Dr. Dolittle (franchise)

The Dr. Dolittle film series consists of American feature-length family films, based on the book series written by Hugh Lofting, Doctor Dolittle. Like their source material, the plot of each respective film follows the titular characters' adventures given their abilities to communicate with animals. The series consists of the original fantasy-period piece musical movie, a contemporary comedy remake (followed by its four sequels), and a period piece fantasy-adventure reboot.

Dr. Dolittle
Official film series logo
Based onDoctor Dolittle novels
by Hugh Lofting
Starring
Release date
1967–present
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget~$353,500,000
(Cumulative of 7 films)
Box office~$308,096,697
(Cumulative of 6 films)

Each film has been met with poor to mixed-at-best critical reception. With seven films, the gross box office return is approximately $308,096,697 total, with the financial information that is available.

Background

Doctor Dolittle

A series of children's books written by Hugh Lofting, which center around Doctor John Little, with the first installment released in 1920 titled, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts. A number of sequels and shorts stories followed from 1924–1952. Lofting originally created the character for letters he sent home to his children, from the trenches of WWI. The plot takes place in Victorian England, and center around the adventures of Dolittle, who can speak to animals, and takes place in a fictional village called Puddleby-on-the-Marsh in West Country of south-western England.

Films

Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
Doctor Dolittle December 19, 1967 (1967-12-19) Richard Fleischer Leslie Bricusse Arthur P. Jacobs
Dr. Dolittle June 26, 1998 (1998-06-26) Betty Thomas Nat Mauldin and Larry Levin John Davis, David T. Friendly and Joseph M. Singer
Dr. Dolittle 2 June 22, 2001 (2001-06-22) Steve Carr Larry Levin John Davis
Dr. Dolittle 3 April 25, 2006 (2006-04-25) Rich Thorne Nina Colman
Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief March 4, 2008 (2008-03-04) Craig Shapiro Matt Lieberman and Kathleen Laccinole Matt Lieberman John Davis and Brian Manis
Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts May 19, 2009 (2009-05-19) Alex Zamm Daniel Altiere and Steven Altiere
Dolittle January 17, 2020 (2020-01-17) Stephen Gaghan Stephen Gaghan and John Whittington Thomas Shepherd Susan Downey, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Joe Roth

Doctor Dolittle (1967)

Dr. John Dolittle, an Englishman from a small village in the United Kingdom, specializes in providing medical care for and verbally conversing with various Fauna. Because of his care for animals, his practice with patients has fallen by the wayside. Dolittle helps a seal escape a circus by dressing her as a human. When it's observed that he pushes her into the ocean, Dolittle's newfound business in communicating with and helping animals, finds him placed in an insane asylum. Dolittle's closest friends, both animal and human, come to the rescue when he is placed on trial for suspected murder. After freeing him from captivity, together with Dolittle - Emma Fairfax, and the animal friends - escape and set sail on a boat to find a legendary creature, the Great Pink Sea Snail. The team discovers the snail on a reclusive island, after a run-in with the indigenous tribe that lives there. Dolittle is surprised to find that the people are fluent in English, due to their studies of various novels that wash ashore. After their discovery, the Great Pink Sea Snail carries Emma, and the animals back to England. Though Emma expresses her love for him, Dolittle insists she returns to her home. Dolittle resolves to studying the islanders, and in finding another mythical animal called the Giant Luna Moth. After time has passed, Emma returns to the island with the animals to relay good news: Doctor Dolittle has been proven innocent, and can return home. The group begins their voyage, with Dolittle riding the back of the giant moth.[1]

Dr. Dolittle (1998)

