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The Land Before Time

  • 1988
  • G
  • 1h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
104K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,968
374
Judith Barsi, Gabriel Damon, Candace Hutson, and Will Ryan in The Land Before Time (1988)
An orphaned brontosaurus teams up with other young dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a valley.
Play trailer1:49
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Dinosaur AdventureHand-Drawn AnimationQuestSurvivalAdventureAnimationDramaFamily

An orphaned brontosaurus teams up with other young dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a valley.An orphaned brontosaurus teams up with other young dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a valley.An orphaned brontosaurus teams up with other young dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a valley.

  • Director
    • Don Bluth
  • Writers
    • Stu Krieger
    • Judy Freudberg
    • Tony Geiss
  • Stars
    • Pat Hingle
    • Gabriel Damon
    • Helen Shaver
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    104K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,968
    374
    • Director
      • Don Bluth
    • Writers
      • Stu Krieger
      • Judy Freudberg
      • Tony Geiss
    • Stars
      • Pat Hingle
      • Gabriel Damon
      • Helen Shaver
    • 208User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 1:49
    Theatrical Trailer
    Clip
    Video 1:36
    Clip
    Clip
    Video 1:36
    Clip

    Photos197

    View Poster
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    + 191
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    Top cast13

    Edit
    Pat Hingle
    Pat Hingle
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    • …
    Gabriel Damon
    • Littlefoot
    • (voice)
    Helen Shaver
    Helen Shaver
    • Littlefoot's Mother
    • (voice)
    Bill Erwin
    Bill Erwin
    • Grandfather
    • (voice)
    Candace Hutson
    Candace Hutson
    • Cera
    • (voice)
    • (as Candy Hutson)
    Burke Byrnes
    • Daddy Topps
    • (voice)
    Judith Barsi
    Judith Barsi
    • Ducky
    • (voice)
    Will Ryan
    Will Ryan
    • Petrie
    • (voice)
    Kasha Allen
    • Grandmother
    • (uncredited)
    Sabrina Felixa
    • Mama Flyer
    • (uncredited)
    John Lasseter
    John Lasseter
    • Dragonfly
    • (uncredited)
    Keelia Smith
    Keelia Smith
    • Cera's Mother
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Welker
    Frank Welker
    • Spike
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    • Director
      • Don Bluth
    • Writers
      • Stu Krieger
      • Judy Freudberg
      • Tony Geiss
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews208

    7.4104.2K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    gfunkboy

    Oscar Worthy Film

    Never has a film ever touched my heart as much as A Land Before Time. Watching these five young dinosaurs search the world for the Great Valley is just heart warming. First of all, the character of Little Foot is so sad. His mother is killed in the "big shake" and he is separated from his grandparents. He meets up with Ducky, Sarah, Petrie, and Spike to lead them across the Earth to get to the Great Valley where all of the dinosaurs are at. The scene where Little Foot sees his own shadow and thinks it's his mother is especially sad. I recommend this movie to every human being alive. This movie deserved an oscar for best movie, sound track, actor, actress, supporting actor,supporting actress,director,producer,independent film, special effects and for best costumes. Why it didn't win any is mind melting.
    G.Spider

    One of the best animated films.

    A group of young dinosaurs in a world which is nearing the end of the reign of the mighty reptiles set out to find a legendary valley which is still lush and green.

    This is one of the best animation films ever made, as it is moving and entertaining. Not only is it a story of friendship, courage and love, but it also demonstrates childhood friendships which are 'not allowed' due to classism or racism - "Three-horns never play with Longnecks". 'Land Before Time', with its tribe of various dinosaurs plus a pterodactyl, is a story about putting aside so-called 'differences' and striving together in 'united we stand, divided we fall' fashion in order to leave the unlovely wilderness and find a land of freedom and equality (in this case the Great Valley).

    An excellent and unmissable adventure which will appeal to anybody of any age.

    The sequels sadly did away with the grittyness of this first film and instead turned to TV cartoonishness and pointless songs, but most of them (the boring Part 4 aside) are still very enjoyable. But in the tradition of most series of films, the original is the best.
    7La Gremlin

    My favorite movie for a very long time.

    Now, having been such a raging fan of this movie when I was a kid (I still like it as an adult, just not nearly as much), I don't really know if I've got the right to write a review of it.

    About the only thing I have to say, really, is that there's more personality in that one little Pterodactyl who offers Littlefoot his cherry than in the entire cast of "Disney's Dinosaur".

    Other than that, I only have to offer up the following bit of trivia that fellow "L.B.T." fans should go nuts over. It turns out that shortly before "Land Before Time" was officially released, about one million dollars worth of footage was cut from the film. Think about that the next time you watch it. You'll notice things like how suddenly we cut from Sharptooth and Littlefoot's mom's battle to the earthquake sequence. If Universal *really* loved us (ahem, Money To Be Made here), they'd give us a director's cut or something. Just a thought.
    Op_Prime

    An excellent film for the family

    The Land Before Time is a very entertaining animated movie. They have a great story here filled with varying emotions from humor to sadness. The animation is just as good. This film is not just for little kids. Older kids and adults will find this just as entertaining, unlike the terrible sequels which I care not to mention. Thumbs up on this one.
    ridley_64

    A great story which has been bastardised with pointless sequels.

    I remember first seeing this movie in the theatres!!!! I loved it and I have had it on video for quite some time now. I am older and realise how good this movie is and what it truly means! It's such ashame when great movies like these get destroyed by pointless, stupid sequels which are so childish. This movie has it all! A tale about dinosaurs, friendship, love & family, adventure, hope, and a tale about life itself. You may not physically cry but your heart will.

    More like this

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    7.3
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    7.3
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Judith Barsi, who did the voice for Ducky, was murdered by her father four months before the film's release. Judith was only ten years old. Her headstone includes her famous line in this film, "Yep! Yep! Yep!"
    • Goofs
      Petrie and all other Pteranodons are portrayed as herbivores, while it has been proven that Pteranodons ate fish instead.
    • Quotes

      Littlefoot's mother: Let your heart guide you. It whispers so listen closely.

    • Crazy credits
      The credits roll with several backgrounds of the Great Valley at nighttime scrolling by.
    • Alternate versions
      On the 2003 DVD, 2015 DVD and Blu-ray, and digital printings, there have been a few audible edits in addition to the film's restoration.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      If We Hold On Together
      Music and Words by James Horner and Will Jennings

      Produced by Peter Asher

      Performed by Diana Ross

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    FAQ20

    • How long is The Land Before Time?Powered by Alexa
    • What's the song during the credits?
    • Is it true that there was an alternate ending in which all the dino kids died and the Great Valley is Heaven as seen in the Trivia section here?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 18, 1988 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Ireland
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Pie pequeño en busca del valle encantado
    • Filming locations
      • Sullivan Bluth Studios - Phoenix House, Conyngham Road, Northside, Dublin, Ireland
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Amblin Entertainment
      • Sullivan Bluth Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $48,478,716
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,526,025
      • Nov 20, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $84,846,716
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 9m(69 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo

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