Brother Bear

2003, Kids & family/Animation, 1h 25m

132 Reviews 100,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Brother Bear is gentle and pleasant if unremarkable Disney fare, with so-so animation and generic plotting. Read critic reviews

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Brother Bear Photos

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Movie Info

Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix) is a young Indian brave with a particular distaste for bears. When his brother Sitka (D.B. Sweeney) is killed by one, Kenai in turn kills the bear, only to be magically transformed into one himself. To make matters worse, his other brother Denahi (Jason Raize) vows to kill the bear Kenai has become. Kenai's only hope is a magical mountain where he believes he can be changed back to a human, and he enlists a real bear cub, Koda, to get him there.
  • Rating:
    G
  • Genre:
    Kids & family, Animation, Adventure
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
  • Producer:
    Igor Khait
  • Writer:
    Tab Murphy
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $85.3M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Buena Vista Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Joaquin Phoenix
Kenai
Voice
Jeremy Suarez
Koda
Voice
Jason Raize
Denahi
Voice
Rick Moranis
Rutt
Voice
Dave Thomas
Tuke
Voice
D.B. Sweeney
Sitka
Voice
Joan Copeland
Tanana
Voice
Michael Clarke Duncan
Tug
Voice
Harold Gould
Old Denahi
Voice
Paul Christie
Ram #1
Voice
Danny Mastrogiorgio
Ram #2
Voice
Estelle Harris
Old Lady Bear
Voice
Greg Proops
Male Lover Bear
Voice
Pauley Perrette
Female Lover Bear
Voice
Bumper Robinson
Chipmunks
Voice
Aaron Blaise
Director
Robert Walker
Director
Tab Murphy
Writer
Mark Mancina
Music
Igor Khait
Producer
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Brother Bear

All Critics (132) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (83)
Full Review… Sheila Norman-Culp Associated Press Full Review… Neil Norman London Evening Standard Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media Full Review… J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Full Review… Todd McCarthy Variety Full Review… Bruce Westbrook Houston Chronicle Full Review… Sergio Benítez Espinof Full Review… Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net Full Review… Mark Steyn The Spectator Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Full Review… Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Full Review… Urban Cinefile Critics Urban Cinefile
View All Critic Reviews (132)

Audience Reviews for Brother Bear

  • Dec 28, 2014
    The only thing worth watching this film for was the soundtrack by Phil Collins. Brother Bear is a dull film with cliches and bad jokes.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Mar 14, 2012
    When you need a passable family animation for an afternoon in, turn to "Brother Bear". It has nice moments and a good animation style, but the storyline was generic and predictable, with overplayed stereotypes of natives and of Canadians (mooses that constantly say eh?). It is enjoyable, but it is definitely not one of Disney's best, even in terms of original songs.
    Chihoe H Super Reviewer
  • Dec 02, 2011
    Fun, but gets really in to spirits and crap. Great music, horrible story, good voice acting. I liked it, but didnt love it.
    Bradley W Super Reviewer
  • Nov 22, 2011
    A bizarre Navajo version of Lion King that strangely works in some ways. Sure, the plot had many holes in it, and there didn't really seem like there was any real conflict. However, this is probably the most spiritual of Disney fanfare, getting into discussions revolving around personality, the importance of family, and eternal destiny through animal todums.
    Jackson W Super Reviewer
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