Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story 2005

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Critics Consensus

Though formulaic, this horse story's saving grace is its strong performances.

64%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 117

78%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 90,728

You might also like

Show all services

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story Photos

Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL), Cale Crane (DAKOTA FANNING) and Pop Crane (KRIS KRISTOFFERSON) react to some good news about the future of their racehorse

Writer/director JOHN GATINS (left) and star KURT RUSSELL watch the playback of a scene on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' family drama DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

Star DAKOTA FANNING gets some direction from writer/director JOHN GATINS on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

(Left to right, foreground) Palmer (DAVID MORSE) and Prince Tariq (ANTONIO ALBADRAN) have reason to be concerned as they watch their horse race against Soñador in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Cale Crane (DAKOTA FANNING) dreams of being a part of her father's world, working with racehorses.

Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL) and his daughter Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) face many challenges and obstacles as they try to defy the odds and bring an injured racehorse back to her former glory.

Writer/director JOHN GATINS on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' family drama DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

Pop Crane (KRIS KRISTOFFERSON), Cale Crane (DAKOTA FANNING) and Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL) come up with a plan to get the entrance fee to race Sonador in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Director of Photography FRED MURPHY (standing) checks the lighting for a scene with star KURT RUSSELL on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

Balon (LUIS GUZMÁN) teaches Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) some of the ropes of horse racing in DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

DAKOTA FANNING films a scene on one of the mechanical horses created to protect horse and rider in some of the more challenging riding sequences.

Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL) and his daughter Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) see how Sonya's leg is coming along in DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

Prince Sadir (ODED FEHR, center) salutes Cale Crane and her family at the Breeders' Cup Classic

Manolin (FREDDY RODRIGUEZ) and Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) enjoy the celebration at the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Jockey Manolin (FREDDY RODRIGUEZ, left) and Balon the groomer (LUIS GUZMÁN) wonder what will happen to them when their boss, Ben Crane, loses his job.

KURT RUSSELL stars as Ben Crane in DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

Crane (KURT RUSSELL) checks if his horse Sonya is ready for the big race in DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

Cale Crane (DAKOTA FANNING) earns the trust of an injured racehorse, who becomes her constant companion.

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON stars as Pop Crane in DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL) and his daughter Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) work together to bring an injured racehorse back to her former glory.

View All Photos (70)

Movie Info

Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a horse trainer who is struggling to connect with his precocious daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning). But then a horse by the name of Soñador suffers a broken leg after its evil owner (David Morse) races her despite Ben's advice. Rather than put his client's injured horse down, Ben adopts her and welcomes Cale into the family business. They train Soñador to race again as grouchy but kind-hearted Grandpa (Kris Kristofferson) lends his encouragement.

Rating:

PG (Brief Mild Language)
Genre:

drama, kids and family
Original Language:

English
Director:

John Gatins
Producer:

Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins, Hunt Lowry
Release Date (Streaming):

Dec 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$32.7M
Runtime:

1h 38m
Production Co:

DreamWorks Pictures
Sound Mix:

Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio:

Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Kurt Russell
Ben Crane

Dakota Fanning
Cale Crane

Kris Kristofferson
Pop Crane

Elisabeth Shue
Lily

David Morse
Palmer

Freddy Rodríguez
Manolin

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Box Office Guru Preview: Saw III Brings The Pain

Box Office Guru Preview: Eastwood vs. Scorsese – Round 2

Critical Consensus: "Flags" Flies High; "The Prestige" Is Magic; "Flicka" Is A Pretty Good Ride; "Marie Antoinette" Spared Critical Guillotine

Critic Reviews for Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

All Critics (117) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (75) | Rotten (42)

Quote not available.

April 1, 2006 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Empire Magazine
It manages to be a watchable, even enjoyable movie about and for girls, and in our world of candy-coated sparkly pink crap, that's a rare and commendable thing.

October 29, 2005 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
Despite thoroughbred work from Dakota Fanning, by the time the movie hits the final furlong it's only good for the glue factory.

October 25, 2005 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Neil Smith
BBC.com
A great family film.

October 24, 2005

Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
For family audiences seeking easy assurance, moral certitude and, of course, moving scenes of a gorgeous, galloping horse.

October 21, 2005 | Full Review…

Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Lovely family film, which has a way of resonating in one's imagination for days.

October 21, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4

Tom Keogh
Seattle Times
Quote not available.

November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Peter Sobczynski
eFilmCritic.com
All the characters are familiar, the story is familiar, but it is well-constructed and the actors do a good job with the material.

December 30, 2006 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
Dreamer is loaded with enough clichs and formulas to choke a horse. But truly, it works.

September 22, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4

Carolyn Arends
Christianity Today
Quote not available.

May 12, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
It is a movie that will captivate children, yes, but it will also capture the hearts of the grown-ups, too.

March 31, 2006 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

David Cornelius
DVDTalk.com
simply feels more professional than most family fare

March 27, 2006 | Rating: 3/5

Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

View All Critic Reviews (117)

Audience Reviews for Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Sep 06, 2012

"When you ran, the ground shook, the sky opened and mere mortals parted..." Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story is a compelling and heartwarming film that's incredibly uplifting. The story follows a family that's brought together by their efforts to save a racehorse with a broken leg. Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning lead the cast, and are supported by Kris Kristofferson and Elizabeth Shue. But, it's really Fanning's outstanding performance that carries the film; she has great chemistry with Russell and comes off as incredibly sincere. Additionally, the film is especially well-crafted. While it may appear a little formulaic on the surface, Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story is a wonderful family film with a lot of heart.

Dann M Super Reviewer
Mar 24, 2010

Good family movie based on a true story. The strong cast keep you engaged til the heartwarming finale.

Jonny C Super Reviewer
Mar 19, 2010

dreams can come true

erika b Super Reviewer
Jan 23, 2010

Very good movie. I watched this movie with my bff and I loved it!!! :)

Cassie H Super Reviewer

See all Audience reviews

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story Quotes

Cale Crane:	She'll never race again?
Ben Crane:	No, honey. But she might walk again.

Palmer:	(to Ben) You were the best horseman that I know for the worst flock. And I can't afford to have it in my stable.
Palmer:	You were the best horseman that I know for the worst flock. And I can't afford to have it in my stable.

Cale Crane:	(to Sonador) Run hard tomorrow. Run hard for my dad. He deserves a good run.
Cale Crane:	Run hard tomorrow. Run hard for my dad. He deserves a good run.

Ben Crane:	(to Pop Crane) How about it, Pop?
Ben Crane:	How about it, Pop?

View All Quotes

Movie & TV guides

Best Horror Movies

Top 200 of all time

"Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong"

Our new podcast

Worst Superhero Movies

Thanks, Squad

Best Netflix Series and Shows

What to binge right now

TOP HEADLINES

View All