Bolt (2008)

The canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show that believes his powers are real embarks on a cross country trek to save his co-star from a threat he believes is just as real.

Directors:

Byron Howard, Chris Williams

Writers:

Dan Fogelman (screenplay by), Chris Williams (screenplay by)

Stars:

John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Bolt (voice)
Miley Cyrus	...	Penny (voice)
Susie Essman	...	Mittens (voice)
Mark Walton	...	Rhino (voice)
Malcolm McDowell	...	Dr. Calico (voice)
James Lipton	...	The Director (voice)
Greg Germann	...	The Agent (voice)
Diedrich Bader	...	Veteran Cat (voice)
Nick Swardson	...	Blake (voice)
J.P. Manoux	...	Tom (voice)
Dan Fogelman	...	Billy (voice)
Kari Wahlgren	...	Mindy (voice)
Chloë Grace Moretz	...	Young Penny (voice) (as Chloë Moretz)
Randy Savage	...	Thug (voice)
Ronn Moss	...	Dr. Forrester (voice)

Storyline

Bolt, an American white shepherd, has lived his whole life on the set of his action TV show, where he believes he has superpowers. When separated from the studio by accident, he meets a female alley cat named Mittens and a hamster named Rhino. He's trying to find the way home, to the studio. Along the way, he learns that he doesn't have superpowers and that the show is not real.

---

Plot Keywords:

reference to tiger beat magazine | time bomb | 3 dimensional | supernatural power | heartfelt | 

---

Taglines:

Fully Awesome. Ridonculous. Let It Begin.

---

Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild action and peril

Did You Know?

Trivia

Storyboarded but not animated was a scene in Las Vegas, where Bolt (who was just passing through the city with Mittens and Rhino, and foraging for food) is confronted in a dark alley by two Doberman Pinschers, who proceed to brutally bum-rush him, and rip off his collar (complete with ironic quick cuts of clips from the "Bolt" TV show playing on a big TV display, which Rhino was watching, in the city nearby). Left for dead by the two dogs, Bolt, disillusioned, realizes that his "super powers" are not real (which was further emphasized when Bolt then sees the program for himself). The producers decided to nix this scene, as they not only felt that it was way too dark, but it didn't fit into the story structurally.

---

Goofs

The front of the train is visible going under the bridge just before Bolt, Rhino, and Mittens jump. Later, both ends of the train are visible. The train is much shorter than the length of the time between the first sighting of it and them jumping would suggest.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Young Penny: [points to puppy Bolt, decisively] That one.

---

Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits, a hamster running in a hamster wheel comes up with the words. When he stops running, the words stop moving. Another hamster enters in from the left to take his place. After a high-five, they switch. The first hamster walks off, the second starts running, and the credits resume rolling.

---

Alternate Versions

In Russia the movie is called "Volt", because "Bolt" is Russian slang for penis.

---

Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Sassiest Disney Characters (2020)

---

Soundtracks

Barking at the Moon
Written and Performed by Jenny Lewis
Produced by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings with Jenny Lewis & Johnathan Rice
Recorded and Mixed by Jason Lader
Jenny Lewis appears courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

User Reviews

Truly A Disney Film!

I can't remember any film produced by Disney that I ever disliked. Every movie they made, whether it's Pixar or not, is a great movie to watch. Bolt is no exception. In fact, this brings Disney to another level.

This film is about the bonds of friendship between Bolt, a "superdog" and Penny, a young actress. Bolt thinks he has super powers but he he obviously does not. He realizes that when he takes a cross-country trek with a mangy cat and a weird hamster to save his human companion.

I guess you could say the voiceovers are great. John Travolta and Miley Cyrus certainly did a good job.

I liked the music in this film. I shouldn't be surprised because Travolta did star in Grease thirty years ago. The duet with Cyrus is a great song.

This movie deserved to win some bigtime awards. The only reason this did not happen because Wall-E overshadowed this film.

This is one of the best Disney animated films this decade. Actually, most of them are great animations. Anyway, I rate this film 10/10.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

American Dog

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney Feature Animation - 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$150,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,223,128, 23 November 2008

Gross USA:

$114,053,579

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$309,979,994

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital EX DTS-ES

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1