Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Balto

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Brave dog saves kids in fun but tense fact-based film.

Movie G 1995 78 minutes
Balto Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 6+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Rarityfan
Rarityfan Adult
July 1, 2019
age 7+

Like ice in the sunshine - Beagle music ltd

Overlooked in the very long row of 1990's family animal movies. Little in runtime and big on action and some romance too.
madame pierre
madame pierre Parent of 4 and 7-year-old
January 26, 2019
age 4+

Good message, interesting story

We were all engaged watching this movie about a half wolf, half dog save a town by running through a snowstorm to get vaccines. There were intense moments, but they were brief. No gross humor. Good messages. Good voices (Kevin Bacon, Bridget Fonda, Bob Hoskins, etc).
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on a true story, BALTO centers on a brave dog who saved the lives of Alaskan children with diphtheria when he brought medicine to them through the snow. Half wolf, half domesticated dog, Balto (voiced by Kevin Bacon) has a hard time fitting in with either species. A jealous rival frames Balto for theft, ensuring that Balto will not be chosen to lead a rescue mission. But when the rescue party gets lost, Balto steps in to save the day, with the help of his friends, a Russian goose (voice of Bob Hoskins) and two polar bears (both voice of pop star Phil Collins).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (28 ):

Though it's not the most original or beautifully animated kids' movie out there, Balto is engaging, and kids will probably be quite entertained. There are some good laughs, and the voice performances are well done. Be aware that there is some peril and scary scenes involving the mean dog Steele and a grizzly bear encounter. Kids may also get upset when they see the small coffins that are being made for kids who might not survive the epidemic.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Balto's struggle to fit in. Was it fair of the other dogs not to accept him? Can you think of examples this type of unfair judgment that you've witnessed?

  • How did Balto's friends help him in difficult times? Are your friends there for you when you're having problems?

  • How could you find out more about the dog who inspired this movie?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate