Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Borget
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartwarming true story has peril, positive messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Rescued by Ruby
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 24 parent reviews
Parents say this movie provides a heartwarming and inspiring story that resonates with family members of all ages, particularly animal lovers, despite some dark themes involving death and injury that may be unsuitable for sensitive viewers. Many reviewers praised its engaging narrative and the positive messages about perseverance, goal-setting, and the bond between humans and rescue dogs, making it a delightful choice for family movie night.
- heartwarming story
- suitable for families
- positive messages
- dark themes present
- inspiring for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 7 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In this true story, a man rescues a dog but finds that he's actually RESCUED BY RUBY. Daniel O'Neil (Grant Gustin) adopts mischievous shelter dog Ruby and saves her from being put down. He's a police officer that had been denied entry into the Rhode Island K9 unit multiple times. He's hyperactive and dyslexic, so it makes learning in a class setting challenging for him. Yet, something about Ruby inspires him to keep trying to reach his goal. Ruby is also hyperactive and in need of obedience training and purpose. The pair experiences setbacks in their journey, but they have family and community members supporting and cheering them on in their effort to make their dreams a reality. Together, they overcame numerous struggles and made history when they made a rescue so unimaginable, Ruby was named Search and Rescue Dog of the Year.
Is It Any Good?
Rescued by Ruby is an inspiring story that tugs at the heartstrings and has the audience rooting for the underdogs. From the beginning, the story pulls viewers in with a naughty but lovable dog that just can't seem to catch a break. The visual effects are entertaining, as the audience often gets to see things from Ruby's perspective. Younger audiences will appreciate the amount of screen time Ruby gets, and when she's not on camera, she's still the focus of the action.
The story moves along briskly, with very few moments of downtime in the 93-minute film. Though the movie is about Daniel and Ruby's journey, Melissa O'Neil (Kaylah Zander) is a delight in her supporting role as Daniel's wife. Her positivity and encouragement are infectious and show that big achievements often come with a lot of help behind the scenes. The end credits feature fun pictures and updates of the real characters the story is based on, which kids are certain to enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the power of perseverance. How did the characters get through their challenges? How might things have gone differently had they given up? Have there ever been times where you've persevered? How did it feel to push through the challenge?
Motivators can help us work toward goals. One of Ruby's motivators was raw hot dogs. Why do you think Dan was so motivated to achieve his dream of becoming a K9 officer? What are some of your motivations? How do they help you?
Do you think movies that are based on a true story are more or less entertaining than fictional stories? Why?
At the end of the movie, there was a message to recognize and consider adopting animals from shelters. Why do you think the moviemakers want people to consider shelter animals versus getting pets from a breeder?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 17, 2022
- Cast : Grant Gustin , Scott Wolf , Kaylah Zander , Camille Sullivan
- Director : Katt Shea
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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