# The Secret Life of Pets

> 2016 American animated film by Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud

**Wikidata**: [Q18844656](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18844656)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Life_of_Pets)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-secret-life-of-pets

## Summary
The Secret Life of Pets is a 2016 American animated film directed by Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud. Produced by Illumination, this comedy-adventure-family film explores the hidden lives of pets when their owners are away and serves as the first installment in a successful media franchise.

## Key Facts
- **Directors:** Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud.
- **Production Company:** Illumination (American animation studio founded in 2007).
- **Country of Origin:** United States.
- **Release Year:** 2016 (with specific release dates including June 16, June 24, July 7, July 8, July 27, July 28, August 4, August 11, and August 25).
- **Runtime:** 87 minutes.
- **Genres:** Comedy film, adventure film, family film, animated film.
- **Budget:** $75,000,000.
- **Box Office Revenue:** $875,457,937.
- **Ratings:** 71% on Rotten Tomatoes (average 6.3/10), 61/100 on Metacritic.
- **Sequel:** Followed by *The Secret Life of Pets 2* (2019).
- **Franchise:** Part of the *The Secret Life of Pets* franchise and the list of Illumination films.
- **Award Received:** Q105725771.
- **IMDb ID:** tt2709768.
- **MusicBrainz ID:** 412437.
- **Freebase ID:** /m/0115c2x3.
- **AllMovie ID:** 166227.
- **AlloCiné ID:** am14844.
- **ISNI:** fbea6586-934e-4589-915a-5d1fb12e3316.
- **VIAF:** 96391.
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 80095314.
- **Cinémathèque québécoise ID:** 129054.
- **Douban ID:** 84672.
- **Movie.com ID:** mv58843.
- **Metacritic ID:** 364125.
- **Rotten Tomatoes ID:** 743088.
- **Box Office Mojo ID:** 185547095.
- **Apple iTunes ID:** 82454000012PLXMQDD.
- **BFI ID:** t0011512.
- **Discogs IDs:** 39889, 39735, 39734.
- **Letterboxd ID:** 62074.
- **UMC ID:** umc.cmc.2hesefg97k0th5q9bvhc9x960.
- **LCCN:** 4025-2639.
- **Wikipedia Sitelink Count:** 56.
- **Social Media Handles:** Twitter (@PetsMovie), Instagram (@secretlifeofpets), Facebook (Mascotas.AR).
- **Website:** http://www.thesecretlifeofpets.com/.
- **YouTube Video ID:** qnbPrsd0Tlk.
- **WolframAlpha Entity:** Entity["Movie", "TheSecretLifeOfPets::4f2k7"].
- **Associated Image:** København - Nordisk Film Biografer Palads (25363585019).jpg.

## FAQs
**Who directed and produced The Secret Life of Pets?**
The film was directed by Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud and produced by Illumination, an American animation studio founded in 2007.

**What is the premise of the film?**
It is a comedy, adventure, and family film that depicts the secret lives pets lead after their owners leave for work or school each day.

**How successful was the film financially?**
The Secret Life of Pets was a major commercial success, grossing $875,457,937 at the box office worldwide against a production budget of $75,000,000.

**Is there a sequel to The Secret Life of Pets?**
Yes, the film was followed by a sequel titled *The Secret Life of Pets 2*, which was released in 2019 and also directed by Chris Renaud.

**What are the critical ratings for the film?**
The film holds a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 6.3/10, and a Metacritic score of 61/100.

## Why It Matters
The Secret Life of Pets matters as a significant cultural and commercial product within the animated film industry. Produced by Illumination, a studio recognized for its global influence in animation, the film exemplifies the commercial viability of original animated concepts, generating nearly $875 million in revenue. It contributed to the expansion of the "family film" genre, offering content intended for audiences of all ages. The film's success established a franchise that includes a sequel and merchandise, reinforcing the economic impact of animated features in the United States and globally. Additionally, it serves as a modern example of the "film" medium—a sequence of images creating the illusion of movement—utilized for mass entertainment and storytelling.

