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A Dog's Journey - Full Cast & Crew

• 43   Metascore
• 1 hr 49 mins
• Drama, Fantasy, Family, Comedy
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Bailey is a dog that has grown old through the years who makes a promise to his owner that he will find and protect his granddaughter no matter what. As Bailey's soul jumps through multiple lives, he always finds his way to her as she goes through the highs and lows of life.

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A Dog's Journey

A Dog's Journey is a 2019 American comedy-drama adventure film directed by Gail Mancuso . The cast of the film consists of Marg Helgenberger , Betty Gilpin , Henry Lau , Kathryn Prescott , Dennis Quaid , and Josh Gad .

The film was released in the United States on August 30, 2019 by Universal Pictures .

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• Marg Helgenberger as Hannah Montgomery
• Betty Gilpin as Gloria
• Ian Chen as Young Trent
• Abby Ryder Fortson as Young CJ
• Dennis Quaid as Ethan Montgomery
• Josh Gad as the voice of Bailey

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A Dog's Journey - Official Trailer (HD)

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A Dog's Journey (2019) Cast and Crew

A dog's purpose collection.

A dog goes on quest to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes with multiple owners.

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Cast of A Dog's Journey

Marg Helgenberger brings the character of Hannah Montgomery to life in A Dog's Journey.

Betty Gilpin portrays Gloria Mitchell in A Dog's Journey.

Henry Lau plays the character of Trent in A Dog's Journey.

Kathryn Prescott brings Clarity June 'CJ' Mitchell to the screen in A Dog's Journey.

Dennis Quaid portrays Ethan Montgomery in A Dog's Journey.

Josh Gad provides the voice for Bailey / Molly / Big Dog / Max in A Dog's Journey.

Abby Ryder Fortson portrays Young CJ in A Dog's Journey.

Emma Volk brings Toddler CJ to life in A Dog's Journey.

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Meet the dog thespians of 'A Dog's Journey,' a mutt method-acting masterclass

Spoiler alert! What follows reveals key plot points in "A Dog's Journey," though not the ending. You might want to see the movie before reading.

The pooch ensemble in "A Dog's Journey" (in theaters Friday) has serious acting chops.

These skills are required in the saga, a continuation of 2017's "A Dog's Purpose," which follows the spirit of Bailey as he's reincarnated into pup after pup (all voiced by Josh Gad ) before eventually passing to heaven.

The circle of life requires the full spectrum of canine emotion – from cuddly to consequential. Director Gail Mancuso, who has five dogs of her own, pulls Oscar-worthy performances from her canine thespians in a movie where there's a pooch in every scene.

For your consideration, we present the leading contenders:

Buddy brought the beautiful heartbreak early.

Boss dog Buddy (a Great Pyrenees/Bernese Mountain dog mix) was played by three lookalike dogs, but mainly Odin, the film's primary star. 

Odin was tasked with dying in the lap of Buddy's beloved owner Ethan (Dennis Quaid), which happens early in the film. It was already a Kleenex moment before Odin lifted his head for a final, soulful look into Quaid's eyes and faded. "That look was pure magic," Mancuso says. "That moment resonated with me, as I have experienced my own dog looking at me during our goodbye. It's a special bond."

'A Dog's Way Home':  How Shelby went from junkyard stray to Hollywood star

Molly was more than adorable energy.

The energetic Molly, who steps in to support the movie's human heroine CJ when her mom moves her away, was played by two Beagliers (a beagle crossed with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel). Lead dog Lemy showed parkour skills, bounding through backyard obstacles (down stairs, over a gate) to jump into young CJ's arms (played by Abby Ryder Fortson). "And then started licking my face all over," Fortson says.

But Lemy had to get tough later and "bite" the leg of the film's villain (Jake Manley). Dog trainer Bonnie Judd first taught Lemy to tug with a toy, then placed a pouch of meat in Manley's pant leg. "It's kind of like a pinata," Judd says. "The more they go at it, the more they get."

