Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Air Bud

  • 1997
  • PG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Air Bud (1997)
Trailer #1
Play trailer0:59
1 Video
73 Photos
Animal AdventureBasketballHigh-Concept ComedySlapstickComedyDramaFamilySport

An unexpected player joins the school basketball team - a circus dog who escaped from a cruel master.An unexpected player joins the school basketball team - a circus dog who escaped from a cruel master.An unexpected player joins the school basketball team - a circus dog who escaped from a cruel master.

  • Director
    • Charles Martin Smith
  • Writers
    • Kevin DiCicco
    • Paul Tamasy
    • Aaron Mendelsohn
  • Stars
    • Michael Jeter
    • Kevin Zegers
    • Wendy Makkena
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    21K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Charles Martin Smith
    • Writers
      • Kevin DiCicco
      • Paul Tamasy
      • Aaron Mendelsohn
    • Stars
      • Michael Jeter
      • Kevin Zegers
      • Wendy Makkena
    • 58User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Air Bud: Special Edition
    Trailer 0:59
    Air Bud: Special Edition

    Photos73

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 67
    View Poster

    Top cast54

    Edit
    Michael Jeter
    Michael Jeter
    • Norm Snively
    Kevin Zegers
    Kevin Zegers
    • Josh Framm
    Wendy Makkena
    Wendy Makkena
    • Jackie Framm
    Bill Cobbs
    Bill Cobbs
    • Arthur Chaney
    Eric Christmas
    Eric Christmas
    • Judge Cranfield
    Jay Brazeau
    Jay Brazeau
    • Referee 1
    Nicola Cavendish
    Nicola Cavendish
    • Principal Pepper
    Brendan Fletcher
    Brendan Fletcher
    • Larry Willingham
    Norman Browning
    • Buck Willingham
    Stephen E. Miller
    Stephen E. Miller
    • Coach Barker
    Shayn Solberg
    • Tom
    Chris Turner
    • Greg
    Christine Kennedy
    • Melissa
    Frank C. Turner
    Frank C. Turner
    • Bailiff
    Marion Dodd
    • Reporter
    • (as Marian Dodd)
    Ursula Martin
    • Party Mom
    Kevin DiCicco
    • Referee 2
    Jessebel Mather
    • Andrea Framm
    • Director
      • Charles Martin Smith
    • Writers
      • Kevin DiCicco
      • Paul Tamasy
      • Aaron Mendelsohn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews58

    5.320.5K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6Sandcooler

    A dog plays basketball, tough not to like

    I loved this movie when I was a kid, and even back then I had little idea why. I mean, it wasn't like I thought it was particularly funny or touching or anything like that. I guess I just really liked the basic premise, because you have to admit the central idea is pretty weird and nutty. How stoned do you have to get before you come up with a dog that plays basketball? How would that even remotely work? I'm really putting too much thought in this movie I guess, but it's just so bizarre that I've always found it very entertaining. I've learned the sequels actually stretch the premise even further and involve dogs that can play soccer, baseball and volleyball, but this one will always be the one and only original "dog does weird athletic stuff it can't possibly do"-flick.
    daisy-6

    the best Disney movie

    this is the best movie... the dog can play basketball.you just got to love buddy he is so cute.
    eaw1990osaka

    A simple, innocent, mildely intertaning after school special.

    A young boy who's father has passed away moves to a new town with his baby sister and mother, with little hopes of making new friends or getting over his father's death: until he finds a dog who can play basketball! Turning suddenly from being an incompetent water boy, whom only dreams of joining the school basketball team, to an admirable young athlete with his great new dog, Buddy.

    A mildly entertaining afternoon special for kids. With it's innocence and slitly comicle charm, this movie, like all other afterschool specials has it's moments. I wouldn't say it was funny, it dosn't have what most of the modern day kids or pre-teens are looking for in their entertainment: Bombs going off, blood, martial arts or showy costumes. It's the type of thing for a family with three or four children of mixed ages to watch with their mother before nap time. Isn't obscene like most movies even a nine year old might watch these days, yet isn't Barnie or Elmo either.
    RexMantis

    Family movie

    This is a good movie for younger kids despite some brief mild language. The dog playing basketball just doesn't make sense to me though. I could take the ball away from the dog and its not like he has the height advantage. If you have small kids they would enjoy it.
    williamj-2

    undemanding fun

    This movie is undemanding fun. while it's refreshing to see a film that does not rely on -or even use- computer-generated effects, the set-up is that the guy, Michael Jeter, is shown to be a baddie because of his treatment of the dog as his co-star in his crummy clown show. As an audience we must share complicity in this, as 'Buddy' performs for our entertainment, and that dog (and his two doubles) really do score those baskets. But, all political correctness aside, the movie is enjoyable enough. Underused though is the excellent Brendan Fletcher as the 'bad kid'.

    More like this

    Air Bud: Golden Receiver
    4.5
    Air Bud: Golden Receiver
    Air Bud: World Pup
    4.5
    Air Bud: World Pup
    Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch
    4.4
    Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch
    Air Bud: Spikes Back
    4.0
    Air Bud: Spikes Back
    Air Buddies
    4.7
    Air Buddies
    Snow Buddies
    5.1
    Snow Buddies
    Super Buddies
    4.2
    Super Buddies
    Santa Buddies
    4.5
    Santa Buddies
    Space Buddies
    4.3
    Space Buddies
    Spooky Buddies
    4.6
    Spooky Buddies
    Treasure Buddies
    4.4
    Treasure Buddies
    Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
    5.9
    Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Finished filming in less than a month.
    • Goofs
      The roads, streets, etc. change from dry to wet to dry in the same scene.
    • Quotes

      Referee #1: Ain't no rules says a dog can't play basketball.

    • Connections
      Edited into Primary Colors (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Clair
      Written and Performed by Gilbert O'Sullivan

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ21

    • How long is Air Bud?Powered by Alexa
    • What movies feature games of wacky basketball?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 1997 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
      • Singapore
      • Cambodia
      • Bangladesh
      • Aruba
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Disney's Air Bud
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Walt Disney Pictures
      • Keystone Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,144,499
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,878,632
      • Aug 3, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,144,499
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Air Bud (1997)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for Air Bud (1997)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.