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The Land Before Time
1988 69 min United States of America G 0+
★7.3
Family, Animation, Adventure
Director: Don Bluth
Trailers
Description
An orphaned brontosaurus named Littlefoot sets off in search of the legendary Great Valley. A land of lush vegetation where the dinosaurs can thrive and live in peace. Along the way he meets four other young dinosaurs, each one a different species, and they encounter several obstacles as they learn to work together in order to survive.
Budget:
$12.5M
US Gross:
$48.48M
Worldwide:
$84.7M
Starring
Pat Hingle
Actor
Helen Shaver
Actor
Gabriel Damon
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1990
— Best Fantasy Film
Key opinion
The Land Before Time is widely considered a childhood masterpiece and a seminal work of 1980s animation. Critics and audiences alike praise its profound emotional depth and effective moral lessons on friendship and survival, often noting that its impact remains undiminished by the passage of time.
| Score | James Horner's score is a powerful, heart-wrenching component that significantly elevates the film's emotional weight. | |
| Production | The animation remains beautiful and evocative, successfully creating a mystical, immersive prehistoric world despite being produced before the era of 3D technology. | |
| Originality | The character dynamics are highly effective, with the distinct personalities of the five protagonists fostering strong audience empathy and identification. | |
| Emotion | The film delivers a potent and lasting emotional impact, frequently cited for its ability to provoke genuine tears and profound resonance in both children and adults. | |
| Theme | Opinions on the film's tone are divided: some appreciate the somber, serious exploration of tragedy and survival, while others find the intense emotional stakes—such as the mother's death—to be overwhelming or strictly melancholic. |