Firefighter says goodbye to rescue dog in viral post: Dog owners can relate because pets are family

Parting is such sweet sorrow for Big Dog.

Big Dog, played by an African Boerboel named Phil, has a small role, portraying a chance meeting with his spiritual owner CJ, now an adult played by Kathryn Prescott, in a roadside store. Phil hit his marks, and gave a hearty paw-shake. But the soulful-eyed dog hit dramatic paydirt when he bid farewell forever to CJ.

"When he's saying goodbye as he's leaving, it's so sad that it made me cry," Prescott says.

Related: The 25 most heroic dogs in America

Buddy and an adorable toddler make giddy magic.

Emma Volk was 2 when she shot her screen debut as Buddy's kid friend (and Ethan's granddaughter) in "A Dog's Journey." But her giggling chemistry with Odin's Buddy is magic, with dog and toddler clearly happy together in a way that goes beyond acting. "Emma just really loved the big brute, and it looks natural," Judd says.

Max's exit scene was tough even for the dog actor.

Rescue dog Max, CJ's adulthood dog, was played by four Biewer terriers. Belle, the character's primary actor, was so invested in her death scene, she had trouble letting Prescott's CJ tearfully sing to her.

"The first time, Belle really wanted to kiss her tears away, but after that she kept her head down and closed her eyes each time," Judd says. "It's a tough scene for any dog but Belle was still a super-hyper puppy. Yet she did exactly as I asked over and over again. On each cut, she would quickly kiss CJ and play."

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Is “A Dog’s Journey” one of the sweetest canine films out there, or one of the meanest? While I generally favor the latter reading, the gentle sniffling mixed with occasional awws and chuckles that broke out during my screening suggests the majority of the audiences will understandably lean otherwise, as they did with the film’s 2017 predecessor, “A Dog’s Purpose.” In theory, this unconditional affection seems mighty unjust for a shameless family franchise that kills an average of four to five dogs per movie, sometimes, in unspeakably wretched fashions—seriously, where is John Wick when you need him? And yet, as visually uninspired and ideologically conservative as it may be, there seems to be something beguiling about the series that keeps one (including myself, admittedly) on a short leash. Turns out, very few are immune to the sneaky suggestion that certain dogs and humans are meant for each other for life.   

This is indeed the philosophy behind TV veteran Gail Mancuso ’s “A Dog’s Journey,” which follows in the paw prints of its Lasse Hallström-directed ancestor with its assembly line of doggie fatalities. (Every dog-loving cinephile’s most cherished website “DoesTheDogDie.com” must be having a field trip with these films.) And before you cry out “spoiler alert,” know that spelling out the mounting corpses of our four-legged furry pals in these tearjerkers is not exactly a wrongdoing. Adapted from W. Bruce Cameron’s best-selling novels, the pair of syrupy films follows a Buddhist philosophy, imagining a world in which a dog’s spirit reincarnates in the body of a new adorable puppy (somehow, voiced by Josh Gad even when it’s a female) and pursues its original human to eternity.

“Journey” picks up where “Purpose” had left off, dropping us on a tranquil Midwestern farm ran by the impossibly wholesome couple Ethan ( Dennis Quaid ) and his wife Hannah ( Marg Helgenberger ). Their carefree “Boss Dog” Bailey, a handsome Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog, runs around the picturesque fields and happily chases his own tail, while keeping a watchful eye on Ethan and Hannah’s baby granddaughter CJ (affably played by Abby Ryder and Kathryn Presscott in later ages), parented by the couple’s heavy-drinking widowed daughter-in-law Gloria ( Betty Gilpin ). Bailey exits the picture soon enough—poor Boss Dog has a cancerous lump—but returns promptly in the body of Molly the mischievous Beagle, reuniting with the 11-year-old CJ to keep a promise he’s made to Ethan. Now living away from her grandparents with the negligent Gloria, CJ finds the kind of comfort and support every child needs in Molly.

