Hachi: A Dog's Tale
Professor Wilson discovers a lost Akita puppy on his way home. Despite objections from his wife, Hachi endears himself to the family and grows to be Parker's loyal companion. As their bond grows deeper, a beautiful relationship un...
Directed by Lasse Hallström · Biography · Drama · Family · 93 min · 2010
Trailer
Director
Lasse Hallström
Studio
Stage 6 Films / Affirm Films / Hachiko, LLC / Grand Army Entertainment / Opperman Viner Chrystyn Entertainment / Scion Films / Inferno Production
Release
12 Mar 2010
Runtime
93 min
Genres
Biography, Drama, Family
Full Plot
Commuting by train, music professor Parker Wilson finds an Akita puppy, whose cage broke unnoticed during shipping, leaving his destination unknown, and since the station can't care for it and the dog catcher warns even such cute ones may not be adopted in the two weeks allowed, he kindly takes it home. His bossy, jealous wife Cate initially makes Parker swear it won't stay, but by the time its' clear nobody will claim him and an adoption candidate is found, she agrees to keep the dog, who won over their daughter Andy and her fiance Michael at first sight. Parker's Japanese college friend Ken inspires naming the pup Hachi(ko), and is pleasantly surprised when Parker successfully tackles the challenge to get it to fetch, which Akitas don't usually do. Hachi makes a habit of waiting for his equally doting master at the station every evening, but after a cardiac crisis, Parker dies. Hachi refuses to accept this, being moved to Michael's home as Cate moves out, waiting for a master who can never come home again, by now collectively adopted by sympathizing town-folk. The story is told in flashbacks as class assignment 'my hero' by Michael's teen son Robbie, who also gets an Akita puppy.
Cast & Characters
Richard Gere
Joan Allen
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Layla / Chico / Forrest – Hachi Wilson
Richard Gere – Professor Parker Wilson
Joan Allen – Cate Wilson
Sarah Roemer – Andy Wilson
Robbie Collier Sublett – Michael
Kevin DeCoste – Ronnie, son of Michael and Andy
Erick Avari – Jasjeet, the Indian hot-dog cart vendor
Jason Alexander – Carl Boilins, the train station master
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $16.0M, Hachi: A Dog's Tale has grossed $46.8M worldwide — about 2.9x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Did You Know that filming took place in Bristol and Woonsocket, Rhode Island?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that the newspaper reporter Teddy works for the Woonsocket Call, the daily newspaper of Woonsocket?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that additional locations included the University of Rhode Island and the Columbus Theater in Providence?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that a second production unit filmed scenes on-location in Japan?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Hachi: A Dog's Tale holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (336,321 votes), 64% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (336,321 votes), 64% on Rotten Tomatoes), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hachi: A Dog's Tale's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Hachi: A Dog's Tale holds a 64% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Hachi: A Dog's Tale's IMDb rating?+
Hachi: A Dog's Tale has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 336,321 votes.
Is Hachi: A Dog's Tale good? What are critics saying?+
Hachi: A Dog's Tale holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (336,321 votes), 64% on Rotten Tomatoes.
How long is Hachi: A Dog's Tale?+
Hachi: A Dog's Tale has a runtime of 93 min.
Who directed Hachi: A Dog's Tale?+
Hachi: A Dog's Tale was directed by Lasse Hallström.
Where can I watch Hachi: A Dog's Tale?+
Hachi: A Dog's Tale is available to stream, rent, or buy on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex, Rakuten TV, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" includes mixed reviews, ranging from universal praise for its emotional impact and authenticity. Some critics have praised the film as a tear-jerker, with some viewers, like a reviewer who doesn't typically cry at movies, stating that it made them shed tears. Others have commented on the trailer, with one saying they're already crying while watching it.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
This movie is wonderfully written, it's one of my favourite films and I cry each time. Based on a true story of devotion the dog keeps going back to the train station to meet his owner who had a heart attack and died so is obviously he is not coming back, he becomes the train sta…
NancyW9 · 10/10**A cute, sweet and tender film, which imports an originally Japanese story to the USA and which promises to make many children insistently ask their parents for puppies.** I'm not a fan of dogs... in fact, I'm one of those people who never had dogs, and that's why I didn't devel…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 9/10Hachi: A Dog's Tale is the rare remake that earns its tears honestly. Lasse Hallstrom takes the real story of Hachiko, the Akita who waited nearly a decade at a Tokyo station for an owner who had already died, and relocates it to small-town America. That move could have flattened…
From the trailer's comments
this movie made me cry like a little girl, i had to swim across the atlantic while wrestling sharks to regain 1/4 of my manliness
@TheKingOfBears. · 1444 likesYou're not human if you don't cry at this film!
@Andy2x4 · 795 likesI HAD NO IDEA THAT SOMEONE COULD CRY WATCHING A TRAILER!!!!
@maiamitchellisperf219 · 223 likesIt's been 10 years and I'm still crying
@otakuhub2607 · 121 likesComing here 11 years after this movie to say... this movie is a masterpiece
@curiosos2334 · 262 likesi'm already crying while watching the trailer... what's wrong with me?
@kimkimmy4383 · 595 likesyou can never understand the real meaning of love and loyalty if you haven't had any dogs
@tweakonometry · 492 likesAre you fucking kidding me this is just a trailer and im already crying...omg im an emotional wreck.
@itsjieva8505 · 412 likes
