My Father's Dragon

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My Father's Dragon

PG

2022

1h 39m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Fantasy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer's adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.

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Critics Consensus

My Father's Dragon will soar particularly high with very young viewers, but this animated adventure has something to offer audiences of all ages.

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John Nugent

Empire Magazine

Nov 13, 2022

4/5

Another smash from Cartoon Saloon, at once heartily funny and heartfelt. With this and The Breadwinner, director Nora Twomey is now two-for-two.

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Carlos Aguilar

RogerEbert.com

Nov 11, 2022

3.5/4

Cartoon Saloon's latest soul-soothing and modestly enchanting gift to the world.

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

Nov 11, 2022

Visually dazzling and emotionally resonant, though likely to appeal primarily to youngsters and genre buffs.

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Calum Cooper

In Their Own League

Jul 15, 2024

The stunning visuals, and especially the measured direction from Twomey heighten the emotional resonance of the film’s sage words of wisdom.

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Ruth Maramis

FlixChatter Film Blog

Jun 3, 2024

2.5/5

Despite the gorgeous animation and colorful visuals, overall it lacks enchantment and that magical touch I expect from the Irish Animation Studio.

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Nuha Hassan

Nuha Hassan (Medium)

Sep 8, 2023

My Father’s Dragon is a touching story about the fears of the world. The story provides a way for the characters to adjust to the world surrounding them.

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IzHenKel M

@RT13975312 Sep 10, 2026

Worst animated film, visually unappealing flick that’s not worth your time.

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diogo13 T

@Tua_mera Jul 15, 2026

A visually stunning and heartfelt fable. It's a simpler, more childlike story than the usual Cartoon Saloon fare, but it makes up for it with immense sensitivity in addressing childhood fears and friendship.

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Jorge M

@GeorgeJMartinozzi Jun 17, 2026

My Father's Dragon is pure magic. The animation is beautifull, the story is heartfelt, and every character feels full of warmth and charm. It has that rare storybook quality that makes you feel like you're being told a classic tale by a campfire. The relationship at the center of the film is genuinly touching, and the emotional moments hit harder than I expected. A wonderfully sweet adventure that deserves way more attention than it got.

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Farah R.

@Farah May 15, 2026

Impossible for older audiences to sit through. It’s just too boring and kiddish.

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Mark R

@Username652 Feb 25, 2026

Our family really enjoyed the movie and loved the fun adventure, heartfelt message, and beautiful animation.

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Meghan M

@RT43445473 Feb 8, 2026

My kids loved it and I really enjoyed the themes.

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Nora Twomey

Director

Gaten Matarazzo

Voice

Leighton Meester

Voice

Jackie Earle Haley

Voice

Golshifteh Farahani

Voice

Judy Greer

Voice

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Synopsis

Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer's adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.

Director: Nora Twomey
Producer: Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn, Tomm Moore, Paul Young
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Netflix Animation, Parallel Films, Cartoon Saloon, Mockingbird Pictures
Rating: PG (Some Peril)
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 4, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 11, 2022
Runtime: 1h 39m

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