Our determined pooch returns again and again as Bailey drops dead in a continuous loop: once, as the African Boerboel Big Dog living on a roadside convenience store (or, “a house made of snacks,” as he calls it), and then as the snippy Terrier Max. Meanwhile, CJ goes through her own transformation and finds herself in the unforgiving streets of New York City as a budding musician with a severe case of stage fright. A series of mean boyfriends—one, a dangerous stalker responsible for Molly’s horrific death—doesn’t help with her insecurity, until she stumbles upon her beloved childhood friend Trent ( Henry Lau ) and falls in love. (Guess what wet-nosed character masterminds the reunion with a paw shake and tail wag?)

Rest assured, there is sufficient amount of cuteness to go around in “Journey,” complete with dutiful canine humor around pooping, face licking, and the perpetual pursuit of food. But while the film engages with the sadness and despair of certain life crises head-on—an unexpected case of terminal illness is especially well-conceived in that regard—it strangely falls short of treating others with the empathy and seriousness they deserve. Written by Cameron, Maya Forbes , Cathryn Michon and Wallace Wolodarsky , the story is outright hostile to Gloria, a paper-thin character whose mourning and alcoholism receives a cruel one-dimensional treatment. A gold-digging ex-girlfriend of Trent suffers in the hands of a similar caricaturized vision. And yet, no one comes to a film like this, where the world is divided into absolute goods and evils, for nuance or subtlety. If you can look behind the flat visuals and prescriptive pleasantries of “Journey,” you might just get on board with its compelling-enough tale of lost souls, found and lifted up by their forever-loyal pooches. On this earth and beyond.

Tomris Laffly

Tomris Laffly is a freelance film writer and critic based in New York. A member of the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC), she regularly contributes to  RogerEbert.com , Variety and Time Out New York, with bylines in Filmmaker Magazine, Film Journal International, Vulture, The Playlist and The Wrap, among other outlets.

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A Dog's Journey (2019)

Rated PG for thematic content, some peril and rude humor.

120 minutes

Dennis Quaid as Ethan

Betty Gilpin as Gloria

Josh Gad as Bailey (voice)

Abby Ryder Fortson as Young CJ

Marg Helgenberger as Hannah

Kathryn Prescott as CJ

Ian Chen as Young Trent

Daniela Barbosa as Liesl

Jake Manley as Shane

• Gail Mancuso

Writer (book)

• W. Bruce Cameron
• Maya Forbes
• Cathryn Michon
• Wallace Wolodarsky

Cinematographer

• Rogier Stoffers
• Robert Komatsu

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A dog's journey, common sense media reviewers.

Sequel is as sentimental and emotional as the first film.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Strong messages about the life-changing bond, unco

Ethan and Hannah continue to be wonderful role mod

A dog dies on different occasions. In one particul

A married couple embraces, dances, briefly kisses.

Infrequent language includes a few uses of "idiot,

Recognizable brands include Dodge, MacBook, iPhone

Quite a bit of drinking by Gloria, who's nearly al

Parents need to know that A Dog's Journey is the sequel to 2017's sentimental A Dog's Purpose , both of which are based on W. Bruce Cameron's best-selling books about a dog (voiced by Josh Gad) that's reincarnated again and again with the purpose of finding a specific human to protect and love. This…

Positive Messages

Strong messages about the life-changing bond, unconditional love, and connection between dogs and their humans. Promotes idea that people aren't meant to go through life alone, that they're happier and more fulfilled with both human partners and animal companions. Clear themes of empathy, perseverance.

Positive Role Models

Ethan and Hannah continue to be wonderful role models: kind, helpful, disciplined, loving. They take good care of Bailey and CJ. The dog always believes his/her purpose is to defend, protect, and love his/her human companions, nevers stops looking for or protecting his/her human. CJ is lonely and sad at times but loves her dog and her best friend, Trent, who's supportive, generous, encouraging. Gloria is an alcoholic and neglectful mother but eventually takes responsibility, asks for forgiveness.

