Product Info

Studio

Paramount Animation

Director

Cal Brunker

Genre

Action, Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy

Rated

PG

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Aug 14, 2026

Film Length

1hr 28min

Purchase From

Home » PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie (Review)

PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is the third spin-off movie from the popular children’s television series that provides an entertaining time for the young audience by exploring a new land where dinosaurs still exist. The Dino Movie serves as an entertaining movie to end the summer before the kids head back to school.

A Howling New Discovery

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The film starts off with a rescue mission out at sea that introduces the audience to the main characters of the film, a team of pups called the PAW Patrol. The film does a noticeable job of catching up newcomers like me on the characters and their roles, but those familiar with the franchise are already ahead. We also have a guest voice in just the beginning, Snoop Dogg, who plays a father on the yacht that needs rescuing. There are a few comical moments that set up the tone for the film where one of the pups, a dalmatian named Marshall, is rescuing a cat from a yacht.

After the rescue, the PAW Patrol runs into a massive storm. After the rescue, a massive storm crashes the team onto an uncharted island inhabited by dinosaurs. An intriguing theme that enhances the film’s entertainment value is its exploration of a fantasy world set in the prehistoric era. When it was first introduced that dinosaurs are alive, it was shown that the concept could be a survival theme but quickly changed when a new dinosaur, a tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex) named Timmy, helps the pups. Confused at first, we are then introduced to a new pup who’s in a rear-support dog wheelchair named Rex, an ironic name.

Rex then states that he has been living on the island for years, has learned to coexist with the other dinosaurs, and that they are all friendly, which quickly changes the film’s tone to be more kid-friendly. It’s a different take than you would anticipate, but for a target audience under the age of 6, the film feels appropriate to have less violence involving dinosaurs. Dinosaurs will be the biggest selling point of the film, and the movie does a good job introducing these reptiles as they work with the pups and the rest of the human cast.

Later in the film, we are introduced to a new baby T-Rex named Rhubarb, who shows a strong, friendly affection towards Marshall, who was rescued from falling into a raging river. Designwise, he does look adorable for a T-Rex, and the companionship between him and Marshall at times gives vibes of Mario and Yoshi in the Super Mario franchise, minus the long-tongue eating abilities. It’s a good set as a focal point, since Marshall is the main focus of the movie.

All Eyes on Marshall

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Like the previous PAW Patrol films, each pup was the focal point in overcoming their personal conflict. In the 2021 film, Chase was dealing with fear and anxiety. In 2023, Skye was trying to overcome feelings of powerlessness and self-worth. In this dinosaur film, Marshall’s attempts to overcome his clumsiness lead to self-doubt regarding his role on the team.

The animated film plays on the clumsiness of Marshall as a comedy bit but continues to showcase it as a bit redundant. Later in the film, Marshall’s clumsiness leads to more serious events that result in negative outcomes, causing him to feel depressed and doubt his actions. However, the film doesn’t attack the negativity about it and instead shows more positive influences. For example, instead of yelling and pointing fingers at the troubled pup, the group tries to uplift Marshall with kind words and enthusiasm. It works at times for the pup, but the more that occurs, the worse he feels. He feels worse, but the film dives into another meaning of “never giving up.” There’s a flashback to Marshall’s past and how he became a PAW Patrol member that plays on the theme and foreshadows it for later in the film.

Another positive influence in the film occurs when the team of pups meets Rex for the first time, showcasing his positive impact. They didn’t question his wheelchair and made him feel welcomed. It incorporates these positive messages throughout the film.

You can expect future PAW Patrol films to focus on the other pups that haven’t had a chance to shine in any of these three films.

A Predictable Ruff Plan

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After introducing the new world where the PAW Patrol will be spending their time, the film returns to a city where we meet the antagonist, Mayor Humdinger. Fans of the show will know who the character is, but again, for those who are new to the cartoon, the film does a good job presenting that he’s going to cause trouble for the pups and perhaps more. Humdinger appears very selfish and hires two helpers to extract the natural resources from the new island of dinosaurs. There is a cause-and-effect relationship that will create a problem for the entire island. Despite how well the film introduces these characters to the audience in such little time, the story is predictable. There’s discussion about a dormant volcano and what Humdinger is after. There are moments with some twists that aim to keep things unpredictable, such as Humdinger being given a choice of his actions rather than just throwing him in jail, which is typical for children’s cartoon shows.

Marshall, trying to overcome his own issues, manages to confront the problem by “not giving up” and save the day. Still, there were some intriguing moments, especially in the second half, which felt more action-packed across the small island. Children will enjoy some of the suspense moments, and that’s a wonderful achievement for the film.

The film paces itself pretty well, and while some may want more backstory on Rex or Marshall, it delivers enough for its target audience to enjoy from beginning to end. Adults may find the story to be lackluster and a bit dull due to the lack of big turns of events and comical moments for them to chuckle at, which you normally see in films like those from Pixar and DreamWorks.

Visually Paw-fect

© 2026 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The environmental visuals are stunning in PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, a new island of dinosaurs, looks vibrant and beautiful. Movements between dinosaurs, pups, and humans look smooth and don’t showcase any stiffness. Lighting effects look excellent during the day and at night, as light bounces off objects such as the helmets worn by the pups. Camera movements are swift during the action, and there are some creative transitions between scenes that help carry the attention span through the film.

Animations carry great detail from the designs of the vehicles the pups ride in or on the leaves of the tropical island. It’s surprising that these frequently used vehicles lack more details like scuffs and dirt. They seem to have been constantly cleaned. When a vehicle is demolished, it then starts to show wear and tear. Regarding the pups, they rarely look dirty, and the only time I’ve noticed any grunge was when Marshall was covered in mud in his backstory and during the climax of the film.

Sound effects sound excellent and not overpowering for the young audience. The film also doesn’t overwhelm itself with licensed music, but we are introduced to a new track from the Backstreet Boys called “Bottle Up,” which is surprising to know they are still making new tracks since 1995.

The Final Roar

PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie delivers a pawtastic colorful prehistoric adventure with impressive animation. Its predictable story and recycled jokes hold it back, but its positive messages and exciting rescue missions make the film a fun outing for younger PAW Patrol fans.

An early screening of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie was provided for this review. PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie arrives in theaters on August 14, 2026. Fans can visit the film’s official website for more information and ticket purchasing.