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

Bernie the Dolphin 2

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Family-friendly sequel has lovable dolphins and mild peril.

Movie G 2019 99 minutes
Bernie the Dolphin 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Bernie the Dolphin 2 Movie: Kevin and Holly
  • Bernie the Dolphin 2 Movie: High Jump
  • Bernie the Dolphin 2 Movie: Rascal & Winston
  • Bernie the Dolphin 2 Movie: Three Friends

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Bernie, the Ryan family's favorite dolphin, returns to Florida in BERNIE THE DOLPHIN 2. Young Holly Ryan (Lola Sultan) and her brother, Kevin (Logan Allen), are overjoyed when Bernie returns a year after their first adventure together. And it's no secret that Bernie remembers them, too. At Marineland of Florida, managed by dad Bob Ryan (Patrick Muldoon), Kevin is still tracking and filming Bernie's travels through waters, and Holly, now a Junior Dolphin Trainer at the marine mammal park, welcome a new dolphin. Unfortunately, the Ryan family isn't at all overjoyed by the return of Winston Mills (Kevin Sorbo), a corrupt villain who's been released from prison and assigned to a work release program at Marineland. While Abby (Dahlia Legault) encourages forgiveness and second chances, her kids and her husband want no part of the man they cannot trust. Indeed, their misgivings may prove true when Winston is approached by another old enemy bent on revenge against Bernie and the Ryan family.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Dolphins at their most delightful and an idyllic, loving family return in a predictable sequel with few surprises but some positive messages about forgiveness and second chances. Production values are fine. Most of the performances are competent; however, the roles as written are one-dimensional and give the actors little nuance or subtlety to play -- an element that's valuable even in movies made for young audiences. Still, young animal lovers will still find much to enjoy in Bernie the Dolphin 2.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about movie sequels like Bernie the Dolphin 2. If you saw the original Bernie film, did this one meet your expectations? Why or why not? What are the advantages of marketing a film that features the same characters and/or continues a story told in an earlier movie?

  • Find out about the history of movies that feature animals. Do you know that in the early days there were no regulations for filmmakers? How and why have there been important changes in animal welfare on movie sets?

  • The Ryans are a solid family. What are some of the many skills it takes to make a family work well (i.e., communication, respect)? Why do you think each member of the family has an important role to play in the family's well-being?

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