Violence & Scariness

A dog dies on different occasions. In one particularly painful scene, Bailey dies in Ethan's arms receiving a euthanizing shot. Another version of Bailey dies in an accident, others die of old age. An abusive boyfriend purposely crashes into his ex-girlfriend's car. Another boyfriend is verbally demeaning, grabs his girlfriend. An older adult dies surrounded by people (and pet) he loves. An alcoholic mom is neglectful, leaving her daughter alone a lot of nights. A girl is frightened of a storm, upset that her mother isn't around.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A married couple embraces, dances, briefly kisses. Teens make out in a car. From dog's perspective, a young couple "licks each other's faces" -- like Ethan and Hannah used to when they were younger. At one point, the dog narrates, "They look like they want to lick each other."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Infrequent language includes a few uses of "idiot," "dumb," and "stupid." A mom hurls the word "chubby" like an insult. "Oh my God" as an exclamation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Recognizable brands include Dodge, MacBook, iPhone, Slim Jim, Cheetos, Whole Foods, Ford, and Jeep.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Quite a bit of drinking by Gloria, who's nearly always shown with a glass of wine or a cocktail in her hand. She's clearly an alcoholic and is often drunk. Shane is obviously a drug dealer -- he exchanges cash for small packets at a party. Minor character smokes cigarettes.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that A Dog's Journey is the sequel to 2017's sentimental A Dog's Purpose , both of which are based on W. Bruce Cameron's best-selling books about a dog (voiced by Josh Gad ) that's reincarnated again and again with the purpose of finding a specific human to protect and love. This time around, Ethan ( Dennis Quaid ) encourages his beloved dying dog to return to find his granddaughter. There's less violence in this one, but there's still an alcoholic, neglectful parent (this time a mother) and an abusive boyfriend who literally crashes into his ex-girlfriend on purpose. Another boyfriend is verbally demeaning and grabs his girlfriend; a minor character smokes. And, yes, the central dog dies -- four times, to be exact, due to sickness, old age, and accidents. But couples don't do much more than hug and kiss, and language is tame ("idiot," "stupid"). As in the first movie, there are clear messages about empathy and companionship, as well as the power of having a pet with whom humans share unconditional love. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (20)
• Kids say (17)

Based on 20 parent reviews

Interesting discussions about this film

Amazing....but made me sob, what's the story.

A DOG'S JOURNEY -- the sequel to 2017's A Dog's Purpose -- is, like the first film, an adaptation of W. Bruce Cameron's best-selling books about a special canine whose memories are reincarnated into a new dog each time it dies. As the sequel begins, Ethan ( Dennis Quaid ), his wife, Hannah ( Marg Helgenberger ), and their beloved dog, Bailey (voiced by Josh Gad ), are living on their Michigan farm and taking care of Hannah's toddler granddaughter, CJ, and widowed daughter-in-law, Gloria ( Betty Gilpin ), after the death of her son. When Gloria, who's angry and neglectful in her grief, takes CJ away to Chicago, Hannah and Ethan are distraught. Right before Bailey eventually dies, Ethan asks him to come back for CJ. And that's what happens: The dog returns as Molly, a puppy that 11-year-old CJ ( Abby Ryder Fortson ) adopts, while her best friend, Trent ( Ian Chen ), adopts Molly's brother Rocky. Years later, CJ (now Kathryn Prescott ) continues to be "Bailey's" purpose, even after more dog deaths and CJ's move to New York City to pursue a music career.

Is It Any Good?

Emotional and syrupy sweet, this sentimental sequel is a tribute to the enduring bond between dogs and their human best friends. Veteran TV director Gail Mancuso continues Lasse Hallstrom 's poignant touch with the story, which switches from focusing on Ethan to CJ. The CJ storyline is less violent than younger Ethan's, but it's still filled with heartbreak, a parent's substance abuse, sadness, and loneliness (save for lifelong friend Trent).