An American surgeon, Dr. John Dolittle begins to remember his childhood abilities of communicating with animals following a mild fender bender. He first questions his sanity after hitting his head in the accident, while eventually remembering the extent of his gifts. This re-found talent quickly becomes a mix of events, when Dolittle find himself overwhelmed with animals that seek out his help, including: an alcoholic monkey, injured fowl, and a severely depressed tiger on the verge of suicidal tendencies. When his peculiar behavior is observed by others including his wife Lisa, Dolittle finds himself admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Believing his abilities are a hindrance to his practice, and his family life, Dolittle decides to go back to work as a respected surgeon. In doing so, he realizes that his relationship with his youngest daughter has become strained. Dolittle decides to again help his animal friends, and tells his daughter that she can do and be anything that she wants to. Together, he and Lucky set out to help the unstable tiger. Stealing the feline from the circus for an emergency operation, Dolittle's actions again attract the attention and scrutiny of his peers. John's father Archer, reveals to Lisa that his son's professed ability to talk to animals is real and has been since the latter was a child. Lisa decides to support her husband and with her support, Dolittle successfully removes the cause of the tiger's pain and mental distress. Following the experience, John decides to be a surgeon and a veterinary physician so that he can continue to serve as the voice of, and care for the animals.[2]

Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)

After several years of officially practicing as a veterinarian, Dolittle continues to provide help to the animals that seek him out. Since becoming a celebrity, Dolittle finds his work-load increasing, as he travels the world performing his skills. Returning home, he scolds his daughter Charisse for her school failures, while gifting his younger daughter Maya with a Chameleon. At Charisse's birthday party, a group of animals approach him providing a message from the Godbeaver. Agreeing to meet with the leader of the animal mafia, Dolittle agrees to helping the animals in preserving their forest habitat from a large logging company. The group decides that their best argument to defend the area will be to protect the endangered species of bear, known as the Pacific Western. However, there is only a female named Ava living in its area. Dedicated to helping the animals of the forest, he persuades the Pacific Western male named Archie to aid their cause. Raised in captivity, Archie agrees with the prospect of a girlfriend, but must first revert to his natural instincts under Dolittle's tutelage. Upon taking his family on a month-long vacation in the woods, Ava agrees to placing a relationship with a Grizzly Bear named Sonny that she is romantically involved with on hold, until a month's time when Dolittle will present her with a bear she can love of her own kind. Dolittle prepares Archie for his courting of Ava, as well as a confrontation with her less-than-affectionate Grizzly. After a failed attempt to emulate Dolittle's own love for his wife, Archie secludes himself into a newfound cave. When Dolittle tries to reinvigorate Archie, the latter finds his inner bear after an insult from the Doctor makes him angry. Ava and Archie spend the day together, though Sonny interferes and forces Ava to leave. As time is running out, Archie decides to retrieve a bee hive in a dangerous location for Ava, who in turn finds the motivation to dump Sonny. After destroying a restaurant, the apprentice of logging mogul Joe Potter tranquilizes Archie and takes him into confinement where he'll be sold to a Mexican circus. Discovering his daughter has his same abilities, Dolittle's determination to save his animal friends reinvigorated. An army of animals prevent the logging company from a demolition of the forest, as Dolittle begins renegotiations. All over the world animals go on strike, including Shamu at SeaWorld. After some time, Potter relinquishes and the forest is effectively saved. Dolittle begins to work with Charisse in talking to and helping animals, while Archie and Ava as a couple present their two cubs.[3]

Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006)

Maya Dolittle, the youngest daughter of Dr. John Dolittle, realizes that she has inherited her father's ability to talk to animals. As she develops this gift and tries to use it in her assistant-veterinary job, she continues to find trouble in her pursuits. In the meantime her friends start to wonder if she has gone crazy. While John, and the older daughter Charisse, are away on expeditions to help animals, her mother sends Maya to a summer camp so that she can get away for a while. Upon her arrival, Maya uses her ability to communicate with animals in order to save the camp ranch from being bought out by a neighboring farm company. Over time she realizes that her abilities to talk to animals, may prove helpful to a weak entry from the camp, in an upcoming rodeo competition.[4]

Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief (2008)

Just as her father and older sister had before her, Maya Dolittle has gained a reputation as the girl who can talk to animals. While John is away on expeditions to help animals, and Charisse is off at college, the U.S. president seeks the help of the Dolittles. Maya takes John's place, aiding their dog Daisy, who's been causing some unruly circumstances at the White House. During her visit, she ends up becoming involved with a matter of international importance. The President also asks for Maya's help in saving an African forest that is being considered for land development. During a dinner with the royalty of the forest, Maya discovers that the chief security for the President, has been corrosively been sabotaging the prince to sell the land and make millions. With Maya's help, the forest is saved.[5][6]

Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts (2009)

Maya Dolittle, who's about to begin veterinary schooling, decides that given her unique talents she doesn't need to. After being discovered helping animals by a celebrity named Tiffany Monaco, the star asks Maya to come to Hollywood to help her needful puppy. Once in Hollywood, Maya joins Tiffany in a television series called The Animal Talkers. While she is there, she finds her old friend Monkey has been pursuing an acting career. After some time, Maya realizes that the show is not dedicated to assisting the animals, and decides to return home. As she starts her schooling, she finds that her love-interest from Hollywood will also be going to school with her. Monkey quits Hollywood, to come and assist Maya in her pursuits.[7]

Dolittle (2020)

In 19th Century-England, Dr. John Dolittle lives in the solitude of his mansion, following the death of his beloved wife. His only companionship is a vast array of exotic animals, that come to him for help since he has the unique ability of being able to speak to them. When a young Queen Alexandria Victoria becomes gravely ill, and after being convinced by his animal friends that he needs to begin making human connections again, Dolittle agrees. Upon meeting the Queen, he discovers that she has accidentally eaten a deadly nightshade in her tea that was placed in her tea by someone to kill her. Leaving behind some of his animals to watch over her, Dolittle sets sail with the rest of his animal crew, on a grand adventure to a legendary island to find that has the cure. Along the way he evades his lifelong rival Dr. Blair Müdfly, and becomes imprisoned by his father-in-law, the pirate-king Rassouli. After some time the king decides to honor the memory of his daughter and sets Dolittle and his friends free, providing them with his personal ship for their journey. Arriving at the island, Dolittle and his animal friends find the mythical dragon known as Ginko-Who-Soars. Initially attacking, Ginko collapses in pain. Dolittle discovers blockage in her bowels from the previous invaders that she has eaten. With Dolittle's help, she is relieved of her pain. The dragon guides them to the tree that his deceased wife had once told him about, which provides Dolittle with the cure. He and his entourage of animals return to the Queen, just in time to save her life. One of his friends, a stick insect, he had left behind to watch after the Queen reveals that one of the royal chairmen named Lord Thomas Badgley, was the culprit that attempted to assassinate her with the poison in her drink. Queen Victoria has him arrested for treason. Having once again found purpose and learning to cope with the sadness he feels in coping with the passing of his wife, Dolittle reopens his animal sanctuary and officially hires his young apprentice, Tommy Stubbins.[8][9]

Principal cast

Character Original Remake series Reboot
Doctor Dolittle Dr. Dolittle Dr. Dolittle 2 Dr. Dolittle 3 Dr. Dolittle:
Tail to the Chief
Dr. Dolittle:
Million Dollar Mutts
Dolittle
1967 1998 2002 2006 2008 2009 2020
Principal cast
Doctor John Dolittle Rex Harrison Eddie Murphy
Dari Gerard Smith
Raymond Matthew Mason
Eddie Murphy   Robert Downey, Jr.
Lisa Dolittle   Kristen Wilson Karen Holness  
Maya Dolittle   Kyla Pratt  
Charisse Dolittle   Raven-Symoné Pearman  
Lilly Dolittle   Kasia Smutniak
Supporting cast
Emma Fairfax Samantha Eggar
Diana Lee
 
