View source for Air Bud

{{short description|1997 film directed by Charles Martin Smith}}
{{for|the film series|Air Bud (series){{!}}''Air Bud'' (series)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Air Bud
| image          = Air_bud_poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| alt            = A golden retriever wearing a basketball jersey and dunking a ball
| director       = [[Charles Martin Smith]]
| producer       = {{unbulleted list|[[Robert Vince]]|[[William Vince]]}}
| writer         = {{unbulleted list|Paul Tamasy|Aaron Mendelsohn}}
| starring       = {{unbulleted list|[[Michael Jeter]]|[[Kevin Zegers]]|[[Wendy Makkena]]|[[Eric Christmas]]|[[Brendan Fletcher]]|Norman Browning|[[Bill Cobbs]]|[[Buddy (dog actor)|Buddy]]}}
| music          = Brahm Wenger
| cinematography = [[Mike Southon (cinematographer)|Mike Southon]]
| editing        = Alison Grace
| studio         = {{unbulleted list|[[Robert Vince|Keystone Pictures]]<ref name="bfi">{{cite web |title=Air Bud (1997) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8086a79b |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020082137/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8086a79b |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |website=[[British Film Institute]] |access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref>|Buddy Films, Inc.<ref name="afi.com">{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60487 |title = AFI&#124;Catalog}}</ref>}}
| distributor    = {{unbulleted list|[[Malofilm]] (Canada)|[[Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]<ref name="afi.com" />(United States){{efn|Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution under the [[Walt Disney Pictures]] banner.}}}}
| released       = {{Film date|1997|08|01}}
| runtime        = 98 minutes
| language       = English
| country        = {{unbulleted list|Canada|United States}}
| budget         = $3 million
| gross          = $27.8 million<ref name="boxoffice">{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Air-Bud#tab=summary|title = Air Bud (1997) - Financial Information}}</ref>
}}

'''''Air Bud''''' is a 1997 [[sports film|sports]] [[comedy-drama film]] directed by [[Charles Martin Smith]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/air-bud-v156970|work=Allmovie|title=Air Bud|author=Deming, Mark|access-date=April 16, 2013}}</ref> An international co-production of the United States and Canada, the film stars [[Kevin Zegers]] as a young boy who befriends a runaway [[Golden Retriever]] (portrayed by [[Buddy (dog actor)|Buddy]]) with a unique ability to play [[basketball]].

''Air Bud'' received mixed reviews but was a commercial success, grossing $4 million in its opening weekend and totaling $27.8 million in its run against an estimated $3 million budget.<ref name="boxoffice" /> It was followed by a direct sequel, ''[[Air Bud: Golden Receiver]]'', in 1998, and spawned a [[Air Bud (series)|film franchise]] that includes the [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] series ''[[Air Buddies]]''.

==Plot==
After the death of his father, twelve-year-old Josh Framm, his mother Jackie, and his two-year-old sister Andrea have relocated to Fernfield, Washington. One day after school, Josh practices [[basketball]] by himself in a makeshift court that he sets up behind an abandoned church, where he meets an abandoned and runaway [[Golden Retriever]] who had recently escaped from his abusive owner: an alcoholic clown named Norman Snively, who had locked him in a kennel for causing trouble at a birthday party when the kennel unknowingly fell out due to Snively not securing the back. Discovering his uncanny ability to play basketball, Josh names him Buddy and takes him home. Jackie agrees to let Buddy stay until Christmas. Once the holidays arrive, Jackie allows Josh to keep Buddy as a Christmas present.

At school, Josh earns the disdain of star basketball player and team rival Larry Willingham but befriends kindhearted [[Maintenance engineering|maintenance engineer]] and retired pro player Arthur Chaney. With Chaney's encouragement, Josh earns a place on the Timberwolves, the school basketball team, despite the reservation of their competitive coach, Joe Barker. He befriends teammate Tom Stewart at his first game. Buddy escapes and shows up at school during the game. The audience loves him when he scores a basket.

Barker is fired after being caught emotionally and physically abusing Tom for his poor performance. At Josh's suggestion, he is replaced by Chaney. Arthur emphasizes the need for players to work as a team instead of focusing on themselves. When Larry is subbed out due to ball-hogging and unsportsmanlike conduct, his father forces him to leave the team and join their rival. Buddy becomes the mascot of the school's basketball team and appears in their halftime shows. The Timberwolves lose one game before qualifying for the State Finals.

Just before the championship game, Snively appears after seeing Buddy on television. Hoping to profit from Buddy's newfound fame, he forces Jackie to hand over Buddy as he has papers proving he is the legal owner. Withdrawn and depressed, Josh discovers Snively living in a small low-income house and [[trespassing|sneaks into his backyard]], [[conversion (law)|freeing Buddy]] from his chain. Snively notices him and pursues them in his dilapidated [[pickup truck]] through a park before crashing into a lake. Josh protects Buddy by setting him free in the forest to find a new life.