Gilpin is well cast as a selfish, disinterested mother who cares more about warning her daughter about the dangers of getting "chubby" than actually parenting her. Prescott is believable as a vulnerable, unfulfilled young woman whose greatest comfort has always come from her dog. And Henry Lau is almost too good to be true as the earnest adult version of Trent. Gad's voice is eager and steadfast as the various incarnations of Bailey, and, unlike in the first film, A Dog's Journey , audiences stay with the same family of dog owners throughout the story (with the exception of one quick detour). This movie definitely and effectively pulls at the heartstrings, so pet lovers in particular should expect tears to flow at the many tender moments between CJ and Ethan and their dogs. There's even a subplot about one of the dogs being able to detect cancer by scent, an ability a later dog can also display -- with life-saving results. For dog fans, this is a movie that affirms the kinship between humans and dogs; for others, it's a treacly sweet take on some serious issues.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violent/upsetting scenes in A Dog's Journey. Why do you think they were included? Can a movie have violent parts and still be family friendly?

What do the human characters learn from their dog? How does the story promote empathy ? How does Bailey's journey, lifetime after lifetime, exemplify perseverance ? Why are those important character strengths ?

How does the movie portray drinking ? Are there realistic consequences? Why is that important?

How does the movie address grief, especially in relation to losing a pet? Have you ever had to deal with that? What made you feel better?

What do you think about CJ and Trent's friendship? How is their relationship different from the other romantic relationships depicted in the movie? What's the message about friends who become more?

Movie Details

• In theaters : May 17, 2019
• On DVD or streaming : August 20, 2019
• Cast : Dennis Quaid , Josh Gad , Betty Gilpin
• Director : Gail Mancuso
• Inclusion Information : Middle Eastern/North African actors, Female actors
• Studio : Universal Pictures
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship
• Character Strengths : Empathy , Perseverance
• Run time : 108 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : thematic content, some peril and rude humor
• Last updated : May 18, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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A Dog's Journey

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Rent A Dog's Journey on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

A Dog's Journey is as sentimental as one might expect, but even cynical viewers may find their ability to resist shedding a tear stretched to the puppermost limit.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Gail Mancuso

Kathryn Prescott

Betty Gilpin

Dennis Quaid

Marg Helgenberger

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A Dog's Journey Characters

Buddy is the narrative's protagonist. Even though he dies at an early point in the narrative, the memories, actions, and voice of the dogs his soul inhabits afterwards originate from the dog readers know as Buddy. Buddy belonged to Ethan, who is deceased at the start of the narrative. It is because of him that Ethan and Hannah reunite. The union of Ethan and Hannah causes Buddy to meet CJ and Gloria as CJ is Hannah's granddaughter and Gloria is CJ's mother. Buddy's soul has been in the body of previous dogs. He was Toby, Bailey, and Ellie in the past. In this narrative, he is reincarnated as Molly and Max, and he carries the name Toby, as he did at the beginning of his soul’s life, at the end of his soul’s life.

At the beginning of the narrative, Buddy is a good dog who...

(read more)

FOLLOW BOOKRAGS:

“A Dog’s Journey”Explained: What’s Up With the Ending?

Pros: Funny dogs appear in the film; in the second half the film becomes more interesting Cons: too naive script; one-note characters from A Dog’s Journey

Genre comedy, drama Directed by Gail Mancuso Starring: Dennis Quaid (Ethan), Marge Helgenberger (Hannah), Betty Gilpin (Gloria), Kathryn Prescott (CJ), Abby Ryder Fortson (CJ as a child), Henry Lau (Trent), etc. DreamWorks, Walden Media, Amblin Entertainment Year of release 2019 IMDB page

A Dog’s Journey continues the story of a dog who, at the end of his life, is reborn over and over again to be with the person he has become attached to. The first film, called A Dog’s Purpose, was released in 2017. The basis for the two films were the novels of American writer Bruce Cameron, who also participated in writing the script.

In A Good Dog’s Journey, a dog named Bally enjoys a happy life on a farm. She spends her days next to her owner, Ethan, and finds another friend in his newborn granddaughter, Ceejay. But not everything is so smooth. Relationships in the family are not going well, the widowed daughter-in-law takes the child and leaves in an unknown direction. Ethan misses his granddaughter and asks his dog to look after Sija. As the dog approaches its final days, it is reborn and remembers a new purpose in life. Now Bally, having received a new body, must find Sij at any cost.

