Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

K-9

  • 1989
  • PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
37K
YOUR RATING
K-9 (1989)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
Buddy CopSlapstickActionComedyCrime

To stop an elusive criminal, a maverick detective enlists the aid of a police dog who's an unusually intelligent smart alec.To stop an elusive criminal, a maverick detective enlists the aid of a police dog who's an unusually intelligent smart alec.To stop an elusive criminal, a maverick detective enlists the aid of a police dog who's an unusually intelligent smart alec.

  • Director
    • Rod Daniel
  • Writers
    • Steven Siegel
    • Scott Myers
  • Stars
    • Jim Belushi
    • Mel Harris
    • Kevin Tighe
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    37K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rod Daniel
    • Writers
      • Steven Siegel
      • Scott Myers
    • Stars
      • Jim Belushi
      • Mel Harris
      • Kevin Tighe
    • 63User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
    • 44Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    K-9
    Trailer 0:31
    K-9

    Photos139

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 133
    View Poster

    Top cast34

    Edit
    Jim Belushi
    Jim Belushi
    • Dooley
    • (as James Belushi)
    Mel Harris
    Mel Harris
    • Tracy
    Kevin Tighe
    Kevin Tighe
    • Lyman
    Ed O'Neill
    Ed O'Neill
    • Brannigan
    Rando
    Rando
    • Jerry Lee
    • (as Jerry Lee)
    James Handy
    James Handy
    • Byers
    Daniel Davis
    Daniel Davis
    • Halstead
    Cotter Smith
    Cotter Smith
    • Gilliam
    John Snyder
    John Snyder
    • Freddie
    Pruitt Taylor Vince
    Pruitt Taylor Vince
    • Benny the Mule
    Sherman Howard
    Sherman Howard
    • Dillon
    Jeff Allin
    Jeff Allin
    • Chad
    David Haskell
    • Doctor
    Alan Blumenfeld
    Alan Blumenfeld
    • Rental Salesman
    William Sadler
    William Sadler
    • Salesman Don
    • (as Bill Sadler)
    Marjorie Bransfield
    • Receptionist
    Mark Mooring
    • Cop
    Jerry Levine
    Jerry Levine
    • Ernie
    • Director
      • Rod Daniel
    • Writers
      • Steven Siegel
      • Scott Myers
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews63

    6.136.9K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    8LivingDog

    Fun movie

    James Belushi and the dog named "Jerry Lee" make an excellent pair in this fun cop romp. The duo make a natural pair and Belushi puts in an excellent performance without getting behind the lovable "Jerry Lee," who gets animated very aptly by excellent editting and direction.

    Fun movie, see it.
    7Bing-18

    Not a buddy-cop movie..... quite.

    For a short time during the eighties, Hollywood discovered to concept of the Buddy-Dog movie with this and Turner & Hooch coming out in the same year.

    This is probably the funniest of the two with Belushi delivering another wonderful comic performance. However, it is probably slightly poorer than the Tom Hanks film as the script is less rounded, with only the fairly run-of-the-mill drug smuggling story to occupy you.

    However, the action and laughs keep coming throughout the movie, leaving another underrated, overlooked comedy gem from Belushi. I can't wait for the sequel coming out this year.
    MovieKing-4

    The funniest Cop/Dog comedy yet

    James Belushi is the cop, Dewley, who seems to have spent most of his time chasing after the same guy, the drug lord Lyman played Kevin Tighe. And is then finally forced to get a partner in the shape of Jerry Lee the German Shepard dog. They have a very comedic relationship quite like that of Turner and Hooch.

    Things take a dangerous turn for Dewley and Jerry Lee when Dewley's girlfriend Tracey, played by Mel Harris, is taken hostage by Lyman. A tragic outcome that turns out great in the end, and even Jerry Lee gets to have a girlfriend.

    Great acting by James Belushi, Mel Harris and Jerry Lee. A score of 7 out of 10.
    7FiendishDramaturgy

    Superior to the Chuck Norris/Dog Attempt, And One Of Belushi's Finest.

