GoodWatchSign up

Where the Red Fern Grows

2003·Movie
1h 26min·PG
IMDb6.4

Where to watch

PrimePeacockThe RokuKanopyHoopla

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Where the Red Fern Grows fingerprint

Big heart, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension4
  • Spectacle4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Deeply moving and wholesome

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Pathos9
  • Wholesome8
  • Coming of Age8

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Situational Comedy1
  • Dark Humor1

World

Growing up, family, and faith and meaning

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure EscapismThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want something to laugh at

Find more like it

Bittersweet moviesPeaceful movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Set in the Ozark Mountains during the Great Depression, Billy Coleman works hard and saves his earnings for 2 years to achieve his dream of buying two coonhound pups. He develops a new trust in God as he faces overwhelming challenges in adventure and tragedy roaming the river bottoms of Cherokee country with "Old Dan" and "Little Ann."
Coming-of-Age StoryBoy and His DogsOzark MountainsDepression-EraTriumph and TragedySpiritual AwakeningRural LifeFamily BondsLoyalty and Friendship

Crew

Directed by:
Sam Pillsbury, Lyman Dayton
Written by:
Sam Pillsbury, Douglas C. Stewart, Eleanor Lamb
Produced by:
Brian Avery, Ryan R. Johnson, Jim McCullough Jr.
Composed by:
Jeff Cardoni

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Where the Red Fern Grows

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Where the Red Fern Grows legally?

PrimePeacockThe RokuKanopyHooplaFandango at Home FreePluto TVPlex

Where the Red Fern Grows is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and Peacock Premium+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Fandango at Home Free. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Where the Red Fern Grows worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 65/100 (IMDb 6.4). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Where the Red Fern Grows rated?

PG

It's rated PG in the United States.

How long is Where the Red Fern Grows?

1 h 26 min

Where the Red Fern Grows runs 1 h 26 min.

What language is Where the Red Fern Grows in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Where the Red Fern Grows?

33ARATAUBOBRBZCACHCLCOCRDEDKEC+19

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Where the Red Fern Grows in 33 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Where the Red Fern Grows use?

Adaptation Dye-JobAdaptation Species ChangeAgony of the FeetAlas, Poor VillainAlliterative FamilyAwesome Moment of CrowningBittersweet EndingBoke and Tsukkomi RoutineDeus ex MachinaClassical HunterChekhov's GunmanHalf-Witted Hillbillyand 23 more

TV Tropes lists 35 storytelling tropes for Where the Red Fern Grows, including Adaptation Dye-Job, Adaptation Species Change, Agony of the Feet.