The plot of “The Good Dog’s Journey” can be easily understood without watching the first film. The dog (in the original voiced by actor Josh Gad) comments on what is happening with all the immediate details. You need to get used to it – this is the format of a family film. In addition, things are such that the viewer will find a large number of naive (well, very naive) episodes. In the second half of the film, when the main character grows up, the plot becomes much more interesting. And by this time you already get used to the dog’s comments.

Dogs in the film evoke only good emotions. They are touching and friendly – you can look at them forever. I only want to complain about the work of screenwriters who divide the world exclusively into “black” and “white,” “evil” and “good.” Negative characters can be identified in a few seconds. They act badly in absolutely everything, without being able to express their feelings, this is reminiscent of stories from old cartoons. But “The Good Dog’s Journey,” in theory, is not only intended for children: it reveals the difficulties and problems of fully grown people.

Despite the obvious shortcomings of the film, while watching it you still manage to become attached to it. As with all funny dogs. The four-legged character Bally illustrates the idea that dogs give people their unconditional love. They are always there, especially when the owner needs support. The main idea is clear from the trailer, and the film shows this in every detail through the example of the growing up of Sij, played by Kathryn Prescott.

Actress Katherine Prescott is known for her roles in the TV series Skins. The younger version of her character is played by Abby Ryder Fortson, who is recognizable as Scott Lang’s daughter from the Ant-Man film adaptation. The most famous actor in the movie “The Good Dog’s Journey” is Dennis Quaid, who played the role of Ethan. Now the artist has switched to the simple film format, and years earlier he starred in the drama Far from Heaven, which was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

The make-up artists did a good job on Dennis Quaid and actress Marge Helgenberger, who played his wife. The writers used the imprint of age on the faces of their characters and the transience of time as another technique with which to touch the audience.

“A Good Dog’s Journey” is one of those films that goes out of its way to create goodwill through its use of dogs and good characters. Its creators would have done it much better if the tape had not been filled with platitudes.

Conclusion:

You can watch the film without knowing the backstory. It is suitable for family viewing and will appeal to those who enjoy seeing dogs on the big screen.

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A Dog's Journey (2019)

Dennis quaid: ethan.

• Photos (35)

Photos 

Quotes 

Bailey : [last lines; we see all four lives Bailey lived running through the field towards Ethan in heaven] 

[voice over] 

Bailey : I knew this to be true. My name was Bailey, and Molly, and Big Dog, and Max. I was a good dog, a Boss Dog. I knew that loving people was my ultimate purpose, and that being here now, loving them forever was my reward.

Ethan : Hello, Boss Dog. Come on, boy. Come on. Come on, buddy. Hey. Alright. Ready? Ready? Go!

[they start running through the field together] 

Ethan : Way to go, Boss Dog!

[they run away into the grassy field of Heaven, departing this life as old friends] 

[Whispers to Bailey, as Molly] 

Ethan : Is that you, Boss Dog?

[to Bailey, as Molly] 

Ethan : Just keep taking care of CJ.

[to CJ, about Bailey as Max] 

Ethan : There's a lot that you don't know about that dog.

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A Dog's Journey Soundtrack [ 2019 ]

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Every Main Character's Age in The Umbrella Academy

The story of The Umbrella Academy starts on a very important date: October 1, 1989. In the show's original timeline, this is the day that 43 women around the world mysteriously gave birth despite showing no signs of being pregnant beforehand. Of those 43 children, seven were adopted by eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who raised them to save the world. Things went awry, however, when they accidentally caused the apocalypse and had to use time travel to set things right – multiple times. Each sibling's experiences with time travel have made it difficult to keep track of their actual ages in the present day, even though they were all born on the same day.

On top of that, the siblings' time meddling has given way to alternate timelines, complete with new variants of some of the same characters. As complicated as it can get, it doesn't change the fact that they are all still one big, dysfunctional family. Before audiences catch up with the Hargreeves in the fourth and final season of The Umbrella Academy , here's how old all of its main characters are across the first three seasons.

