Benji

"A hero comes home."

2018 1h 27m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 330

DramaFamilyAdventureCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Two school kids strike up a friendship with an orphaned puppy named Benji. When danger befalls them and they end up kidnapped by robbers who are in over their heads, Benji and his scruffy sidekick come to the rescue.

“A hero comes home.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Gabriel Bateman
Carter
Darby Camp
Frankie
Kiele Sanchez
Whitney
Gralen Bryant Banks
Sam
Will Rothhaar
Sid
Angus Sampson
Titus
Jerod Haynes
Lyle
Jim Gleason
Capt. Newsome

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Brandon Camp
Writers: Brandon Camp, Joe Camp
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

87 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 10% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 8 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Benji Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Brandon Camp, shot by Thomas Scott Stanton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Kostas Christides. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Carsten Kurpanek shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Gabriel Bateman and Darby Camp and Kiele Sanchez carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Brandon Camp directs. Thomas Scott Stanton behind the camera. Kostas Christides scores. Carsten Kurpanek cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

187 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Earned back only 10% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 8 years ago.
4Part of the "The Benji Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Brandon Camp, shot by Thomas Scott Stanton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Kostas Christides. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Carsten Kurpanek shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Gabriel Bateman and Darby Camp and Kiele Sanchez carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "A hero comes home.".
10IMDB entry: tt1799516 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Thomas Scott Stanton
Original score: Kostas Christides
Editing: Carsten Kurpanek
Production design: Kevin C. Lang
Runtime: 87 min · 1h 27m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $6,000,000
Box office: $585,333
Return: 10% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Benji (2018)

Part of

The Benji Collection

Benji is the name of a dog who has been the focus of several movies from 1974 through the 2000s. It is also the title of the first film in the Benji franchise. The eponymous canine character is a small, lovable mixed-breed dog with an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time, usually to help someone overcome a problem. Joe Camp is the creator and director of the Benji films. The first dog to play Benji was a shelter dog named Higgins, trained by Frank Inn. Later, Higgins' offspring Benjean took over the role for a few films.