storms and chases. A cuddle makes scary scenes much easier for little ones.
Pause and check in. Ask, “How do you think Arlo feels right now?” Naming feelings helps kids handle them.
Watch in two parts if your child is younger or sensitive. There's no rule that says you must finish in one sitting.
Talk about it afterwards. The movie is a great way into chats about bravery, friendship and missing people we love.

🗣️ Questions to ask after the movie

• What was Arlo scared of? What are you scared of?
• How did Spot help Arlo be brave?
• How did Arlo and Spot become friends without talking?
• What would you do to “make your mark”?
• Who helps you feel safe when you're scared?

Real-Life Dinosaur Fact: Apatosaurus

Smiling cartoon Apatosaurus standing by a river with mountains behind it

Arlo is a cartoon, but Apatosaurus was a real dinosaur! It lived about 150 million years ago in what is now North America. It was a gentle plant-eater with a super-long neck and a whip-like tail, and it grew to around 70 to 75 feet long, about as long as two school buses!

Real Apatosaurus didn't farm corn, of course. They munched on plants with their peg-like teeth and swallowed their food without chewing. Want to meet more long-necked giants? Check out our Types of Dinosaurs for Kids guide, or print a free dinosaur coloring page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is “The Good Dinosaur” appropriate for?

“The Good Dinosaur” is rated PG. Many parent guides suggest it works best for kids around 6 or 7 and older. It has a sad scene where Arlo's dad dies in a flood, plus storms and predator chases that can frighten sensitive preschoolers. Watching together, or previewing it first, helps a lot.

What kind of dinosaur is Arlo?

Arlo is an Apatosaurus, a long-necked, plant-eating sauropod. His whole family are Apatosaurus farmers who grow corn. In real life Apatosaurus grew to around 70 to 75 feet long, much bigger than cartoon Arlo!

Is Spot a human or an animal?

Spot is a little human boy, but in this movie humans haven't learned to talk yet, so he acts like a puppy. He sniffs, howls and runs on all fours. That flip, where the dinosaur talks and the human acts like a pet, is one of the movie's funniest ideas.

What is the main lesson of “The Good Dinosaur”?

The biggest lesson is that being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared. It means you keep going even when you feel afraid. The movie also teaches that friends can come from surprising places, and that the people we love stay with us even when they're gone.

Why is “The Good Dinosaur” sad?

Arlo's father dies early in the movie while trying to help him, and Arlo gets lost far from home. Spot has lost his family too. These moments are sad, but they lead to a hopeful ending where Arlo gets home and Spot finds a new family.

When did “The Good Dinosaur” come out?

“The Good Dinosaur” is a Pixar Animation Studios film released in November 2015. It was directed by Peter Sohn.

“The Good Dinosaur” is a film by Disney and Pixar. Puffsaurus is not affiliated with Disney or Pixar. Illustrations on this page are original Puffsaurus artwork, except the realistic Apatosaurus icon (by TotalDino, public domain CC0, via Wikimedia Commons).

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