Luther Hargreeves Took a Long Time to Grow Up

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The Umbrella Academy's third season is a dark, character-centric addition to the series that works thanks to a committed cast and solid writing.

As Reginald's Number One, Luther Hargreeves acted as the siblings' leader and stayed at the Academy even after everyone else left. When he was 25, he went on a disastrous solo mission and almost died, leading Reginald to inject him with a serum that saved his life but mutated him into a human-ape hybrid. Unable to face what he'd done, Reginald sent Luther to the moon for four years with a fake mission to keep him busy. Luther returned at 29 to attend his father's funeral in Season 1.

Luther jumped to the past with the rest of his siblings but got stranded in 1962 in Dallas, Texas. He then reunited with his siblings a year later to prevent another doomsday and return to 2019. This makes Luther about 30 years old during the events of The Umbrella Academy Seasons 2 and 3. Age-wise, it also makes him the middle sibling of the family.

Diego Hargreeves Matured From Rebellious Vigilante to Semi-Responsible Adult

Diego Hargreeves, aka Number Two , left home at 18 and enrolled in the police academy. He was later kicked out and became a vigilante instead. At age 29, he returned home for Reginald's funeral like the rest of his siblings. Diego soon became entrenched in the events leading up to the apocalypse and ended up in Dallas in 1963, just a couple of months before President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Due to his hero complex, Diego became obsessed with saving JFK and was put into a psychiatric hospital. He and fellow patient Lila Pitts broke out days before the assassination and met up with his siblings. While he couldn't save Kennedy, Diego did prevent another apocalypse and jumped back to 2019 with his family. Since all three seasons of The Umbrella Academy took place within a few months for him, Diego is about 29 years and eight months old when Season 3 ends , making him the third-youngest sibling.

Lila Pitts Was Raised by a Sinister Time Traveler

Although they didn't realize it until later, Lila was among the 37 children Reginald didn't adopt. When she was four years old, Lila's parents were killed, and she was taken in by the Handler. The Handler raised Lila as a Commission assassin and eventually sent her to spy on Diego and Five in 1963. Lila fell in love with Diego but stood by her adopted mother until she discovered that the Handler was behind her parents' murder.

Lila stole a briefcase and escaped to 1989 Berlin, where she discovered that she was pregnant. She then jumped to 2019 with her friend's son, Stanley, and told Diego he was their child to see how he'd be as a father. Since she was raised outside of time, it's unclear how old Lila is in Season 2, but she seems close to Diego's age , and considering her relatively unchanged appearance in Season 3, she likely wasn't in Berlin for too long.

Allison Hargreeves Has Been on Quite a Journey

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Traveling to a different time and place serves The Umbrella Academy well in its second season, making for a looser, funnier, more exciting show.

Allison Hargreeves was one of the first siblings to leave after Ben's death, which would've made her around 17 or 18 at the time. She built a successful career as an actor, got married, and had a daughter named Claire, but she lost custody when she and her husband divorced. Allison then attended Reginald's funeral with her siblings at 29 and jumped to the past with them when they failed to save the world.

Afterward, Allison found herself stuck in 1961 Dallas, where she got involved in local politics and met activist Raymond Chestnut. She and Ray married a year later. Another year passed, and Allison reunited with her siblings again to stop another apocalypse. She returned to 2019, hoping to find Claire but ended up in a new timeline where Claire didn't exist. This means Allison was about 31 in The Umbrella Academy Seasons 2 and 3 , making her the third-eldest sibling.

Klaus Hargreeves Has Had Plenty of His Own Time Travel Fiascos

Although he can summon the dead, Klaus Hargreeves was still affected by Ben's death at 17 and left home not long after. He attended his adoptive father's funeral with the rest of his siblings at 29 but got kidnapped by Commission assassins Hazel and Cha Cha not long after. Klaus took their briefcase when he escaped and ended up in the Vietnam War, where he met and fell in love with a soldier named Dave. After Dave's death ten months later, Klaus returned to 2019.

