Trailer
Summary
A lonely boy befriends a stray dog who has a natural talent for basketball and together they experience the highs and lows of life as their friendship remains solid through a series of escapades.
Good for
- Family movie night
- Friends night
- Party vibe
Skip it if
- You want dark or edgy material
Where to watch
Fingerprint
At a glance
Critics vs audiences
Critics and audiences agree
Critics 50Audiences 49GoodWatch 50
Tomatometer50%
Letterboxd · 54 K ratings2.8/5
IMDb5.4
Audience score38%
Box office
7.7×its budget
- Budget
- $3 M
- Worldwide
- $23 M
Worldwide it earned $20 M more than it cost.
Running time
1 h 38 min
A typical length for comedies
typical 10098Half of all comedies run 91–111 min.
Reach
Streams in 130 countries, rent or buy in 2 more
+120Released
1997
August 1, 1997
29 years ago
Genres
ComedyFamilyLanguage
English
Original language
Made in
- Canada
Rated
- PGUnited States
Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.
What's in it
- ViolenceLittle or none
- Gore, disturbing imagesLittle or none
- Frightening scenesLittle or none
- Sex, nudityLittle or none
- Dark themesLittle or none
Levels from the title analysis.
Viewing guide
AdultsFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure Escapism19 of 19
Kevin ZegersJosh Framm
Wendy MakkenaJackie Framm
Michael JeterNorm Snively
Bill CobbsArthur Chaney
Eric ChristmasJudge Cranfield
Brendan FletcherLarry Willingham- NBNorman BrowningBuck Willingham
Jay BrazeauReferee 1
Nicola CavendishPrincipal Pepper
Stephen E. MillerCoach Barker
Shayn SolbergTom
Chris TurnerGreg- CKChristine KennedyMelissa
Frank C. TurnerBailiff Officer J. Anderson, Bailiff- MDMarion DoddReporter
- UMUrsula MartinParty Mom
- KDKevin DiCiccoReferee 2
- JMJessebel MatherAndrea Framm
- KMKati MatherAndrea Framm
Directing · 6
- Charles Martin Smith Director
- Nancy Sorge Second Assistant Director
- Richard Martin Second Unit Director
- Kelsey T. Howard First Assistant Director
- Susan Lambie Script Supervisor
- Kerry L. Hsu Third Assistant Director
Writing · 3
- Aaron Mendelsohn Writer
- Paul Tamasy Writer
- Kevin DiCicco Characters
Production · 17
- Harvey Weinstein Executive Producer
- Bob Weinstein Executive Producer
- Anne Vince Executive Producer
- Michael Strange Executive Producer
- William Vince Producer
- Robert Vince Producer
Camera · 14
- Mike Southon Director of Photography
- Richard Eagan First Assistant "B" Camera
- Kharen Hill Still Photographer
- Derek Grieves Dolly Grip
- David Frazee Second Unit Director of Photography
- Chris Michie Second Assistant "B" Camera
Editing · 4
- Alison Grace Editor
- Kelly Herron Assistant Editor
- Ryan Clarke Assistant Editor
- Bert Bush Negative Cutter
Sound · 16
- Brahm Wenger Original Music Composer
- Marc Chiasson Dialogue Editor
- Rachel Santoy Music Coordinator
- Joseph Pollard White Conductor
- Patric Caird Music Editor
- Bill Sheppard Sound Supervisor
Art · 13
- Elizabeth Wilcox Production Design
- Eric Fraser Art Direction
- Grant Van Der Slagt Assistant Art Director
- Diana Conway Assistant Set Decoration
- Charles Leitrants Construction Coordinator
- Kim Steer Title Designer
Costume & Make-Up · 6
- Jana Stern Costume Design
- Andrea Simpson Hairstylist
- Joann Fowler Makeup Artist
- Naomi Bakstad Makeup & Hair Assistant
- Zina Richardson Truck Costumer
- Carolyn Cameron Assistant Costume Designer
Visual Effects · 1
- Richard Trus Visual Effects
Lighting · 2
- Paul Macey Rigging Gaffer
- Todd Elyzen Gaffer
Other crew · 11
- Scott J. Ateah Stunt Coordinator
- Bill Stewart Stunt Coordinator
- Keith Wardlow Stunts
- Kimberly Howie Stunts
- Rolly Montrose Transportation Coordinator
- Leslie McMichael Stunts
Tropes
More like this
Watch order
The Air Bud series
Film 1 of 6 · then Air Bud: Golden Receiver
- Air Bud (1997)
GoodWatch score 50You're here
- Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998)
GoodWatch score 33Film 2
- Air Bud: World Pup (2001)
GoodWatch score 49Film 3
- Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (2002)
GoodWatch score 50Film 4
- Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003)
GoodWatch score 48Film 5
Film 6 · coming
Similar
Most like Air Bud overall
Nearest on the related map: closest in everything it does to you, not one trait
- Meatballs (1979)
GoodWatch score 63 - Champions (2018)
GoodWatch score 76 - Breaking Away (1979)
GoodWatch score 86 - Yolo (2024)
GoodWatch score 77 - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992)
GoodWatch score 82 - Sixer (2022)
GoodWatch score 81 - Jaadugar (2022)
GoodWatch score 64 - Best of the Best (2026)
GoodWatch score 65 - Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story (2005)
GoodWatch score 64 - Hustle (2022)
GoodWatch score 78 - Chhichhore (2019)
GoodWatch score 71 - The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
GoodWatch score 80 - Racket Boys (2021)
GoodWatch score 66 - Cool Runnings (1993)
GoodWatch score 70 - They Called Him Bulldozer (1978)
GoodWatch score 67 - Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
GoodWatch score 71
Same genre
More family movies
- Ratatouille (2007)
GoodWatch score 89 - The Lion King (1994)
GoodWatch score 88 - Kung Fu Panda (2008)
GoodWatch score 82 - The School of Rock (2003)
GoodWatch score 79 - Toy Story 5 (2026)
GoodWatch score 73 - Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
GoodWatch score 70 - The Little Mermaid (1989)
GoodWatch score 83 - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
GoodWatch score 64