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The Land Before Time

  • 1988
  • G
  • 1h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
105K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,066
787
Judith Barsi, Gabriel Damon, Candace Hutson, Will Ryan, and Frank Welker 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
    105K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,066
    787
    • Director
      • Don Bluth
    • Writers
      • Stu Krieger
      • Judy Freudberg
      • Tony Geiss
    • Stars
      • Pat Hingle
      • Gabriel Damon
      • Helen Shaver
    • 209User 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

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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 reviews209

    7.4104.6K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    10Bon_Jovi_chick

    Another timeless piece of that good old Don Bluth magic

    What do you get when you cross a bunch of dinosurs and Don Bluth?? Answer: this memorable classic!!!

    My mum bought me this film when I was 5 or 6 years and I loved it. 13 years on and my mind hasnt changed. I was watching it this morning and there was still that Bluth magic.

    In case you dont know, the film is about 5 dinosaurs- a "long neck", a "three horn", a "big mouth", a "flyer" and a "spike tail". Theyre travelling to the Great Valley whilst trying to fight off Sharp tooth.

    What makes this film a classic is the way things are named. Its educational to kids on dinosaurs and is done in a childish way. Its brilliant!!!! There are lessons to be learn with friendships.

    The sequels dont match up to it but what do you expect?? They werent done by Bluth!!!!

    Bluth may not have done as many animation as Disney but each of his films have shown something that Disney cannot do.

    Definelty one to own and keep on watching until the end of time!!!!

    Helen xxxxx
    KittyKat-8

    A great film for any age

    As many Disney fans may know, there are two(maybe more, I'm not sure)animated movies that came out in 1988, and they are:Oliver and Company and Land Before Time. Oliver and Company was a big flop, I've heard. Land Before Time is a lot better. My point is, just because a Disney movie and a non-Disney movie come out around the same time, it doesn't mean the Disney movie will necessarily be better. We found that out with LBT. Most of the sequels sucked, but the first one will always be a classic. About the only sequels I recommend are the 2nd one, the 4th one and the sing-along. Those are the only ones I personally liked.(Well, I haven't seen the 6th one, so if it's good or not you'll just have to find out yourself.) Well, I love The Land Before Time, and I love Littlefoot. He'll always be my favorite character. Well, I guess I've talked too long. Thanks.
    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.
    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.
    Ericho

    I don't care if they made eight sequels, this is still the best of all

    You heard me! Not even through the eight sequels, could they surpass the enjoyment of this one! The story is just classic. It's Don Bluth's finest work, I must say. It's ironically the only movie in the LBT series that was made for theaters! Pretty cool, huh?

    I couldn't believe when I read how this movie was only like 70 minutes long. It seems like a long time, since it's so good. You've got cool dinosaur characters, going alone on a journey to the Great Valley. I think it's entertaining the way they have different names for the dinosaur species. Like "Sharp-tooth" for a T. Rex, or "Three-Horns" for a Stegosauraus or "Long-Neck" for Brontosauraus. My favorite character is Peetree, who is pretty cute. Too bad about Judith Barsi dying. That actually makes it interesting because now I know all the times in the sequels she was voiced by a different person than this time. I hope I'll see this movie more often. It seems like forever since I've seen it.

    But then came the sequels. Part 4 was very nice(the best sequel yet), and Parts 2 and 3 were good, but after 4, let's face it. The movies are repetive and dull, just doing the same things its proceeders did. Why haven't they just made a TV show instead of all these sequels? Now, THAT would be something I'd like to see. This classic gets a 9/10

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    Related interests

    Sam Neill in Jurassic Park (1993)
    Dinosaur Adventure
    Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, and Samuel E. Wright in The Little Mermaid (1989)
    Hand-Drawn Animation
    Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
    Quest
    Society of the Snow (2023)
    Survival
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)
    Animation
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family

    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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