Dinosaur

Aladar, an iguanodon raised by a loving lemur clan, grows up learning to read the land, track food, and rely on his friends. He forms a close bond with Plio the elder and the others in the group. When a meteor shower destroys their island home, Aladar and a diverse herd of dinosaurs join a long migration toward a famed sanctuary. The trek forces them to contend with scarcity, shifting climates, and predators while clinging to hope. On the road he befriends Zini and Suri among others, and discovers unlikely allies in creatures they once avoided. The voyage becomes a test of courage, loyalty, and the need for community when the world around them changes faster than they can adapt. Their shared courage keeps hope alive through hardship.

Released in 2000 and directed by Eric Leighton and Ralph Zondag, Dinosaur grows from an original story by Robert Nelson Jacobs, Thom Enriquez, and Dick Zondag. It marks a notable Disney CGI feature of the era and its visual scope.

Dinosaur performed solidly at the global box office, grossing about 354,248,063 worldwide on a production budget of 127,500,000, signaling strong audience demand. The film's performance reflects solid family appeal and the viability of CGI driven adventures for a broad audience.

Dinosaur stands out in its era for pushing big budget CGI into a dinosaur driven road movie style and mixing action with emotional beats suitable for kids and parents alike. It helped set a bar for spectacle within Disney's animation slate and influenced later family adventures for families everywhere to enjoy.

Critics welcomed the film for its visual ambition and warm ensemble cast, while noting some familiar plot rhythms. Core themes include belonging, resilience, and cooperation across unlikely allies as a group faces catastrophe together, making the story approachable for families without talking down to them and lingering in memory afterward.