    This is NOT the best cop/dog movie, but it IS superior to the Chuck Norris/pooch flick. Personally, I found Turner and Hooch to be superior to this work, but it is still enjoyable, and comes in second to my favorite.

    HOwever, this is witty, and funny enough to be endearing, without resorting to Jim Belushi's usual tactics, although he does employ the beginning of those posturing and chest-beating tactics here. But they are not so dominant that the movie suffers. In fact, they play well in this situation, though it IS sad to watch a grown man who is romantically jealous of a dog.

    This fails any Oscar possibilities, but I do not honestly believe that would surprise those involved with this work. The bottom line: This is a fun movie. It fails to warm the heart as well as Turner and Hooch, but does not make you feel sorry for the dog like some other movies have, along this venue. It is entertaining and fun, and rates a 6.6/10 from...

    the Fiend :.
    9michaelzstuff

    One of the best canine-cop movies I've seen!!

    James Belushi) is a "loose cannon" cop. He has to do everything his own way on his own time and doesn't know the meaning of the word, "team-work" But after he screws up his last bust by buying a car from a car dealer and five minutes later proceeds to crash it into a building where the bad guys are dealing dope, he is assigned a new partner, a dog! To be exact. A rouge German Shepard that wants to be treated more like a person than a dog.

    Belushi is very convincing and hilarious in his role as a cop, and the dog, surprisingly (I never thought I'd write this), was a great actor and did a terrific job. Hat's off to his handler!

    There are predictable and very typical cop vs. bad guy moments, but overall I thought the movie was an extremely funny cop-doggy comedy, with a very predictable but humorous ending to it.

    When compared to other cop-dog movies like "Turner and Hooch," it's a credit to Belushi's comedic timing that this film wound up on the top 250!

    More like this

    K-911
    5.6
    K-911
    K-9: P.I.
    5.7
    K-9: P.I.
    Turner & Hooch
    6.2
    Turner & Hooch
    The Principal
    6.3
    The Principal
    Taking Care of Business
    6.4
    Taking Care of Business
    Red Heat
    6.1
    Red Heat
    5.9
    K-9
    Bird on a Wire
    6.0
    Bird on a Wire
    Mr. Destiny
    6.4
    Mr. Destiny
    K9
    K9
    The Hard Way
    6.4
    The Hard Way
    Look Who's Talking
    5.9
    Look Who's Talking

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although Jerry Lee is credited as playing himself in the opening credits, he was in fact played by multiple dogs during the shoot.

      The primary dog was named Rando, a three-year-old German Shepherd. A two-year-long search was held to find the right dog for the role and over forty dogs were considered. Eventually, four young Shepherds were brought from West Germany and trained for three months with Karl Lewis Miller. While typical dogs can understand 10-15 commands, Rando was able to perform anywhere from 125 to 150 actions.

      A separate dog that was used as a stand-in for some scenes was named Kondo, and was a real-life police dog with the Kansas City Police Department who was sadly killed in the line of duty in 1991, which has led to some confusion that "the dog from K-9" was killed while on duty.
    • Goofs
      After Jerry comes out of the car wash, Dooley opens the door and water spills out, but when Dooley gets into the car and leans back against the car seat, his jacket does not show any wetness when he leans forward again as he is pulling out of the car wash.
    • Quotes

      Tracy: Do you know you have an animal growing out of your pants?

      Dooley: Thanks, hon. I also have a dog here.

    • Crazy credits
      Jerry Lee is played by Rando, not Jerry Lee, as credited at the end.
    • Alternate versions
      The UK theatrical version was cut by 21 secs to secure a "12" rating and removed descriptions of a "Colombian Necktie". The 15 rated video version was uncut and the 12 rated DVD is also intact.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Miss Firecracker/K-9/Criminal Law/Scandal/84 Charlie Mopic (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Main Title (Theme From
      Jaws")"

      from Jaws (1975)

      Music composed by John Williams

      Courtesy of MCA Records

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ

    • How long is K-9?
      Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 28, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • K-nino
    • Filming locations
      • Hotel del Coronado - 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Gordon Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $43,247,647
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,471,035
      • Apr 30, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $78,247,647
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    K-9 (1989)
    Top Gap
    By what name was K-9 (1989) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.