## Notable For
- **High Box Office Return:** Grossing over $875 million against a $75 million budget.
- **Illumination Production:** Part of the catalog of Illumination, a major American animation studio.
- **Franchise Starter:** Originated the *The Secret Life of Pets* media franchise.
- **Genre Blending:** Classified simultaneously as a comedy, adventure, family, and animated film.
- **Global Release:** Had a wide release window in 2016, spanning from June to August across different regions.
- **Social Media Presence:** Maintained active official accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
- **Critical Recognition:** Holds a "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metascore in the green zone on Metacritic.
- **Award Recipient:** Received the award identified by ID Q105725771.

## Body

### Production and Creative Team
The Secret Life of Pets is an American animated film directed by the duo of Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud. The production was handled by Illumination, an American animation film production company founded on January 17, 2007. Illumination is headquartered in the United States (specifically Santa Monica, California) and Paris, France, and employs approximately 100 people. The film is an instance of both the broader class of "film" and the specific subclass of "animated film," which is defined as a film made using drawings, stop motion, or computer animation.

### Genre and Classification
The film is categorized under multiple genres to define its target audience and tone. It is classified as a **comedy film**, where the main emphasis is on humor; an **adventure film**, which typically involves exciting undertakings or journeys; and a **family film**, intended for a family audience of all ages. As a **film**, it belongs to the medium defined as a sequence of images that give the impression of movement, stored on film stock (or digitally in modern contexts). It is formally recognized as a visual artwork and an audiovisual work.

### Release and Distribution
The Secret Life of Pets was released in 2016 with a staggered schedule across different countries. Specific publication dates include June 16, June 24, July 7, July 8, July 27, July 28, August 4, August 11, and August 25. The country of origin is the United States, a federal republic and global superpower with a dominant entertainment industry. The film's distribution and presence are tracked by numerous identifiers, including an IMDb ID (tt2709768), a MusicBrainz ID (412437), and a Freebase ID (/m/0115c2x3).

### Commercial Performance
Financially, the film was a substantial success. It was produced with a budget of $75,000,000 and went on to achieve a box office gross of $875,457,937. This performance is tracked through various Box Office Mojo IDs (including 185547095, 85751, 1573056, 326583, 17375, 2037992, 286475, 95645, 34845, 223848, 82613, 129643, 100002907, 56909, 32498, 31657, 31140, 62074, 634, 4851540, 433581, 6497, 26577, 39540, 209011, 132049, and 39889/39735/39734). The film's financial success contributed to the status of the United States as a leader in the global entertainment economy.

### Critical Reception
The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics. It holds a 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes (ID 743088) with an average rating of 6.3/10. On Metacritic, it has a score of 61/100 (ID 364125). These ratings place the film in the generally favorable category, reflecting its appeal as a family comedy despite some critical reservations.

### Franchise and Sequels
The Secret Life of Pets serves as the precursor to *The Secret Life of Pets 2*, a 2019 animated film also directed by Chris Renaud. The original film is part of the "The Secret Life of Pets" franchise (sitelink count 17) and is included in the "list of Illumination films" (sitelink count 5). The franchise expands the narrative universe established in the first film.

### Digital Footprint and Identifiers
The film maintains a robust digital presence across various platforms and databases:
- **Social Media:** Twitter handle @PetsMovie, Instagram account @secretlifeofpets, and Facebook page Mascotas.AR.
- **Official Website:** http://www.thesecretlifeofpets.com/.
- **Video Content:** Official YouTube video ID qnbPrsd0Tlk.
- **Database Identifiers:**
    - AllMovie: 166227
    - AlloCiné: am14844
    - Douban: 84672
    - Movie.com: mv58843
    - Apple iTunes: 82454000012PLXMQDD
    - BFI: t0011512
    - Letterboxd: 62074
    - UMC: umc.cmc.2hesefg97k0th5q9bvhc9x960
    - Library of Congress (LCCN): 4025-2639
    - Discogs: 39889, 39735, 39734
    - WolframAlpha: Entity["Movie", "TheSecretLifeOfPets::4f2k7"]
- **Authority Control:**
    - ISNI: fbea6586-934e-4589-915a-5d1fb12e3316
    - VIAF: 96391
    - Bibliothèque nationale de France: 80095314
    - Cinémathèque québécoise: 129054

### Contextual Background
The film exists within the broader context of the United States, the country of its origin. The United States is a federal presidential constitutional republic and a global superpower with the largest economy by nominal GDP. It is a cultural exporter, with Hollywood (a district of Los Angeles) serving as a major center for the film industry. The U.S. is also a leader in technological innovation, which underpins the computer animation techniques used by Illumination.

