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Beethoven's 5th

Beethoven's 5th

Video200391 minGMidcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
Director
Mark Griffiths
Starring
Dave Thomas, Faith Ford, Daveigh Chase, Tom Poston

When Sara takes Beethoven to spend summer vacation with wacky Uncle Freddie in an old mining town, the mischievous canine "digs up" the missing clue to a legendary hidden fortune of Rita and Moe Selig. Now everybody wants to be the dog's best friend as his discovery unleashes a frenzy of treasure hunting among the community's cast of kooky creatures. With help from Uncle Freddie and Garrett (a friend or maybe more), Sara and Beethoven try to help uncover a secret that has been in the crazy little town for years.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Beethoven's 5th?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Beethoven's 5th to rent or buy on Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Beethoven's 5th?

Beethoven's 5th earns 2 badges, led by Overhyped and Preferred by Women.

Reception

Is Beethoven's 5th worth watching?

Beethoven's 5th's Midcredits score is the 11th percentile of all films, from 8.9K ratings across 4 sources. 22% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

11th percentile

Better received than 11% of films

10th percentile among Comedy11th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)15th
Approval (how many liked it)11th

49 /100

15th percentile of all films

14th percentile among Comedy15th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

Approval

How many liked it

22% liked it

11th percentile of all films

10th percentile among Comedy10th percentile among 2000s
22% rated it 7–1078% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

79th percentile

8.9K ratings across platforms

76th percentile among Comedy71st percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 25% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both sides agree the film is a modest, lightweight family comedy where Beethoven's doggy antics are the main draw and the human cast is largely sidelined.

Fans praised

  • cast chemistry and Larroquette's sly turn as the mayor
  • fun family-friendly plotting with a small-town old-money twist
  • Beethoven's antics remain charming and watchable

Detractors panned

  • disjointed, aimless script with no narrative drive
  • flat, embarrassed performances from a wasted comic cast
  • shoddy direct-to-video production values and clumsy effects

What stands out

HumorDivisive46

Gentle, silly gags land for some; others find them flat and desperate

DialogueDivisive45

Some offbeat mutterings from Dave Thomas land, but most lines sag

ActingDivisive38

Fans praise the ensemble (esp. Larroquette's mayor); detractors call the cast embarrassed and amateurish

CharactersDivisive30

Only Beethoven is considered likable; human characters are thin, derivative small-town types

Plot and storyDivisive28

Disjointed treasure-hunt premise with no stakes; fans find it mildly diverting

PacingDivisive25

Listless, unfocused rhythm with no momentum toward climax

OriginalityDivisive20

Derivative Scooby-Doo/Disney formula; unneeded fifth sequel

Effects and spectacleDivisive18

Clumsy dog stunts and unconvincing set pieces; one chase scene mildly amusing

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 10 points higher than men.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is Beethoven's 5th like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, has a few laughs and leaves you entertained. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
WarmAbsurdContemplative
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
PlayfulWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneIt holds its quaint small-town mystery straight and lightly for kids, playing the weirdness for charm rather than any real menace.
The rideA light-hearted summer adventure with oddities, but the emotional weight likely concentrates on Sara's adaptation and bond with Beethoven.
StructureA conventional start-to-finish telling of the summer's events in Quicksilver.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayA light, harmless family-comedy warmth that leaves you entertained rather than moved.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MysteryPuzzle
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7% (this title): Puzzle 1% (this title) · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Puzzle: A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).

7% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeA girl's summer in a strange town is built on a Scooby-Doo-style puzzle of ghosts and odd locals, and the dog's dognapping presumably drives the effort to get him back.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsComing of age · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe story centers on a girl and her dog navigating an unfamiliar, odd community, which tests and strengthens their bond.
StanceThe film seems to celebrate the bond between a girl and her dog amid odd surroundings, affirming family loyalty and adventure.

The world

ContemporaryRuralSuburbanStylized realism
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Adam Berry
SettingQuicksilver, a weird small town during summer
MusicComposer Adam Berry likely provides a light, playful orchestral score fitting the family adventure tone.

Content guide

Is Beethoven's 5th okay for kids?

G

Beethoven's 5th is rated G. As of March 15, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (42/100), sexual content at mild (30/100), language at moderate (42/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (0/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). Its violence and drug and alcohol content have too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 89% of G-rated films.

Ratings in 7 other countries
  • UKU
  • AustraliaG
  • Germany0
  • FranceU
  • JapanPG12
  • BrazilL
  • SK12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 37% of all filmsHeavier than 89% of G-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
heavy for a G-rated film
heavier than 80%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a G-rated film
heavier than 91%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Intense
heavy for a G-rated film
heavier than 94%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is frightening material.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Beethoven's 5th have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Beethoven's 5th?

Cast

Dave Thomas
as Freddy Kablinski
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Faith Ford
as Julie Dempsey
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Daveigh Chase
as Sara Newton
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Tom Poston
as John Giles
Katherine Helmond
as Crazy Cora Wilkens
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Sammy Kahn
as Garrett
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Richard Riehle
as Vaughn Carter
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Clint Howard
as Owen Tuttle
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Kathy Griffin
as Evie Kling
John Larroquette
as Mayor Harold Herman
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Beethoven's 5th?

Movies like Beethoven's 5th include Beethoven (1992), Beethoven's 2nd (1993) and Larger Than Life (1996). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by Amy Holden Jones and John Hughes, and all are stories about animal companions.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

11 of these 12 share its subject: family bonds. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Beethoven's 5th?

813 other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: animal companion. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.