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Gabriel Damon, Candy Hutson, Judith Barsi, Will Ryan, Bill Erwin ... see more see more... , Helen Shaver , Pat Hingle , Burke Barnes , Fred Gwynne , Candace Hutson

Animation producer Don Bluth's fondness for overly cutesy characters and muddy color compositions work to the benefit of his feature-length cartoon The Land Before Time. Littlefoot, a brontosaurus chi... read more read more...ld, must fend for himself when his mother is killed (shades of Bambi). With several other orphaned dinosaurs, Littlefoot seeks out the fabled Great Valley, where food and shelter is plentiful. Along the way, the kiddie dinos learn several vital (and politically correct) life lessons, all the while keeping themselves scarce whenever the fierce tyrannosauri gallumph into view. The cuteness of the characters (emphasized by the voice work) takes some of the harsh edges off the story, which makes the film eminently suitable for younger children; and the smeary color design is ideal for the time-frame of the film, which is set in the turbulent, nature-run-rampant period just before the dinosaurs died out. Apparently they didn't all die, inasmuch as a Land Before Time sequel was released on video in 1994. The earlier film inspired a 1988 Saturday morning cartoon series produced by Ruby-Spears, Dink: The Little Dinosaur. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

69% liked it

317,892 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

15 critics

DVD Release Date: April 30, 1997

Stats: 18,717 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (18,717)


  • January 28, 2012
    A moving and unforgettable film, The Land Before Time is a great entertainment to all family and to remember the childhood. Fresh.
  • August 15, 2011
    I've always enjoye dthis movie, its a cool and fun movie for kids and is the start of a big franchise that was one of my favorites as a kid, a good movie.
  • August 12, 2011
    Bad+
  • fb535316333
    May 31, 2011
    fb535316333
    A timeless child's tale that teaches intolerance, despite Sharptooth's constant loom of doom that can actually make a thriller for some kids.

    The desaturated color pallet and lack of exaggeration in it's animation is what makes this movie pale in comparison to the wondrous magic... read more of Disney productions. It might not have "worked" for TLBT but Bluth rectifys this problem in other films that carry the amount of maturity/sophistication justifying these would-be problems.
  • April 4, 2011
    I loved this dinosaur movie when I was a kid, and apparently kids continued to love it up into the new millennium, with all these sequels that is spawned. If you only watch one of the Land Before Time movies, watch this one, the original. It's the best.
  • January 14, 2011
    this movie was very good when i was little but it also scared me quite a bit, and the movie was pretty depressing, Don Bluth you are the man
  • October 6, 2010
    Classic children's movie and beautiful. Don Bluth at some of his best moments.
  • August 19, 2010
    All I remember about this was how damn sad and upsetting it was. I mean, it is entertaining, but this is quite a tearjerker for an animated family film. The look and animation style aren't like groundbreaking or anything, but the movie looks oretty good regardless.
  • July 23, 2010
    D
  • January 26, 2010
    I think this is actually one of my favorite animated movies of all time. For some reason it seems to be one of those movies that never gets old. I love the story, it's really deep and a complete tear jerker. I love that it familiarizes kids with the idea of death much like in Bam... read morebi. The animation is good and up to par with that of Disney.

Critic Reviews


Common Sense Media Editors
January 1, 2011
Common Sense Media Editors, Common Sense Media

Baby dinosaur buddy flick that started the series. Full Review

Tim Brayton
November 24, 2009
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

What charmed me when I first saw it as a six-year-old in theaters now strikes me as rather middling, indifferent storytelling and character development. Full Review

Phil Villarreal
August 2, 2002
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star

A very good animated film, but nothe where near intriguing enough to inspire copious sequels.

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 15, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Eric Lurio
June 6, 2005
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette

No review available.

Daniel M. Kimmel
April 2, 2004
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

Josh Gilchrist
July 15, 2003
Josh Gilchrist, Billings Outpost (Montana)

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Facts


    • Petrie: I smell... *sniff* I smell... *sniff* Hm... Ducky.
    • Ducky: Flap your wings, Petrie! Higher! Higher, like a flyer!
    • Ducky: Yep yep yep!
    • Petrie: You leave... without... Petrie?
    • Littlefoot: Mother? Please get up.
    • Littlefoot's Mother: I'm... not sure I can, Littlefoot.
    • Littlefoot: Yes you can. Get up!
    • Littlefoot: We did it! We did it together!

The Land Before T... : Watch Free on TV


The Land Before Time Trivia


  • What did the dinosaurs in The Land Before Time call a leaf?  Answer »
  • name 3 characters in the land before time films  Answer »
  • In the "Land Before Time" what does Littlefoot call his mom?  Answer »
  • In what film do a small group of dinosaurs travel to "The Great Valley"?  Answer »

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