Illumination, the production company, is a key player in the animation landscape. Founded in 2007, it is known for producing commercially successful animated films. The studio is part of the ecosystem that defines the modern "film" industry, which is studied by academic disciplines such as film theory and film studies. The Secret Life of Pets, as a product of this industry, contributes to the vast catalog of global cinema, which is preserved and categorized by institutions like the Library of Congress and recognized by cultural organizations worldwide.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709768/)
2. [Source](http://www.bcdb.com/bcdb/cartoon.cgi?film=151899)
3. [Source](http://www.tomatazos.com/peliculas/62113/La-Vida-Secreta-de-tus-Mascotas)
4. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=237443.html)
5. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film412437.html)
6. [Source](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/the-secret-life-of-pets-review-1201796982/)
7. Filmstarts
8. Moviepilot
9. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
10. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-secret-life-of-pets)
11. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film412437.html)
12. [Source](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-18/ryunosuke-kamiki-mone-kamishiraishi-win-11th-annual-seiyu-awards/.113601)
13. The Movie Database
14. The Secret Life of Pets. Rotten Tomatoes
15. [Kinopolis](http://www.mathaeser.de/mm/film/82454000012PLXMQDD.php)
16. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709768/releaseinfo)
17. [Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze](https://www.csfd.cz/film/364125-tajny-zivot-mazlicku/prehled/)
18. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
19. [Source](https://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-237443/)
20. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709768/fullcredits)
21. BBC Things
22. [Source](http://www.fsk.de/asp/fskkarte.asp?pvid=564714)
23. [Source](https://www.interfilmes.com/filme_301160_Pets.A.Vida.Secreta.dos.Bichos-(The.Secret.Life.of.Pets).html)
24. Box Office Mojo
25. Kinopoisk
26. [Source](https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/secret-life-pets-2016)
27. [Source](http://mkrf.ru/registr/detail.php?ID=185547095)
28. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=259696)
29. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/secret-life-of-pets/)
30. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=1514003)
31. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/the-secret-life-of-pets/)
32. Entertainment Identifier Registry
33. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
34. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2016&s_month=6&e_year=2016&e_month=6&pageID=2)
35. [Source](http://www.cnc.fr/web/fr/rechercher-une-oeuvre/-/visa/144878)
36. Online-Filmdatenbank
37. [Source](http://justica.gov.br/noticias/classificacao-indicativa-12)
38. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
39. [Source](http://www.mecd.gob.es/cultura-mecd/areas-cultura/cine/industria-cine/calificacion/calificacion-por-meses.html)
40. [Source](http://cnc.abt.ro/registru/index.aspx?pageID=3&filmID=15287)
41. [Source](https://jmkextern.bmb.gv.at/app/detail.aspx?FILID=18918)
42. [Source](http://www.rtc.gob.mx/NuevoSitio/cine_clasif_35mm.php?cd=340)
43. [Source](http://fpbquery.fpb.org.za/erms/film_details.aspx?ref=77604)
44. Bechdel Test Movie List
45. mymovies.it
46. [Source](https://imdaonline.imda.gov.sg/classification/Search/Film/SearchDetail.aspx?sType=Feature&sRowID=AAAgZnAAAAAADR5AAA)
47. [The Secret Life of Pets (2016 Movie) - Behind The Voice Actors](https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/movies/The-Secret-Life-of-Pets/)
48. Danish Film Database
49. [Source](https://norske-dubber.fandom.com/no/wiki/Kj%C3%A6ledyrenes_hemmelige_liv_(Film)?oldid=104251)
50. [Source](https://www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/RCQ212AfficherFicheTech.asp?intNoFilm=394132)