---
title: "The Secret Life of Pets 2"
year: 2019
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2"
fi1m_id: "the-secret-life-of-pets-2"
imdb_id: "tt5113040"
tmdb_id: 412117
wikidata_id: "Q28561715"
fi1m_score: 62
critics_score: 56
critics_reviews: 12
published: "2026-10-05T15:14:46.942215+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T15:14:47.114500+00:00"
region: "GB"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)

Directed by Chris Renaud · 1h 26m · BBFC U · Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure

## Identity

The Secret Life of Pets 2

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-secret-life-of-pets-2
- **IMDb ID:** tt5113040
- **TMDB ID:** 412117
- **Wikidata ID:** Q28561715
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5113040/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/412117, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28561715

**Fi1m score: 62** · Critics 56 from 12 reviews

*In a sentence:* The pets give better lessons in disguise than in managing anxiety

> The pet jokes still work, especially when Lake Bell takes charge. The scattered adventures are less rewarding, leaving an amiable family comedy that should have spent longer on the animals’ everyday absurdities.

## Synopsis

Max (Patton Oswalt) and Duke (Eric Stonestreet) head off on a road trip, with gruff farm dog Rooster (Harrison Ford) among the animals they encounter. Max’s protectiveness has become a source of anxiety, and he needs to find a way to manage his fears. Elsewhere, Gidget (Jenny Slate) and Snowball (Kevin Hart) have separate adventures of their own to pursue. Chloe (Lake Bell) provides a lesson in disguise, while a white tiger and a circus take the pets away from their usual domestic concerns.

## Review

*The Secret Life of Pets 2* is an agreeable but piecemeal family comedy, funniest when it remembers that watching animals behave badly can be entertainment enough. Director Chris Renaud and writer Brian Lynch divide the action between separate adventures, with too little reason for them to belong in the same film. The pet jokes retain some affection and a welcome lack of dignity. The effort to turn them into something more substantial is less successful.

Max’s overprotectiveness gives the film its most promising subject, because worry about someone smaller and more vulnerable is a feeling adults can recognise without explanation. Patton Oswalt makes that worry sympathetic, while Harrison Ford supplies an enjoyably gruff Rooster. Their exchanges work as comedy, helped by the contrast between the two performances. Yet the farm dog’s brisk advice about fear is too easily presented as an answer, and the film seems impatient with a problem it has asked us to take seriously.

Lake Bell’s Chloe is better served by the modest scale of a disguise lesson, where the pleasure comes from animal behaviour being treated as something that can be taught. We laughed at the seriousness of that lesson; passing as another animal is an absurd business to approach with such authority. Jenny Slate also gives Gidget some appealing comic determination. Here the voice performances and the physical jokes work together, and the scene needs little surrounding fuss.

Kevin Hart’s Snowball brings plenty of energy, though the white-tiger circus adventure makes that energy feel increasingly indiscriminate. The action asks for the attention of a larger adventure without providing much reason to care about its complications. The cast can make an individual exchange lively, but cannot supply the connections Brian Lynch’s script leaves thin. There is nothing wrong with silliness; the difficulty comes when changing storylines keeps interrupting the bits that are working.

Colin Stimpson’s production design is bright and legible enough to let a physical joke register without a struggle. The animation has a pleasing elasticity, and the slapstick is easier to enjoy than the busier adventure material. Alexandre Desplat’s music keeps the mood buoyant without making the jumps between stories feel much less abrupt. The film looks comfortable with its silliness, which helps when the plotting becomes laborious.

Editor Tiffany Hillkurtz keeps the individual episodes moving, and the 86-minute running time is a sensible limit for material this slight. Even so, the constant need to leave one set of animals and pick up another becomes tiring before the film has much chance to become dull. A longer stretch in which a joke or a relationship could develop would have helped. There is enough personality in the voice cast to sustain a scene without another burst of activity.

The standard for this sort of family animation need not be an elaborate plot or a lesson for the parents. A few well-observed habits and a sustained comic situation would do nicely, and the smaller scenes suggest Chris Renaud knows it. There are enough amiable laughs here for an undemanding evening with an animal-loving child. Go for those, and be prepared to lose interest whenever the circus takes over.

*Fi1m score 62, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean towards a mixed response: most critics find some charm in the pet antics, but enthusiasm for the sequel is limited. Praise centres on affectionate observations of animal behaviour, slapstick and comic voice performances, with Chloe a particular source of laughs. The animation earns some approval for its springy energy, and several critics find the film most entertaining when it keeps things sweet and silly.

The recurring complaint is that the separate adventures never form a satisfying story, leaving the film scattered, slight and overly familiar. The circus subplot draws criticism, while reactions to the treatment of anxiety and family are sharply divided. Variety is notably warmer, finding greater emotional depth than in the original and an empathetic view of overprotective parenting. The Wrap takes the harshest position, condemning the film’s family values as regressive and its treatment of vulnerability as shaming.

## Straight answers

**Is The Secret Life of Pets 2 worth watching?**

*The Secret Life of Pets 2* is worth considering for an undemanding evening with an animal-loving child, though our score of 62 reflects its scattered storytelling. We enjoy the pet jokes, especially Chloe’s solemn lesson in disguise, but the separate adventures keep interrupting the comedy, and the circus material is less rewarding.

**How long is The Secret Life of Pets 2, and what is it rated?**

*The Secret Life of Pets 2* runs 1h 26m and is rated U by the BBFC in the UK. It is an animation and comedy film.

