Because of Winn-Dixie

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Because of Winn-Dixie

PG

2005

1h 45m

Kids & Family

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

119 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Abandoned by her mother years ago, Opal (AnnaSophia Robb), a 10-year-old girl, moves with her preacher father (Jeff Daniels) to a small town in Florida. Lonely and missing her old friends, Opal is ecstatic to find companionship with a rambunctious little dog she names Winn-Dixie, after the store where she found the pup. With Winn-Dixie's help, Opal befriends several colorful townsfolk (Cicely Tyson, Eva Marie Saint, Dave Matthews) and even begins mending her relationship with her father.

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Critics Consensus

An old-fashioned, if bland, adaptation of Kate DiCamillo's novel.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Sep 30, 2010

3/5

A girl and a dog educate a small southern town.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

May 3, 2005

A children's film that embraces storytelling modesty and a balanced view of the world as both depressing and joyous.

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Peter Debruge

Premiere Magazine

Feb 22, 2005

3.5/4

Plenty entertaining and chock full of valuable lessons about friendship and respect.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 2, 2020

3.0/4.0

It's a simple film and a simple story.

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Dec 26, 2016

Thoughtful, personal drama, complex and with much to say.

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Aug 7, 2008

2/5

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James B

@RT54975811 Sep 20, 2026

I really enjoyed this movie. It was a very good story and very cute.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 9, 2026

this movie is worthy of *3* stars...

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Rotten P

@RT18099091 Dec 28, 2025

Because of Winn-Dixie is a tender, heartfelt family film that captures the magic of small-town life and the transformative power of friendship. AnnaSophia Robb shines as Opal, a young girl learning to navigate loss and new beginnings, while Jeff Daniels adds warmth and subtle humor as her father. The story is buoyed by Dave Matthews’ charming turn as Otis and Cicely Tyson’s grounded performance as Gloria, creating a cast that feels genuinely connected. Though predictable at times, the film’s genuine sweetness, cozy setting, and the charming bond between Opal and her dog make it an uplifting and memorable experience for viewers of all ages. A timeless celebration of love, community, and the joy that pets bring, Because of Winn-Dixie earns a solid recommendation for families seeking comfort, laughter, and heart.

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Tiffani L

@RT87520817 May 6, 2025

Amazing best ever so good cool funny cute love dogs awesome

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Douglas E

@RT50442544 Apr 27, 2025

Gostei do filme, mas assisti por causa da AnnaSophia Robb e, para minha surpresa, tem a Elle Fanning bem no início de sua carreira também. Duas excelentes atrizes, atuam bem desde sempre.

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Myah B

@RT31596332 Mar 23, 2025

Hadn’t watched this movie since I was a kid and revisited it recently—Loved seeing it again as a young adult. One of my favorite aspects of the movie was the focus on bringing community together. The movie really showed how easy it is to fall into habits of judgement and isolation, but how equally easy it can be to reach out to those around you and come together. All this, coupled with Annasophia Robb’s acting, and the dog not dying made this movie 5 stars for me! 😂

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Wayne Wang

Director

AnnaSophia Robb

India "Opal" Buloni

Jeff Daniels

Preacher

Cicely Tyson

Gloria Dump

Eva Marie Saint

Miss Franny Block

Dave Matthews

Otis

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Synopsis

Abandoned by her mother years ago, Opal (AnnaSophia Robb), a 10-year-old girl, moves with her preacher father (Jeff Daniels) to a small town in Florida. Lonely and missing her old friends, Opal is ecstatic to find companionship with a rambunctious little dog she names Winn-Dixie, after the store where she found the pup. With Winn-Dixie's help, Opal befriends several colorful townsfolk (Cicely Tyson, Eva Marie Saint, Dave Matthews) and even begins mending her relationship with her father.

Director: Wayne Wang
Producer: Trevor Albert, Joan Singleton
Screenwriter: Kate DiCamillo, Joan V. Singleton
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, Winn Productions, Walden Media
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Brief Mild Language)
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.6M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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