Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Profoundly moving docu about dog rescue and recovery.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Champions
What's the Story?
THE CHAMPIONS tells the inspirational story of the many dogs saved by devoted men and women after the dogs were rescued from an appalling dog-fighting ring in 2007. All of America knew that Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons star quarterback, was using pit bulls for sport, killing them, maiming them, and abusing them in the process. The movie starts just after the dogs have been rescued. The animals' real journey begins as carefully selected custodians of their welfare find solid places where the healing process, if it's even possible, will happen. Four very special dogs, and the people who bond with them, take center stage as they move through recovery and integration into a safe world. The camera follows the four dogs as they learn to trust, to find peace, and to love.
Is It Any Good?
It's doubtful that any movie could be more beautifully executed, more inspiring, or more moving; don't let its subject matter -- the recovery of abused animals -- keep you away. Director Darcy Dennett and her team made a remarkable decision when she chose to track the dogs rescued from the site of Michael Vick's horrific dog-fighting enterprise. As a result, the time audiences spend with Little Red, Handsome Dan, Cherry, Jonny, and the folks who helped them recover is precious indeed. Kudos to the people from Best Friends Animal Society, specifically Francis Battista, Michelle Weaver, and John Garcia, and to professor Rebecca Huss and attorney Ledy VanKavage. The Champions, which won multiple awards on the film festival circuit, is filled with dogs to love, people to honor, and indelible moments of courage, selflessness, and joy. Highly recommended for older, mature kids and their families.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the intentions of documentary filmmaking. Creators in this genre hope to inform, entertain, persuade, and/or inspire. How does The Champions touch upon each of those objectives?
What do you think Darcy Dennett and the people featured in this movie wanted you to take away? What did you take away? Did any preconceived ideas you had about pit bulls change after watching it?
It was stressed that the dogs were "recovering," not being "rehabilitated." What is the difference between those two terms in this situation? What does "rehabilitation" imply?
How does The Champions promote compassion, empathy, perseverance, and courage? What about integrity, humility, and teamwork? Why are these all important characters strengths?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 10, 2015
- Cast : Little Red , Handsome Dan , Cherry , Francis Battista
- Director : Darcy Dennett
- Studio : FilmRise
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Animals , History
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Empathy , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 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