Matthew Mugg Anthony Newley  
Gen.
Bellowes
Peter Bull  
Sarah Dolittle Portia Nelson  
Archer Dolittle   Ossie Davis  
Dr.
Mark Weller
  Oliver Platt  
Dr.
Gene "Geno" Reiss
  Richard Schiff  
Mr.
Calloway
  Peter Boyle  
Steve Irwin
the Crocodile Hunter
  Himself  
Joey Potter   Jeffrey Jones  
Jack Reilly   Kevin Pollak  
Jud   John Amos  
Bo   Walker Howard  
President of the United States of America
Sterling
  Peter Coyote  
Courtney Sterling   Elise Gatien  
COS
Dorian
  Malcolm Stewart  
Tiffany Monaco   Tegan Moss  
Brandon Booker   Brandon Jay McLaren  
Tommy Stubbins   Harry Collett
Rassouli   Antonio Banderas
Dr.
Blair Müdfly
  Michael Sheen
Lord
Thomas Badgley
  Jim Broadbent
Queen
Alexandrina Victoria
  Jessie Buckley
Animal voice cast
Polynesia the Macaw Ginny Tyler   Emma Thompson
Lucky Dolittle the Border Terrier-mix   Norm MacDonald  
Monkey the Capuchin   Phil Proctor  
Rat #2   John Leguizamo  
Jacob "Jake" the Tiger   Albert Brooks  
Prologue dog   Ellen DeGeneres  
Compulsive Curly-haired Fox Terrier   Gilbert Gottfried  
Raccoon   Paul Reubens  
Rodney the Guinea Pig   Chris Rock  
Archie the "Pacific Western" Bear   Steve Zahn  
Ava the "Pacific Western" Bear   Lisa Kudrow  
Girl "Pacific Western" cub   Mandy Moore  
Boy "Pacific Western" cub   Frankie Muniz  
Pepito the Senegal Chameleon   Jacob Vargas  
Sonny the Grizzly Bear   Mike Epps  
Possum the Opossum   Isaac Hayes  
Joey the Racoon   Michael Rapaport  
the Godbeaver   Richard C. Sarafian  
White Wolf   Arnold Schwarzenegger  
Male tortoise   Tom Kenny  
Mr. Lennie the Weasel   Andy Dick  
Alligator   Kevin Pollak  
Butch the Morgan Horse   Gary Busey  
Hens   Vanessa Marshall  
Daisy the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel   Jennifer Coolidge  
Groundhog   Richard Kind  
Yellow-headed Amazon   Nolan North  
Emmy the Shetland Collie   Jaime Ray Newman  
Chee-Chee the Gorilla Appeared   Rami Malek
Yoshi the Polar Bear   John Cena
Plimpton the Ostrich   Kumail Nanjiani
Dab-Dab the American Pekin   Octavia Spencer
Jip the Lurcher Appeared   Tom Holland
Kevin the Tree Squirrel   Craig Robinson
Barry the Bengal Tiger   Ralph Fiennes
Betsy the Giraffe   Selena Gomez
Tutu the French Fox   Marion Cotillard
James the Dragonfly   Jason Mantzoukas
Mini the Sugar Glider   Nick. A. Fisher
Ginko-Who-Soars the Dragon   Frances de la Tour

Additional crew and production details

Film Crew/Detail
Composer Cinematographer Editor(s) Production
companies
Distributing
company
Running time MPAA
rating
Doctor Dolittle Leslie Bricusse Robert L. Surtees Samuel E. Beetley
Marjorie Fowler
Twentieth Century Fox
Arthur P. Jacobs Productions
Twentieth Century Fox 2hrs 32mins G
Dr. Dolittle Richard Gibbs Russell Boyd Peter Teschner Friendly Films
Davis Entertainment
Twentieth Century Fox
Joseph M. Singer Entertainment
1hr 25mins PG-13
Dr. Dolittle 2 David Newman Daryn Okada Craig Herring Friendly Films
Twentieth Century Fox
Davis Entertainment Company
Joseph M. Singer Entertainment
Twentieth Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Company
1hr 27mins PG
Dr. Dolittle 3 Christopher Lennertz Eric J. Goldstein Tony Lombardo Davis Entertainment
DC3 Productions Ltd.
Twentieth Century Fox
Major Studios Partners
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment 1hr 30mins
Dr. Dolittle:
Tail of the Chief
Don Macdonald Ron Stannett Michael Trent DD4C Productions
Davis Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
1hr 25mins
Dr. Dolittle:
Million Dollar Mutts
Chris Hajian Bert Dunk Marshall Havey Dolittle 5 Productions
Dolittle 5 US Productions
Davis Entertainment Company
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
1hr 23mins
Dolittle Danny Elfman Guillermo Navarro Nick Moore
Craig Alpert
Team Downey
Universal Pictures
Perfect World Pictures
Roth/Kirschenbaum Films
Universal Pictures 1hr 41mins