**Where can I watch The Secret Life of Pets 2 in the UK?**

*The Secret Life of Pets 2* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from £3.49. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does The Secret Life of Pets 2 compare to Shaun the Sheep Movie?**

*The Secret Life of Pets 2* is the less satisfying comedy beside [*Shaun the Sheep Movie*](https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie), which we recommend for its better-built visual jokes and wordless storytelling. The pets offer lively voice performances and amusing animal habits, but their adventures fit together poorly; the sheep sustain their comedy more successfully, despite a middle stretch that runs short of ideas.

**What should I watch after The Secret Life of Pets 2?**

After *The Secret Life of Pets 2*, try [*Shaun the Sheep Movie*](https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie) (2015, Fi1m 80): More farmyard trouble, with visual jokes that need no shouted explanation. Then [*Ernest & Celestine*](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine) (2012, Fi1m 84): An unlikely animal friendship given the time and attention it deserves; and [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro) (1988, Fi1m 89): A gentler family adventure that takes children’s worries seriously without lecturing.

### Reviews we read (12)

- **Variety**, Courtney Howard (75/100, inferred): Howard finds the sequel stronger and more emotionally resonant than its predecessor, despite its unevenly connected storylines. She particularly praises its empathetic portrayal of overprotective parenting and the reassurance it offers parents. [Read](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-review-1203223211/)
- **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (B-): Erbland finds the sequel charming and funny, but less delightful and less coherent than the original. She praises Lake Bell’s comic performance as Chloe and the film’s imaginative take on pets’ hidden lives. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-review-sequel-1202143849/)
- **Empire**, Olly Richards (65/100, inferred): Richards finds the sequel pleasantly entertaining, though its scattered stories feel less necessary and memorable than the original. He singles out its appealing, springy animation and says it works best when sweet and silly. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/secret-life-pets-2-review/)
- **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The URL identifies this as a review of the 2019 film, but the page could not be accessed. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint are therefore unavailable. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/movies/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-review.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh (60/100, inferred): Walsh finds the sequel entertaining but formulaic, delivering familiar pet antics without much beyond the original. She praises the humorous, affectionate depictions of animal quirks, while criticizing its handling of anxiety and its dated circus subplot. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-secret-life-pets-2-sequel-review-20190605-story.html)
- **Radio Times**, Victoria Luxford (3/5): Luxford finds the sequel entertaining, though it feels more like a series of skits than a flowing story. She praises its slapstick and knowing gags. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-2do5xg/the-secret-life-of-pets-2/)
- **The Guardian**, Simran Hans (3/5): Hans finds the sequel charming but so-so, with laughs thinner than in the original. She praises Chloe’s lesson in disguise as the funniest sequence, while finding the white-tiger circus adventure too much of a stretch. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/26/secret-life-of-pets-2-review-expansive-animated-sequel)
- **The AV Club**, Jesse Hassenger (C): Hassenger finds the sequel disjointed and ultimately too slight to sustain its feature-length running time. He praises the goofy charm and expressive voice work in the Gidget and Snowball subplots. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-mini-adventures-of-secret-life-of-pets-2-belong-on-1835059058)
- **Screen Daily**, Stephen Whitty (50/100, inferred): Whitty finds the sequel uneven, balancing sweetness against overcrowding. He singles out how the tale wags the dog as a central complaint. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-review/5139767.article)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Michael Rechtshaffen (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel genially amusing but undernourished, with familiar storytelling that offers little beyond the first film. Harrison Ford’s gruff farm dog steals the show, while the script and animation are faulted for playing it safe. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/secret-life-pets-2-review-1213155/)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (4/10): Spiegel finds the sequel slight, scattered, and largely inconsequential. He singles out its three disconnected storylines and shallow character work as weaknesses, while noting its short runtime as a saving grace. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/566871/secret-life-of-pets-2-review/)
- **The Wrap** (15/100, inferred): The critic strongly condemns the film as a regressive, uninteresting movie. They single out its conservative ideas about family and its shaming of vulnerability as especially troubling. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-film-review-patton-oswalt-harrison-ford/)

## Details

- **Director:** Chris Renaud
- **Director:** Chris Renaud
- **Writer:** Brian Lynch
- **Editor:** Tiffany Hillkurtz
- **Music:** Alexandre Desplat
- **Production design:** Colin Stimpson
- **Producer:** Janet Healy, Chris Meledandri
- **Cast:** Patton Oswalt as Max (voice); Kevin Hart as Snowball (voice); Eric Stonestreet as Duke (voice); Jenny Slate as Gidget (voice); Tiffany Haddish as Daisy (voice); Lake Bell as Chloe (voice); Nick Kroll as Sergei (voice); Dana Carvey as Pops (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 26m
- **Certificate (BBFC):** U
- **Release (the UK):** 24 May 2019
- **Genres:** Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure
- **Budget:** $80 million
- **Box office:** $429 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYocfuqu2A8

## Where to watch in the UK

- Amazon Prime Video: rent £3.49, uhd
- Apple TV: rent £3.49, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy £7.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy £7.99, hd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2020: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Shaun the Sheep Movie* (2015), Fi1m 80: More farmyard trouble, with visual jokes that need no shouted explanation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie.md)
- *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: An unlikely animal friendship given the time and attention it deserves. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.md)
- *A Town Called Panic* (2009): Animal antics with the speed and conviction to sustain their nonsense.
- *The Aristocats* (1970): Another household of pets, with music and more room for personality.
- *My Neighbour Totoro* (1988), Fi1m 89: A gentler family adventure that takes children’s worries seriously without lecturing. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2