๐Ÿฟ PopcornCheck
The Secret Life of Pets poster

Is The Secret Life of Pets OK for Kids?

AnimationComedyFamilyAdventure
6+
PGโญ 6.5 / 102016 ยท 1h 26m
Chris Renaud

Where to Watch

United States

Stream

HuluPeacock PremiumPeacock Premium Plus

Rent

Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At Home
Rent or Buy on Amazon

Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay
๐Ÿ—ก๏ธViolence
Mildโ–ผ
Moments in the script, mildest โ†’ most intense
6
Cartoon / Comedic
3
Action & Peril
0
Injuries & Death Shown
0
Graphic & Disturbing
  • Max and Duke are knocked into bushes while chasing a squirrel, and later fight/wrestle over a bed and food bowl in slapstick, cartoon-style scuffles.
  • Cats attack the dogs on an apartment building roof in a comedic, exaggerated skirmish.
  • The Flushed Pets gang chases and attacks Max and Duke through the sewers, and later Pops' crew is chased through a sausage factory โ€” both played as action/peril rather than graphic violence.
  • A Brooklyn gang vs. heroes fight sequence occurs on a bridge, alongside Animal Control van chase-and-crash sequences and Snowball repeatedly punching/fighting Tattoo, all in a cartoonish, non-graphic style.
  • No character deaths are shown; overall violence is comedic or action-adventure in tone with no blood or lasting injury depicted.
๐Ÿ’ฌLanguage
Very Mildโ–ผ
Moments in the script, mildest โ†’ most intense
8
Mild Words
(damn, hell)
0
Moderate
(ass, b**ch)
0
Strong
(sh*t)
0
Extreme
(f**k)
  • Characters use only mild words: 'dumb' (1), 'stupid' (2), 'crazy' (3), 'hell' (1), and 'poo-poo' (1).
  • No creative insults or near-profanity beyond these mild terms were identified.
  • No f-words, s-words, or any strong profanity of any kind detected in the script.
๐Ÿ‘ปScary Scenes
Moderateโ–ผ
Moments in the script, mildest โ†’ most intense
3
Mildly Tense
2
Startling Moments
2
Genuinely Scary
0
Deeply Disturbing
  • Duke suddenly appears as Max tries to manipulate him off the bed, a brief startling jump moment.
  • Max gets lost in a dark shed with Tiberius the hawk, unsure if he's being hunted โ€” a tense, suspenseful scene for young viewers.
  • The Flushed Pets gang reveals their plan for 'revenge' and threatens violence, which is genuinely intimidating in tone, and Duke discovers his former owner's house occupied by a hostile stranger, an emotionally scary moment.
  • A viper snake is summoned for an initiation bite as a startling sudden moment, and Max and Duke being caught by the Animal Control van creates additional tension.
  • All scary moments are resolved with the heroes escaping or the situation being defused, without lingering horror.
๐Ÿ’•Romance
Very Mildโ–ผ
Moments in the script, mildest โ†’ most intense
4
Crushes & Holding Hands
0
Kissing & Dating
0
Suggestive
0
Sexual Content
  • Gidget declares she loves Max 'with all of my heart,' and later hides her feelings from the other pets โ€” this is an innocent crush dynamic.
  • Max awkwardly attempts to express appreciation for Gidget at the end of the film.
  • Snowball the rabbit becomes interested in Gidget and refers to her as his 'girlfriend,' again played for comedy rather than romance.
  • Nothing sexual is implied or shown anywhere in the film โ€” all romantic content is limited to innocent crush-level feelings.
๐ŸบSubstances
Very Mildโ–ผ
Moments in the script, mildest โ†’ most intense
1
Mentioned in Passing
0
Shown Casually
0
Featured Prominently
0
Glorified or Abused
  • Mel mentions that his owner gave him a 'small white pill' that caused drowsiness before a flight โ€” a brief passing reference.
  • This is not shown on screen, glorified, or dwelt upon; it's a quick comedic line.
  • No actual substance use is depicted anywhere in the film.
โšกStimulation
Moderateโ–ผ
Moments in the script, mildest โ†’ most intense
0
Gently Engaging
1
Exciting
3
Intense
0
Overwhelming
  • A chase sequence through Brooklyn with multiple vehicles and stunts is fast-paced and high-energy.
  • The wild truck ride with Pops' crew through city streets is exciting but slightly less overwhelming than other sequences.
  • The sewer chase with the Flushed Pets gang hunting the protagonists, and the Brooklyn Bridge confrontation with multiple animal gangs, are both intense with rapid movement and heightened stakes.
  • Sensory-sensitive children may find the back-to-back chase and confrontation sequences a lot to take in, though nothing reaches chaotic sensory overload.
The Secret Life of Pets โ€” Heads Up for Parents

Parents may be surprised that the Flushed Pets gang sequence includes a viper snake initiation bite scene and genuinely threatening 'revenge' rhetoric against humans โ€” more intense than the film's lighthearted marketing suggests.

About The Secret Life of Pets

This is an animated comedy-adventure about Max, a pampered terrier whose comfortable life is upended when his owner brings home a big, shaggy rescue dog named Duke. When the two end up lost in New York City and cross paths with a gang of abandoned 'Flushed Pets' seeking revenge on humans, Max's other pet friends band together to rescue him. The tone is mostly light and comedic, with brief stretches of chase-based action and peril.

โœ…
Fine for kids to watch alone
Most content is mild and comedic in nature, though parents of children under 6 may want to watch together given the tense shed scene with Tiberius the hawk and the intimidating Flushed Pets gang reveal.

Family Takeaways from The Secret Life of Pets

What it gets right

  • โœ“The film shows found family and belonging through Katie welcoming Duke into her home despite him being a large, unfamiliar rescue dog.
  • โœ“It models conflict resolution through Duke and Max's arc from fighting over the bed and food bowl to becoming true friends and 'brothers.'

The Secret Life of Pets Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes
โ—Traditional family values

The film centers on themes of found family, loyalty, and belonging, shown through Katie welcoming Duke into her home and Max and Duke becoming genuine brothers.

Cast:Louis C.K.Eric StonestreetKevin HartJenny SlateEllie Kemper

Is The Secret Life of Pets Appropriate for Your Child's Age?

โœ—Age 5: Not recommended for 5-year-olds
โœ“Age 8: Generally appropriate for 8-year-olds
โœ“Age 10: Generally appropriate for 10-year-olds
โœ“Age 12: Generally appropriate for 12-year-olds
โœ“Age 13: Generally appropriate for 13-year-olds
โœ“Age 15: Generally appropriate for 15-year-olds
โœ“Age 17: Generally appropriate for 17-year-olds

Individual children may vary โ€” use your judgment.

Parents also ask about The Secret Life of Pets

  • Is The Secret Life of Pets appropriate for a 6-year-old?
  • Does The Secret Life of Pets have violence?
  • Is The Secret Life of Pets OK for kids?
  • What is the age rating for The Secret Life of Pets?

You might also like

Browse more parent guides

All movies Aโ€“ZAnimation moviesComedy moviesFamily moviesAdventure moviesMovies for 6-year-olds