Originally conceived as a TV series and later reworked into a feature film to replicate the success of other live-action/animation hybrids like Bedknobs and Broomsticks—and more famously, Mary Poppins—Pete’s Dragon arrived during a period when Walt Disney Studios was still trying to find its footing after Walt’s death in 1966. Although more than a decade had passed, the studio was clearly in transition. While the concurrently released animated film The Rescuers hinted at a creative revival, Pete’s Dragon felt more like a throwback—trying to channel the spirit of earlier musicals but landing as a bit tired in the process.
The story follows Pete, a young orphan with an invisible dragon named Elliott, as he escapes his abusive guardians and ends up in the coastal town of Passamaquoddy. There, he causes chaos, attracts the attention of the flamboyant and villainous Dr. Terminus—who wants to exploit the dragon for profit—and finds unexpected kindness from a lighthouse keeper named Nora. Before long, the film starts to feel like yet another Oliver Twist adaptation… just with a big, cheerful green dragon tagging along.
To be fair, there’s some genuine charm here. The scenes where Elliott, still invisible, creates playful havoc have a certain innocent appeal. The bond between Pete and Elliott—and later, Pete and Nora—offers a few sweet, grounded moments. Yet the film often loses momentum, especially whenever Dr. Terminus takes center stage—never working as a fun villain and coming off as grating each time he’s on screen. The songs also struggle to connect—there’s a clear mismatch between melody, lyrics, and what’s unfolding onscreen—and while the effects were impressive in their day (particularly the coordination between Elliott’s animation and the live-action performances), they feel extremely dated now. The dragon’s cartoonish, childlike design clashes with the otherwise grounded world around him.
It’s passable enough, especially in the first half, but by the time the film hits its multiple, over-extended climaxes, the energy starts to drag. Many years later, Disney would remake the film into one of its best live-action reinterpretations—a perfect example of what these remakes should aim to do: refine flawed material. The 1977 original doesn’t need to be tracked down, though. It has its moments, but even in its own time, it already felt dated—and age hasn’t helped.