The Timberwolves struggle in the championship game and an injury leaves them with four players. Buddy shows up to the crowd's cheers. After it is discovered that there is [[Loophole|no rule]] preventing a dog from playing basketball, he is added to the roster and leads the team to victory.

Despite his ownership papers being ruined in the car wreck, Snively takes the Framm family to court for custody of Buddy. Chaney suggests that Buddy choose his owner. As a fan of Chaney, Judge Cranfield accepts his proposal and moves the court outside to the lawn, where Buddy attacks Snively and chooses Josh. Cranfield grants custody to Josh as a ranting Snively is dragged away by the police, while Josh and the rest of the citizens rejoice and gather around Buddy to welcome him home.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Michael Jeter]] as Norm Snively, Buddy's abusive owner
* [[Kevin Zegers]] as Josh Framm, Buddy's new owner
* [[Wendy Makkena]] as Jackie Framm, Josh's widowed mother
* [[Eric Christmas]] as Judge Cranfield, the court judge of Fernfield County Courthouse from Snively versus Framm
* [[Bill Cobbs]] as Arthur Chaney, the new coach of Timberwolves
* [[Brendan Fletcher]] as Larry Willingham, Josh's rival
* Norman Browning as Buck Willingham, Larry's father and the coach of Warriors
* [[Nicola Cavendish]] as Principal Pepper, the principal of Fernfield Junior School
* Stephen E. Miller as Joe Barker, the abusive coach of Timberwolves
* Shayn Solberg as Tom Stewart, Josh's best friend
* [[Jay Brazeau]] as Referee
* [[Buddy (dog actor)|Buddy]] as Buddy / Air-Bud
}}

==Production==
''Air Bud'' was produced by the newly formed banner of Keystone Entertainment, Keystone Family.<ref name="KeystoneCopsPic">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/keystone-cops-pic-1117343095/|title=KEYSTONE COPS PIC|publisher=Variety|access-date=September 16, 2021|date=March 3, 1997|first=Chris|last=Petrikin}}</ref>

US distribution rights were initially acquired by [[Miramax|Miramax Films]], but was instead moved as a [[Walt Disney Pictures]] release.<ref name="KeystoneCopsPic" />

==Home media==
''Air Bud'' was released to VHS on December 23, 1997, and to DVD on February 3, 1998 (with an [[open matte]] aspect ratio).<ref name="tomato">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/air_bud |title=Air Bud (1997) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=March 6, 2018}}</ref>

Mill Creek Entertainment released the film in a two-disc boxed set also containing other ''Air Bud'' films owned by Air Bud Entertainment on January 14, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.millcreekent.com/products/air-bud-collection|title = Air Bud Collection}}</ref>

All five ''Air Bud'' films were made available on [[Disney+]] on October 1, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/news/where-to-watch-air-bud-movie-online-streaming-disney-plus-1235051316/|title=The ''Air Bud'' Movies Are Coming to Disney+ — Whether John Oliver Likes It or Not|first=Ryan|last=Schwartz|work=TVLine|date=September 29, 2023|accessdate=September 29, 2023}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
The film grossed $4.7 million on its opening weekend, placing #7 for that weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rutland-daily-herald/128972731/|title='Air Force One' Soars at Box Office|website=The Rutland Daily Herald|date=August 5, 1997|author=The Associated Press|access-date=June 21, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenwood-commonwealth-box-office/112084996/|title='Air Force One' still No. 1; 'Spawn' makes good debut|date=August 10, 1997|website=The Greenwood Commonwealth|access-date=June 21, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Critical response===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|48|4.8|31|''Air Bud''{{'}}s wacky concept isn't entirely enough to fill a feature-length film, but this rather silly family-friendly outing is partly redeemed by its extremely charming title character.|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}<ref name="tomato" />

Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home - Cinemascore |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |website=Cinemascore |access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>

==Sequels==
{{main|Air Bud (series){{!}}''Air Bud'' (series)}}

==See also==
* [[List of basketball films]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://movies.disney.com/air-bud}}
* {{IMDb title|0118570|Air Bud}}
* {{Mojo title|airbud}}
* {{YouTube|id=1VRVdf71dfo|title=AIR BUD - Official Movie}} – full film officially uploaded for free on YouTube

{{Air Bud}}
{{Charles Martin Smith}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Air Bud}}
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:1990s Canadian films]]
[[Category:1990s children's comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language Canadian films]]
[[Category:1990s sports comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1997 children's films]]
[[Category:1997 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1997 films]]
[[Category:Air Bud (series)]]
[[Category:American basketball films]]
[[Category:American children's comedy films]]
[[Category:American sports comedy films]]
[[Category:Canadian basketball films]]
[[Category:Canadian children's comedy films]]
[[Category:Canadian sports comedy films]]
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[[Category:films directed by Charles Martin Smith]]
[[Category:films set in Washington (state)]]
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