This film is deeply steeped in Brazilian culture, which may make it inaccessible to some. It's based on a play by Ariano Suassuna, who made his life's mission to preserve Brazilian culture. If you're put off by the surrealistic religion scenes, keep in mind that this spiritualism was still firmly anchored in Brazil in…
8.4/10Comedy · Drama · Fantasy · Romance
A Dog's Will
“Lying with faith is not always a sin.”
- 2000
- 1h 42m
- PT
- Released
The story
What A Dog's Will is about
The lively João Grilo and the sly Chicó are poor guys living in the hinterland who cheat a bunch of people in a small town in Northeastern Brazil. When they die, they have to be judged by Christ, the Devil and the Virgin Mary before they are admitted to paradise.
A Dog's Will is a comedy, drama, fantasy and romance film from 2000, directed by Guel Arraes. It runs 1h 42m. It was produced by Lereby Produções, Globo Filmes and Estúdios Globo, with production in Brazil.
The main cast is led by Matheus Nachtergaele, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro, Rogério Cardoso. The screenplay was written by Guel Arraes, Adriana Falcão. Reported worldwide gross stands at $4.9M.
Why it matters: A Dog's Will currently holds 8.4/10 from 1262 TMDB user ratings and has taken $4.9M worldwide against a undisclosed budget. Figures move as more ratings and box-office updates arrive.
Editor’s note
Should you watch A Dog's Will?
A Dog's Will is best suited to a relaxed night. At 1h 42m, it fits a single evening without a break. The draw is Matheus Nachtergaele and Selton Mello, directed by Guel Arraes.
1,262 TMDB users have rated it 8.4/10. That is a solid sample, though scores can still move as more people watch.
TMDB tags the film with themes including based on play or musical.
No US certification is listed for this title yet, so check the content before watching with children.
If you like this, try Forrest Gump, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge or Practical Magic 2.
Auto-generated from TMDB data (runtime, cast, ratings, keywords, certification). Last updated November 4, 2026.
Availability
Where to watch A Dog's Will
0 official sources across 0 regions. Every button opens this exact title on the provider’s own site, where price, video quality and audio options are confirmed before you pay.
No licensed provider has listed this title in our tracked regions yet. Fresh deals usually appear once the release window opens, so check back or compare every option on JustWatch.
Who is in it
A Dog's Will cast
Character names follow the film's credits. Open a name to see that person's other work on MovieState.
Behind the camera
Direction and crew
DirectorGuel Arraes
WritersGuel Arraes, Adriana Falcão
ProducersGuel Arraes
MusicSérgio Campelo
CinematographyFélix "Chango" Monti
EditingUbiraci de Motta
Audience reaction
Ratings and reviews
8.4/101262 ratings
A Dog's Will sits at 8.4 out of 10 from 1262 user ratings. For context, the film's worldwide gross is $4.9M.
Scores show TMDB user ratings at the time of publishing and shift as new votes arrive.
The facts
A Dog's Will key details
| Original title | A Dog's Will |
|---|---|
| Status | Released |
| Release date | September 15, 2000 |
| Runtime | 1h 42m |
| Certification | L in Brazil |
| Original language | PT |
| Spoken languages | Latin, Portuguese |
| Country | Brazil |
| Budget | Not disclosed |
| Worldwide gross | $4.9M |
| Studios | Lereby Produções, Globo Filmes, Estúdios Globo |
| Also known as | En hunds testamente, Kutyakívánság, Testament psa |
Release information
Release dates by country
| Country | Date | Cert |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Sep 15, 2000 | L |
| France | May 17, 2001 | NR |
Official trailer for A Dog's Will, via Isabel Hamdan. Open on YouTube
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Who directed A Dog's Will?
A Dog's Will was directed by Guel Arraes.
Who is in the cast of A Dog's Will?
The main cast includes Matheus Nachtergaele, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro, Rogério Cardoso, Denise Fraga.
How long is A Dog's Will?
A Dog's Will runs 1h 42m.
When was A Dog's Will released?
It was released on September 15, 2000. Release dates vary by country — see the table above.
What is A Dog's Will rated?
Certification depends on the country: L in Brazil. Always check your local rating before watching with family.
Where can I watch A Dog's Will online?
Availability changes by region and by week. The table above lists the streaming, rental and purchase services reported for major markets. Check the provider page for today's price and quality.
Can I watch A Dog's Will in HD or 4K?
Most digital stores offer A Dog's Will in HD, and newer releases are often available in 4K. Check the quality label on the provider's page before you pay.
How much did A Dog's Will earn?
Reported worldwide gross is $4.9M against a budget of . Box office figures update over time.
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Data sources: TMDB (titles, cast, crew, release dates, provider listings and user ratings). Availability and box office figures change over time; this page was last rebuilt on November 4, 2026. We publish information only; we do not host or stream video files.
Exact record pages: IMDb record · TMDB record
At a glance: A Dog's Will runs 1h 42m, opened in US cinemas on September 15, 2000.