Air Bud is a 1997 family comedy film that follows a young boy, Josh, and his basketball-playing golden retriever, Buddy. The film is the first in the Air Bud film series. It was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by Charles Martin Smith. As a family comedy film, Air Bud was made with a moderate budget, which has been estimated to be around $7 million.
What Is the Air Bud Movie About?
The movie follows Josh, a 12-year-old boy who has recently lost his father. His mother, Jackie, is struggling to raise him and his younger sister, Andrea, on her own. While living with his mom, Josh meets Buddy, a stray golden retriever who can shoot hoops as good as any basketball player. Josh and Buddy quickly become friends, and Josh encourages Buddy to join the school basketball team. The film follows the duo’s journey as they work together to win the championship game.
Who Were the Main Characters in Air Bud?
The main characters in Air Bud include Josh, Buddy, Jackie, Andrea, Nathan, and Coach Barker. Josh is played by Kevin Zegers, Buddy is voiced by Don Knotts, Jackie is played by Wendy Makkena, Andrea is played by Caitlin Wachs, Nathan is played by Jay Brazeau, and Coach Barker is played by Michael Jeter.
What Was the Box Office Performance of Air Bud?
Air Bud was released on July 11, 1997. The film opened at number four at the box office with a $6 million opening weekend. The film ended up grossing a total of $27 million domestically and another $3 million internationally, for a total of $30 million worldwide.
What Are Some of the Awards Won by Air Bud?
Air Bud won two awards at the 1998 Young Artist Awards, including Best Family Feature Film and Best Performance in a Feature Film (Leading Young Actor) for Kevin Zegers. The film also won Best Family Feature Film at the 1998 Nevada Film Critics Society Awards.
What Was the Critical Reception of Air Bud?
Air Bud received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 51%. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Air Bud is a predictable, formulaic family comedy that relies heavily on its dog star’s cuteness.” On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 44 out of 100 based on reviews from 12 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews.”
What Are Some Other Films in the Air Bud Series?
The Air Bud series consists of four films in total. After the success of Air Bud, three other films were released: Air Bud: Golden Receiver in 1998, Air Bud: World Pup in 2000, and Air Buddies in 2006. All four films are available to stream on Disney+.
Conclusion
Air Bud was a modestly budgeted family comedy film released in 1997. The film was directed by Charles Martin Smith and starred Kevin Zegers as Josh and Don Knotts as the voice of Buddy. Air Bud was a box office success, earning a total of $30 million worldwide. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but won two awards at the 1998 Young Artist Awards. Air Bud spawned a series of four films, with the most recent being Air Buddies in 2006.