Common Sense Media Review
By Betsy Bozdech
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Canine heroes meet dinos in engaging but perilous adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
What's the Story?
In PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE, the heroic canine crew—including Marshall (voiced by Carter Young), Skye (Mckenna Grace), Chase (Rain Janjua), Rubble (Lucien Duncan-Reid), Zuma (Nylan Parthipan), Rocky (William Desrosiers), and their fearless leader, Ryder (Henry Bolan)—gets caught in a big storm after a rescue at sea. They end up crashing into a mysterious island, where they meet fellow pup Rex (Hayden Chamberlen) and, to their wonderment, a host of real-life dinosaurs. As word spreads about the amazing discovery, people flock to the island—mostly curious scientists who want to study the dinos and their environment, but also a familiar face from the pups' past who sees the opportunity to make (or, rather, steal) a fortune. Can the PAW Patrol keep everyone (including Marshall's new dino BFF, Rhubarb) safe?
Is It Any Good?
The adventure-loving pups' Land of the Lost-esque adventure is entertaining and engaging, but it's also more intense than both their previous big-screen movies and the original show. PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is chock full of scenes with animals and people in peril—which means there are lots of exciting rescues but also plenty of moments that might upset the pups' youngest fans, particularly when the island's volcano starts spewing fireballs and lava.
That said, the movie also offers humor (much of it thanks to cute dino Rhubarb, who's sure to be a fan favorite), animation that's definitely higher quality than the show (the pups' hang-gliding scene is lovely), and a really cool treehouse built by Rex, who gets around using wheels for his back legs and has come up with lots of ingenious ideas and solutions as a result. And, of course, PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is bursting with positive messages for kids, the clearest of which is to learn from your mistakes, not beat yourself up for them, and to remember that your friends are always there to help.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about themes of perseverance, courage, and teamwork in PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie. Why are these important character strengths?
Did you find any parts of the movie scary? How much "scary stuff" is OK for little kids?
What does Marshall learn about making mistakes during the movie? How do his friends help him feel better about himself? Have you ever been in a similar situation?
How do the PAW Patrol movies compare to the TV series? Which do you like better? Why?
Did you notice that Skye is the only girl pup on the PAW Patrol? Why is it important to see women and girls portrayed well on screen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 14, 2026
- Cast : Carter Young , McKenna Grace , Ron Pardo
- Director : Cal Brunker
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs , Dogs ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild action/peril
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : August 11, 2026
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
Suggest an Update
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