Klaus ended up in 1960 when he and his siblings jumped back in time at the end of The Umbrella Academy Season 1. After starting a cult and traveling the world, he met up with his siblings again in 1963 and jumped back to 2019 after they saved the world. With all the time jumps, Klaus is about 33 in Season 3 , which makes him the second-eldest sibling.

Five Hargreeves Was Gone for a Long Time

Number Five Hargreeves spent the most time apart from his family, having used his powers to jump to a post-apocalyptic 2019 when he was 13 years old. He was then stuck there for over 40 years before the Handler appeared to offer him a job at the Commission. It's unknown how long he worked there, but Five eventually jumped back to pre-apocalypse 2019. The process turned him back into a 13-year-old, but Five was still mentally about 58.

When Five jumped back in time again in Season 2, he was the last sibling to arrive in 1963. He witnessed another apocalypse, but Hazel took him back ten days so he could prevent it. After doing so, Five and his siblings used a briefcase to return to 2019 again. All three seasons of The Umbrella Academy take place in a matter of weeks for Five, but his years spent in the future still make him the eldest sibling.

Ben Hargreeves' Death Wasn't the End

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Netflix's The Umbrella Academy is a faithful adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's comic and an interesting standout in the superhero genre.

Although the audience has yet to discover just what happened in the infamous "Jennifer incident" of 2006, the event resulted in Ben's death at 17 years old . Unbeknownst to his siblings, Klaus used his powers to summon Ben's ghost, and Ben chose to stay instead of moving on to the afterlife. Ben even aged alongside Klaus and accompanied him on his adventures through time. Ben then gave his life again to talk to Viktor and stop the apocalypse in 1963.

The Hargreeves discovered in The Umbrella Academy Season 3 that their presence in the 1960s created a new timeline in which Reginald created the Sparrow Academy and Ben didn't die. This new Ben was not a fan of the Umbrellas, but after losing all his siblings throughout the season and ending up in yet another timeline, he doesn't have anyone else. Season 3's Ben is about 29 and a half, making him the youngest of the current siblings.

Viktor Hargreeves Has Spent the Least Amount of Time With His Powers

Viktor Hargreeves believed for most of his life that he didn't have powers. This was because Reginald, fearing he couldn't control him, made Allison use her powers to make Viktor forget he had abilities at just six years old. Viktor then rediscovered his powers at 29 after Reginald died. After Luther locked him up in the basement, Viktor acted out and caused the end of the world , but the siblings jumped back in time to fix it.

Upon landing in Dallas in October 1963, Viktor was hit by a car and got amnesia. He was taken in by a housewife named Sissy and her son, Harlan. A month later, Viktor discovered his powers again, reunited with his siblings, and regained his memories. After preventing another apocalypse, he returned with them to 2019. This means Viktor is about 29 years and seven months old in The Umbrella Academy Season 3 , making him the second-youngest sibling.

Reginald Hargreeves' Lifespan Is Inhuman

Although he may appear human, Sir Reginald Hargreeves is something else entirely. Sometime far in the past, he left his home world and his dying partner, Abigail, and came to Earth. Disguised as a human, Reginald came to the United States in 1928, making him over 90 years old in the show's present day . He went on to adopt seven special children, raising them to save the world and taking his own life to bring them all back together in 2019.

In the next timeline, Reginald found a portal to another dimension in 1918 and built the Hotel Obsidian there, making him over 100 in the present day. He later met six of his future children in 1963 and went on to adopt six other babies in 1989. When the Umbrella Academy showed up in 2019, Reginald used the Umbrellas and Sparrows to reboot the universe. In The Umbrella Academy Season 4's timeline, he's alive again, as is Abigail.

The Umbrella Academy

Release Date February 15, 2019

Cast Elliot Page, Aidan Gallagher, David Castaneda, Tom Hooper

Main Genre Adventure

Genres Superhero, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Rating TV-14

Creator Steve Blackman, Jeremy Slater