Reception

Box office performance

Film Box office gross Box office ranking Budget Worldwide Net
Income/Loss
Ref.
North America Other territories Worldwide All time
North America
All time
worldwide
Doctor Dolittle $9,000,000 N/A $9,000,000 #5,273 #7,253 $17,000,000 -$8,000,000 [10][11]
Dr. Dolittle $144,156,605 $150,300,000 $294,456,605 #401 #615 $71,500,000 $222,956,605 [12][13]
Dr. Dolittle 2 $112,952,899 $63,151,445 $176,104,344 #616 #1,443 $72,000,000 $104,104,344 [14][15]
Dr. Dolittle 3 N/A N/A $9,033,484[lower-alpha 1] N/A N/A $6,000,000 $3,033,484 [16]
Dr. Dolittle:
Tail to the Chief
N/A N/A $6,267,699[lower-alpha 1] N/A N/A $6,000,000 $267,699 [17][18]
Dr. Dolittle:
Million Dollar Mutts
N/A N/A Information not available N/A N/A $6,000,000 Information not available [19]
Dolittle $63,834,565 $96,900,000 $160,734,565 #1,317 #1,004 $175,000,000 -$14,265,435 [20][21]
Approximate Totals ~$329,944,069 ~$310,351,445 ~$655,596,697 ~$353,500,000 ~$308,096,697
  1. Figures are based only on home-video sales, as this film was released straight-to-video.

Critical and public response

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore
Doctor Dolittle 29% (21 reviews)[22] 34/100 (6 reviews)[23] N/A
Dr. Dolittle 42% (52 reviews)[24] 46/100 (20 reviews)[25] A-[26]
Dr. Dolittle 2 42% (107 reviews)[27] 49/100 (28 reviews)[28] B+[26]
Dr. Dolittle 3 N/A N/A N/A
Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief N/A N/A N/A
Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts N/A N/A N/A
Dolittle 14% (227 reviews[29] 26/100 (46 reviews)[30] B[31]

References

  1. "Doctor Dolittle". January 1, 1967. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  2. Klady, Leonard (June 24, 1998). "Dr. Dolittle". Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  3. Leydon, Joe (June 21, 2001). "Dr. Dolittle 2". Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  4. "Dr Dolittle 3 – review | cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  5. "Dr Dolittle: Tail to the Chief – review | cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  6. Gustafson, Bethany (February 28, 2008). "Dr. Dolittle: Tail To The Chief". ParentPreviews.com website. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  7. "Dr Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts – review | cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  8. McNary, Dave (March 20, 2017). "Robert Downey Jr. to Star as 'Doctor Dolittle' in New Film". Archived from the original on November 22, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  9. Howard, Courtney (January 15, 2020). "'Dolittle': Film Review". Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  10. Solomon, Aubrey (1989). Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1.
  11. "Doctor Dolittle (1967) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  12. "Doctor Dolittle". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  13. "Doctor Dolittle (1998) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  14. "Dr. Dolittle 2". Box Office Mojo.
  15. "Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  16. "Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  17. "Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief". Archived from the original on 2019-09-07. Retrieved 2020-02-11 via www.imdb.com.
  18. "Doctor Dolittle: Tail to the Chief (2008) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  19. "Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts". Archived from the original on 2019-09-07. Retrieved 2020-02-11 via www.imdb.com.
  20. "Dolittle". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  21. "Dolittle (2020) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 2020-03-08. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  22. "Doctor Dolittle (1967)". Archived from the original on 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2020-09-04 via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  23. "Doctor Dolittle" via www.metacritic.com.
  24. "Dr. Dolittle (1998)". Archived from the original on 2020-04-11. Retrieved 2020-02-11 via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  25. "Dr. Dolittle". Archived from the original on 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2020-02-11 via www.metacritic.com.
  26. "Cinemascore :: Movie Title Search". Cinemascore.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  27. "Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)". Archived from the original on 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2020-02-11 via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  28. "Dr. Dolittle 2". Archived from the original on 2018-02-25. Retrieved 2020-02-11 via www.metacritic.com.
  29. "Dolittle (2020)". Archived from the original on 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-09-04 via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  30. "Dolittle". Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2020-09-04 via www.metacritic.com.
  31. Anthony D'Alessandro (January 21, 2020). "How Sony Built 'Bad Boys For Life' Into A Success With $101M+ WW & $73M+ U.S.; 'Dolittle' Poised For $50M+ Loss – Monday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
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