Isle of Dogs (2018)
Kernel Score: 87% · 5,307 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Animation
Released: 2018-03-23
Runtime: 101 minutes
Is Isle of Dogs worth watching?
Worth watching. Wes Anderson's stop-motion tale of banished dogs and a boy hunting for his pet looks wonderful and has real heart. Viewers mostly love it, though a few find the deadpan style cold.
Watch it if you
- like Wes Anderson's dry, tightly designed worlds
- enjoy stop-motion animation
- want a dog story that isn't saccharine
Skip it if you
- want a simple, warm kids' cartoon
- find deadpan humour and stylised dialogue tiresome
Best for: Adults and older kids
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Isle of Dogs
- Stream: Disney+, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In the future, an outbreak of canine flu leads the mayor of a Japanese city to banish all dogs to an island used as a garbage dump. The outcasts must soon embark on an epic journey when a 12-year-old boy arrives on the island to find his beloved pet.
Isle of Dogs parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Isle of Dogs is a PG-13 stop-motion animated adventure about dogs banished to a garbage-dump island and the boy who searches for his pet.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Mostly mild peril in a stylized stop-motion setting; some canine skirmishes.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Isle of Dogs
If you liked Isle of Dogs, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) — 87%: Anderson's other stop-motion animal adventure, with the same dry wit and handmade look.
- Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) — 86%: Stop-motion adventure set in Japan, with real emotional weight.
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) — 89%: Anderson at his most polished, with the same precise design and comedy.
- Moonrise Kingdom (2012) — 86%: Anderson's tender story of young outsiders running off on their own.
- The Wrong Trousers (1993) — 88%: Handmade British stop-motion comedy with a loyal dog at its centre.
- My Life as a Zucchini (2016) — 87%: Small, human stop-motion story about outcasts finding each other.
Director
Cast
- Bryan Cranston as Chief (voice)
- Koyu Rankin as Atari Kobayashi (voice)
- Bob Balaban as King (voice)
- Edward Norton as Rex (voice)
- Bill Murray as Boss (voice)
- Jeff Goldblum as Duke (voice)
- Kunichi Nomura as Mayor Kobayashi (voice)
- Fisher Stevens as Scrap (voice)
- Akira Takayama as Major Domo (voice)
- Greta Gerwig as Tracy Walker (voice)
Isle of Dogs FAQ
Is Isle of Dogs worth watching?
Worth watching. Wes Anderson's stop-motion tale of banished dogs and a boy hunting for his pet looks wonderful and has real heart. Viewers mostly love it, though a few find the deadpan style cold.
Where can I watch Isle of Dogs?
In the US you can stream Isle of Dogs on Disney+, HBO Max and Cinemax Apple TV channel and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Isle of Dogs OK for kids?
Isle of Dogs is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Isle of Dogs is a PG-13 stop-motion animated adventure about dogs banished to a garbage-dump island and the boy who searches for his pet.
What movies are like Isle of Dogs?
If you liked Isle of Dogs, try Fantastic Mr. Fox, Kubo and the Two Strings, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom.