For a movie that achieved such astronomical success at the box office, it’s shocking how little enduring cultural relevance The Secret Life of Pets had. While other kids’ releases, such as Frozen and Moana, have maintained their popularity over the years, this animated hit from Universal Pictures has simply faded from public consciousness with surprisingly little lasting impact.
Coming from the Despicable Me director Chris Renaud, The Secret Life of Pets was a crowd-pleasing comedy that told the story of what animals do after their owners have gone away. Following a spoiled terrier named Max, this domestic dog’s life was totally upended when he was forced to share his home with an adopted stray named Duke.
The Secret Life Of Pets Was A Huge Box Office Hit
This Kids’ Comedy Grossed Over $875 Million
To say The Secret Life of Pets was a hit at the box office would be an understatement, as it grossed over $875 million against its $75 million budget. With box office takings of $369 million in the United States alone, it’s clear there was something about this family-friendly film that appealed to viewers at the time.
The Secret Life of Pets currently ranks as the 23rd highest-grossing animated movie of all time, and, at its peak, it stood at number 12.
As if these mᴀssive figures weren’t impressive enough, The Secret Life of Pets ended 2016 as the most profitable film of the year and as the fifth highest-grossing original movie of all time, behind Avatar, Zootopia, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo. With such impressive credentials, it’s rather odd that this kids’ comedy has all but vanished from the conversation.
Some Great Animated Movies Were Outperformed By The Secret Life Of Pets
The Box Office Takings Of Toy Story And Toy Story 2 Combined Only Just Surpᴀssed It
What’s even more shocking is how many other great movies were outperformed by The Secret Life of Pets. While it’s true that inflation figures change things a bit, Toy Story grossed less than half with $394 million, and Toy Story 2 took in $487 million. Even after combining these figures, it only amounts to six million more than its earnings.
One of the most prominent criticisms of The Secret Life of Pets upon its release was that its story of what pets do when their owners aren’t around was strikingly similar to the premise of Toy Story.
Plenty of kids’ animated films released around the same time as The Secret Life of Pets have achieved far more enduring relevance, despite earning less at the box office. These include modern classics from major studios like Pixar’s Inside Out and Coco, as well as the similarly animal-themed jukebox musical Sing.
It;s strange that Max and Duke aren’t as well-known as Woody and Buzz.
While The Secret Life of Pets seemed destined to become a long-term favorite for young viewers worldwide, the film received minimal merchandising and rarely comes up in conversations around the best modern animated movies. As a film that almost earned more than the first two Toy Story movies, it’s strange that Max and Duke aren’t as well-known as Woody and Buzz.
The Secret Life Of Pets’ Sequel Was A Disappointing Follow-Up
The Secret Life Of Pets 2 Wasn’t Nearly As Successful
A box office hit of the magnitude achieved by The Secret Life of Pets couldn’t occur without the studio quickly greenlighting a sequel. However, audiences were left disappointed by The Secret Life of Pets 2 in 2019, and it received middling reviews from critics who broadly agreed that it was entertaining but mediocre.
Produced for $80 million, The Secret Life of Pets 2 grossed just over half as much as its predecessor, with a total of $431 million. While these figures are nothing to scoff at, and producer Chris Meledandri has even stated a third installment is in the works (via The Gary and Kenny Show), it’s underwhelming when compared to past successes.
Why Hardly Anyone Talks About The Secret Life Of Pets Anymore
Behind-The-Scenes Controversies Have Tarnished Its Legacy
There’s more to the story of The Secret Life of Pets fading into obscurity than simple bad luck, as behind-the-scenes controversies play a role in the film’s legacy. That’s because comedian Louis C.K. voiced the main character, Max, and just one year later, he admitted to several incidents of Sєxual misconduct following an exposé in The New York Times.
C.K.’s career was significantly affected by this controversy, which resulted in his then-upcoming film I Love You Daddy being pulled from distribution. During the fallout from the scandal, C.K. dropped out of scheduled appearances, had his stand-up specials removed from various streaming services, and took a step back from public life.
While The Secret Life of Pets recast C.K. with Patton Oswalt for the sequel, this scandal went a long way toward damaging the appeal of the original film. Even though the movie itself wasn’t tied to the controversy, having such a prominent voice actor at the center of this major scandal ultimately tainted its rewatchability.
In the end, The Secret Life of Pets is a fascinating case study into how box office success doesn’t always translate into lasting cultural impact. Despite ranking among the most financially successful movies ever made, it’s largely been forgotten as it lacked the emotional resonance, original storytelling, and untarnished reputation needed to form a lasting connection with audiences.
Source: All box office figures from Box Office Mojo, The Gary and Kenny Show, The New York Times
