The Reluctant Dragon (1941): cast, story & where to watch
1941 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1941, The Reluctant Dragon is a comedy, fantasy, family and animation film directed by Hamilton Luske, running about 74 minutes. “The big feature show with a thousand surprises!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Humorist Robert Benchley attempts to find Walt Disney to ask him to adapt a short story about a gentle dragon who would rather recite poetry than be ferocious. Along the way, he is given a tour of Walt Disney Studios, and learns about the animation process.
Who’s in it. The Reluctant Dragon stars Robert Benchley as Robert Benchley, Frances Gifford as Doris, Buddy Pepper as Humphrey and Nana Bryant as Mrs. Benchley, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, The Reluctant Dragon has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Disney Plus and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Reluctant Dragon page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Reluctant Dragon tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Reluctant Dragon (1941)?
- In US, The Reluctant Dragon is available to stream on Disney Plus, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Reluctant Dragon worth watching?
- The Reluctant Dragon holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, fantasy, family and animation. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Reluctant Dragon?
- The Reluctant Dragon stars Robert Benchley, Frances Gifford, Buddy Pepper, Nana Bryant and Claud Allister.
- When was The Reluctant Dragon released?
- The Reluctant Dragon was released in 1941, with a runtime of about 74 minutes.