The defence The Popcorn Loyalist
“It owes the canon nothing.”
The movie pursues immediacy and audience pleasure without begging institutions to certify its worth.
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The Secret Life of Pets
Animation · Comedy · Family · 2016
The quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.
Movie details
The Secret Life of Pets
“Ever wonder what your pets do when you're not home?”
2016 Animation · Comedy · Family 1h 26m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.3 / 10
Community rating
The quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Secret Life of Pets?
For the defence
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Where it lives
Watch in your region.
Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.
Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.
Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Chris Renaud
Written by
Cinco Paul · Ken Daurio · Brian Lynch
Louis C.K.
Max (voice)
Eric Stonestreet
Duke (voice)
Kevin Hart
Snowball (voice)
Jenny Slate
Gidget (voice)
Ellie Kemper
Katie (voice)
Albert Brooks
Tiberius (voice)
Lake Bell
Chloe (voice)
Court is in session
Put The Secret Life of Pets on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“Easy pleasure, short half-life.”
It moves efficiently through the moment but offers little reason to keep arguing once the credits end.