Common Sense Media Review
By Betsy Bozdech
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Adventure is clever and engaging, despite animals in peril.
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Why Age 7+?
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The Secret Life of Pets
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 156 parent reviews
Based on 118 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a mix of fun and darkness, with many enjoying its humor and character dynamics, while others are concerned about its themes of violence and language. Some parents suggest it's not suitable for very young children due to scary scenes and unsettling messages about animals and death, but it's still viewed as a solid family film by many.
- humor
- family-friendly
- dark themes
- mixed reviews
- suitable for older kids
- fun characters
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Living the good life in a New York City apartment, Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) considers himself the luckiest dog in the world at the start of THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS. But he gets upset when his beloved human, Katie (Ellie Kemper), brings home his giant, shaggy new "brother," Duke (Eric Stonestreet), from the shelter. Things get even worse for Max when he and Duke end up lost and collarless. After getting nabbed by Animal Control, they find themselves at the mercy of Snowball (Kevin Hart), a maniacal bunny with a grudge against humanity who leads an underground army of unwanted former pets. Max and Duke do their best to make it back to Katie, but it will take help from a group of Max's friends -- led by determined Pomeranian Gidget (Jenny Slate) -- for them to successfully elude Snowball and his goons.
Is It Any Good?
Funny and engaging, with an excellent voice cast, this animated animal adventure will entertain audiences of all ages, with perhaps an extra dollop of appeal for devoted pet owners. It's amusing to see what Max and his buddies get up to when their people are gone for the day, from watching telenovelas to raiding the fridge to rocking out to heavy metal music. And the plot, while not exactly unique (it's hard to miss the parallels to Toy Story, for instance), moves at a good clip, with enough twists and imaginative details to keep you fully engaged.
While meaningful messages aren't quite as front-and-center in The Secret Life of Pets as they were in, say Zootopia, the movie has clear themes of perseverance and teamwork. And Max and Duke's sibling-like relationship could particularly resonate with blended families or those dealing with rivalry/resentment issues. The characters have an appealing depth, too, aided by the talented actors providing their voices. Somewhere in the midst of Snowball's many motor-mouthed blasts, Hart conveys the bunny's underlying loneliness and sadness; this is a rabbit who truly thinks of his fellow cast-offs as family, not just minions. And Slate's Gidget proves that she's so much more than a pampered puffball; her loyalty to Max is unwavering, and she stretches far beyond her comfort zone to help him. It's easy to imagine a sequel focused on her getting the gang back together to help another one of their own; meanwhile, here's hoping they all have cozy laps to curl up on.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about which parts of The Secret Life of Pets were scary. What made them scary to you? Were you worried about the characters? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
How do the characters demonstrate empathy, teamwork, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
Why do you think Snowball is so angry? What made him hate humans so much? How else could he have handled his feelings?
Why is Max so upset when Katie brings Duke home? How do they learn to get along over the course of the movie? Can you think of real-life situations (between siblings, for instance) that are similar?
Which animal do you identify with most, and why? Do you think there's really that much difference between "dog people" and "cat people"?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 8, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : May 31, 2022
- Cast : Louis C.K. , Kevin Hart , Eric Stonestreet , Jenny Slate
- Directors : Chris Renaud , Yarrow Cheney
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : action and some rude humor
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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