Beethoven (franchise) facts for kids

Beethoven is a fun series of eight American movies about a big, lovable Saint Bernard dog named Beethoven. The stories usually show a family trying to handle all the funny things Beethoven does! The first two movies were shown in movie theaters, but the rest were released straight to video. The very first Beethoven movie came out in April 1992 and was a big hit!

Films

The First Beethoven Movie (1992)

In the first Beethoven movie, the Newton family finds and adopts a cute Saint Bernard puppy. Everyone in the family, except for the dad, George, quickly falls in love with the dog. But a mean veterinarian, Dr. Herman Varnick, wants to use Beethoven for a secret experiment. George soon realizes how much he loves Beethoven and rushes to save his furry friend! This movie was released on April 3, 1992.

Beethoven's 2nd (1993)

In Beethoven's 2nd, our hero Beethoven becomes a dad! He has a litter of adorable puppies. The Newton family tries their best to protect these puppies from a very greedy owner named Regina. She wants to either harm or sell the puppies for money. Beethoven's 2nd came out on December 17, 1993.

Beethoven's 3rd (2000)

In Beethoven's 3rd, Beethoven goes on a big road trip across the country in an RV! He's traveling with George Newton's brother, Richard, and his family, who are going to a family reunion. Along the way, they have to avoid some bad guys who are after a special DVD with a hidden computer code. This movie was released on July 25, 2000.

Beethoven's 4th (2001)

Get ready for a mix-up in Beethoven's 4th! Beethoven accidentally switches places with another Saint Bernard named Michelangelo. The funny part is, Michelangelo is very well-behaved, which causes some hilarious confusion. This movie came out on December 4, 2001.

Beethoven's 5th (2003)

In Beethoven's 5th, Sara takes Beethoven to visit her quirky uncle. This movie was the last one in the original storyline of the Beethoven series. It was released on December 2, 2003.

Beethoven's Big Break (2008)

This movie starts a new set of Beethoven adventures! A stray Saint Bernard dog accidentally becomes a huge movie star. It's a fun story about how a regular dog can become famous. Beethoven's Big Break was released on December 30, 2008.

Beethoven's Christmas Adventure (2011)

In Beethoven's Christmas Adventure, Santa's elf, Henry, accidentally loses Santa's magical toy bag. This happens when Henry tries to make a toy and zaps himself, causing the reindeer to fly away with the sleigh! In Wood Haven, Minnesota, a boy named Mason Cooper is watching Beethoven. Beethoven sees Santa's sleigh flying and follows it, finding Henry.

Henry asks Mason for help to find the lost toy bag. Mason doesn't believe Henry is a real elf until Henry uses a magic candy that lets Mason talk to dogs! Meanwhile, a grumpy toy store owner named Sylvester Smirch finds the toy bag. He realizes the toys grow to full size and plans to steal them.

Mason, Henry, Beethoven, and a stray dog work together to get the bag back. They face many challenges, including Mason's mom not believing them and Henry getting into trouble. In the end, Mason's mom finally believes them. They stop Smirch and save Christmas! Beethoven even flies Henry back to the North Pole with the toy bag. This movie was released on December 30, 2011.

Beethoven's Treasure Tail (2014)

After being fired from a movie set, Beethoven starts his long journey home with his trainer, Eddie. They get stuck in a small town by the coast. There, the friendly dog makes friends with a young boy who is looking for buried treasure. Beethoven's Treasure Tail was released on October 28, 2014.

Television

Beethoven (1994 TV series)

A cartoon TV series based on the Beethoven movies was also made. It continued the adventures of the lovable Saint Bernard and the Newton family.

Cast and Crew

Main Actors and Characters

• Note: A dark gray cell means the character is not in that movie.

Behind the Scenes: Crew Members

Other Media

Beethoven Toys

After the first two Beethoven movies came out, a variety of toys were made. You can still find some of these fun toys today!

Beethoven Video Games

• In 1993, a side-scrolling video game called Beethoven: The Ultimate Canine Caper was released. It was based on Beethoven's 2nd and you could play it on Super Nintendo, Game Boy, and DOS.
• A version of Beethoven: The Ultimate Canine Caper was also made for the Sega Genesis and Game Gear in 1994. Even though it was finished, it was never officially released.