The Call of the Wild is suddenly trending on Disney+ USA, pulling viewers into its vast, windswept Yukon and the moving relationship between a broken prospector and the dog who changes his life. For a film whose theatrical run was cut short by the pandemic, this renewed wave of visibility feels like long-delayed recognition — a chance for audiences to rediscover a classic adventure infused with warmth, resilience and emotional depth.
What’s driving this resurgence is not hype, algorithms or franchise momentum. It’s the simple appeal of an old-fashioned survival tale told with sincerity, anchored by a late-career Harrison Ford performance that many viewers are now calling “one of his most quietly moving roles.” As winter settles across much of the country, audiences are turning toward comfort stories—movies set against snow, solitude and the healing found in unexpected companionship. Here is everything to know about The Call of the Wild on Disney+ USA—from the plot and cast to themes, reviews and why it’s trending again. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
Why The Call of the Wild is trending on Disney+ USA
The renewed attention around The Call of the Wild comes from a combination of timing, emotional resonance and audience rediscovery. During winter months, Disney+ viewers gravitate toward survival stories, adventure dramas and titles with breathtaking natural landscapes. The film’s warm, almost old-Hollywood sensibility stands out sharply amid the darker thrillers and franchise-heavy releases that dominate many streaming homepages.
Its rise is fueled by word-of-mouth on social media, where viewers praise Harrison Ford’s nuanced performance and the surprisingly emotional bond between Thornton and Buck. Many are discovering the film for the first time, after its brief theatrical run was cut short by pandemic shutdowns. Now that it’s trending across Disney+ libraries, the movie is finally getting the second life it never had.
What The Call of the Wild is about
Based on Jack London’s classic novel, The Call of the Wild follows Buck, a gentle dog stolen from his California home and taken to the harsh Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. In the frozen north, he faces brutal conditions, difficult terrain and a mix of human kindness and cruelty. Buck moves from sled teams to mail routes, and eventually crosses paths with John Thornton, a lonely prospector carrying the weight of grief and self-imposed isolation.
Unlike earlier, more violent adaptations, this version emphasizes emotion over brutality. It shows Buck not simply surviving, but awakening to instinct, leadership and a deeper pull toward the natural world. The Yukon becomes both dangerous and healing — a vast landscape where Buck and Thornton slowly find purpose, connection and a fragile sense of peace.
The cast of The Call of the Wild: central characters and performances
Harrison Ford brings a quiet, weathered dignity to John Thornton—arguably one of his most introspective performances of the last decade. Known for iconic roles in Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Blade Runner 2049, Ford shifts into a gentler register here. His portrayal of a haunted, isolated man forming a bond with a dog is rooted in stillness rather than spectacle. When Ford speaks to Buck, there’s a sense that Thornton is not only comforting the animal—but confessing truths he can’t share with anyone else.
Omar Sy, beloved by global streaming audiences for Netflix’s French heist phenomenon Lupin, plays Perrault, the spirited mail driver whose optimism and respect for the wilderness shape Buck’s early transformation. His chemistry with the CGI dog is surprisingly grounded, giving the film an energetic yet heartfelt pulse in its early chapters.
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Cara Gee—known for her commanding turn in The Expanse—portrays Françoise with fierce competence and emotional warmth. Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Legion) appears as Hal, a chilling and spoiled adventurer whose cruelty toward Buck becomes one of the story’s sharpest moral contrasts. Karen Gillan (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Guardians of the Galaxy) and Bradley Whitford (The West Wing, The Handmaid’s Tale) round out a cast whose performances help ground a story told alongside a digitally created animal.
Director Chris Sanders—best known for animated classics like How to Train Your Dragon—has said that Buck was designed to be “a performer, not a visual trick,” and that the real challenge was ensuring actors could connect meaningfully with a character who wasn’t physically present on set. Harrison Ford echoed the sentiment, noting that the story “isn’t about a dog obeying commands—it’s about two beings finding each other when both are lost.”
Reviews: what critics and audiences say
Upon release, reviews were mixed-to-positive. Critics praised Ford’s tender performance and John Powell’s sweeping score, noting that the movie functions as a throwback adventure drama infused with sincerity and optimism. While some critics felt the CGI dog occasionally drifted into uncanny territory, many acknowledged that younger viewers and families embraced Buck’s expressiveness.
In its streaming life, the film is being reevaluated. Viewers on social media describe it as “comfort cinema,” “surprisingly emotional” and “the kind of classic adventure Hollywood doesn’t make anymore.” As it trends on Disney+ USA, fresh audiences are championing the film as an overlooked gem from a disrupted cinematic year.
Themes and style
The Call of the Wild taps into themes of resilience, companionship and the eternal tension between civilization and instinct. The Yukon is portrayed as a place that strips away artifice. For Buck, it becomes both a training ground and a sanctuary. For Thornton, it becomes a place where grief can either consume him—or be transformed. Visually, the film embraces a storybook aesthetic. Sunlit snowfields, glacial rivers and aurora-filled nights give the film a painterly feel. Sanders’ background in animation shapes the film’s rhythms: dramatic peaks balanced with quiet, emotional beats. Powell’s score amplifies this duality, moving between majestic orchestral swells and intimate, introspective motifs.
Why The Call of the Wild is worth watching on Disney+ USA
If you’re craving a break from high-stakes franchise spectacles or dark genre fare, The Call of the Wild offers a rare blend of warmth, adventure and introspection. It’s an ideal winter film—expansive yet cozy, dramatic yet comforting, emotional without being overwrought. If you enjoyed Togo, A Dog’s Purpose or survival dramas like The Revenant, this one deserves a place in your watchlist.
All the key details about The Call of the Wild on Disney+ USA
- Title: The Call of the Wild
- Format: Feature film (2020)
- Runtime: 100 minutes
- Genre: Adventure drama, family adventure
- Country of origin: United States
- Director: Chris Sanders
- Lead cast: Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Cara Gee, Dan Stevens, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford
- Streaming platform: Disney+ USA
- Chart status: Now trending on Disney+ USA
- Original US theatrical release: February 21, 2020
Release date and where to watch
The Call of the Wild is available now on Disney+ USA, where it is currently trending and gaining renewed visibility across user libraries. Release date (theatrical): February 21, 2020. Watch on Disney+: Click here to watch
Watch the trailer
Here’s the trailer to get a first look:
