Common Sense Media Review
By Common Sense Media
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Original baby-dinosaur buddy tale has scares, sadness.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Land Before Time
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 30 parent reviews
Based on 35 kid reviews
Kids say this animated film offers a nostalgic experience, filled with vibrant animation and memorable music, despite some intense moments, particularly the death of Littlefoot's mother. Many viewers appreciate the heartwarming themes of friendship and adventure, though caution is advised for sensitive children due to its emotional content.
- nostalgic experience
- emotional content
- heartwarming themes
- friendship and adventure
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE LAND BEFORE TIME, while scores of dinosaurs are on the move to find food during a massive drought, a baby long-necked dinosaur is born. His mom and grandparents coo and ahh and name him Littlefoot (Gabriel Damon). When a rambunctious little three-horned dinosaur named Cera (Candace Hutson) tries to engage the newborn in play, Littlefoot's family discourages him from consorting with her kind of dinosaur. But the kid dinosaurs must unite when a ferocious T. rex kills Littlefoot's mother and an earthquake creates a massive schism separating them from loved ones. Littlefoot and Cera are joined by Petrie, Ducky, and Spike in their journey to the Great Valley, where food and families are sure to await them.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is a very simple, nicely animated story that gives kids some perky characters to follow and shows them the earth as it was when dinosaurs roamed. Viewers see how changes in the earth's climate forced dinosaurs to roam long distances to find food and how earthquakes, volcanoes, and even other dinosaurs made survival difficult. Solid, well-illustrated messages (the "circle of life" is affirmed, anticipating the central precept of The Lion King), as well as comedy and camaraderie, make The Land Before Time a delightful family-friendly film with a happy ending, so long as the kids are ready for the darker elements as well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dinosaurs in The Land Before Time. When did they live? What happened to them? Why are we so fascinated with them?
Why is friendship so important to the characters? How do they each contribute to their group?
Follow up watching the movie with a trip to the natural history museum. What else can you find out about dinosaurs?
Which dinosaur is your favorite? Why?
How do the characters in The Land Before Time demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? What about compassion and courage? Why are those important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 18, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : December 30, 2003
- Cast : Candace Hutson , Judith Barsi , Will Ryan
- Director : Don Bluth
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Adventures , Friendship , STEM
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 70 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : all audiences
- 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