Pete's Dragon 2016
Directed by
David Lowery
Pete's Dragon Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Pete's Dragon (2016). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
In 1977, 5-year-old Pete Healy [Oakes Fegley] is on a road trip with his parents when their car swerves to avoid a deer and overturns. Pete’s parents are killed in the accident, but he survives and is chased into the forest by a pack of wolves. Just when the danger seems overwhelming, a towering dragon with wings, green fur, and piercing yellow eyes appears and rescues him. Pete quickly forms a bond with the mysterious creature, and he names him Elliot after a character from his favorite book.
Six years later, in 1983, Pete notices a lumberjack crew cutting down trees near his home. Natalie, Oona Laurence, the daughter of foreman Jack Meacham Wes Bentley, spots Pete and gives chase. When she accidentally falls from a tree, her screams draw Jack and his girlfriend, park ranger Grace Meacham Bryce Dallas Howard. Pete tries to flee, but Gavin Karl Urban, Jack’s ruthless brother, knocks him unconscious. Realizing Pete has vanished, Elliot wanders the forest in search of him and ends up knocking over a tree near the lumber camp, prompting Gavin to organize a hunting party to track the boy down.
Meanwhile, Pete awakens in a local hospital, escapes, and desperately tries to return to the forest. Gavin and his men locate Pete and Elliot’s treehouse, but when they search it, Elliot reveals himself and frightens them away. He follows the men to town in an effort to locate Pete, and when he sees Pete settling in with Grace’s family, he leaves.
Pete shows Grace a drawing of Elliot, and she brings it to her father, Conrad Robert Redford, who says he discovered the same dragon when he was younger. Conrad urges Grace to trust Pete and to seek Elliot.
The next day, Pete, Grace, Natalie, and Conrad travel into the forest to meet the dragon. A group of hunters led by Gavin traps Elliot and tranquilizes him, locking him in Jack’s warehouse. Before authorities can inspect the dragon, Pete and Natalie free him and escape on a lumber truck with Conrad.
Angry and fixated on recapturing the dragon, Gavin sets up a roadblock at a bridge. Elliot attempts to fly, crashes into the truck, and the vehicle’s brakes fail, sending it through the barricade. The bridge buckles under a torrent of heat as Elliot, with Grace and Jack clinging to his back, carries them to safety in a ravine below. A firefighting helicopter hovers nearby as Pete, filled with resolve, flees back into the woods with Elliot.
Pete pleads with Elliot to let him stay and act as his protector, just as Elliot protected Pete. But Elliot reasons that their closeness will always put Pete in danger, and he points to Pete’s beloved book to encourage him to return to Grace and Jack. After an emotional, tearful goodbye, Elliot retreats to the mountains, and Pete returns to live with Grace and Jack as part of a new family.
In the years that follow, Grace and Jack marry and formally adopt Pete. Elliot gradually fades from the town’s memory, while Gavin has learned to temper his impulses and moves forward with a changed outlook. Pete and his new family eventually take a vacation and, in a poignant moment, glimpse Elliot reunite with his fellow dragons, now living alongside the ones who still guard the forest.
Pete's Dragon Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Pete's Dragon (2016) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Pete survives a car crash and meets his dragon
During a family road trip in 1977, Pete's car nearly collides with a deer and flips over. His parents die in the crash, while Pete survives and clings to life in the wreckage. A mighty dragon swoops in to pull him to safety, beginning their extraordinary bond.
Pete bonds with the dragon he names Elliot
Pete quickly forms a bond with his dragon rescuer, whom he names Elliot after a character in his favorite book. The forest becomes their shared home and Pete's first true family beyond his parents. He clings to the dragon as a protector and friend.
The 1983 search for Pete begins
Six years later, near a lumberjack camp, Pete is spotted and pursued by locals. Gavin knocks Pete unconscious and Pete vanishes. Elliot's panic leads him to knock over a tree as he searches, triggering Gavin to organize a hunting party for Pete and the dragon.
Pete wakes in hospital and escapes
Pete awakens in a local hospital and quickly escapes, intent on returning to the forest and reuniting with Elliot. He moves through town and out toward the wilderness, hoping to be reunited with his dragon friend. His escape marks the beginning of Gavin's intensified search for both boy and dragon.
Gavin finds the treehouse; Elliot reveals himself
Gavin and his men locate Elliot's treehouse near the lumber camp, and when they search, Elliot reveals himself, scaring them away. He then follows the hunters into town in his search for Pete. The moment reassures Pete that his dragon is alive and watching over him.
Conrad recognizes the dragon
Pete settles in with Grace's family, and Elliot quietly leaves the area. Pete gives Grace a drawing of Elliot, hoping she will believe in his dragon friend. Grace's father, Conrad, confirms he had encountered the same dragon in his youth and urges them to trust Pete and pursue Elliot.
The group goes to meet Elliot and is ambushed
The next day, Pete, Grace, Natalie, and Conrad trek into the forest to meet Elliot. Hunters led by Gavin ambush Elliot and tranquilize him, then lock him up in Jack's warehouse. The group is shocked by the capture and vows to free him.
Pete and Natalie free Elliot and escape
Pete and Natalie free Elliot from his chains with Conrad's help and they escape on a lumber truck. Gavin's men pursue, but the trio uses the road and terrain to gain distance while planning their next move. The bond between Pete and Elliot proves strong enough to overcome human threats.
Bridge attack and rescue at the ravine
Gavin sets up a roadblock at the bridge to stop the trio. When Elliot tries to fly, he crashes into the truck, damaging its brakes and it goes through the barricade. Elliot carries Grace and Jack to safety as the bridge collapses, and a firefighting helicopter closes in.
A tearful goodbye and a dangerous parting
Pete pleads with Elliot to let him stay and protect him, but Elliot argues that staying close would put Pete in greater danger. He shows Pete the book that inspired their bond and urges him to return to Grace and Jack. After a very emotional goodbye, Elliot returns to the mountains.
Grace and Jack build a new family
In the years that follow, Grace and Jack marry and adopt Pete as their son. The dragon Elliot slowly fades from the town's memory as life goes on, while Gavin reforms his approach and becomes more scrupulous. Pete grows up within a loving, blended family.
Final reunion: Elliot among the dragons
Pete and his family later go on vacation and witness Elliot being reunited with his fellow dragons. The sight confirms that Elliot is safe and continues to belong with his kin, while Pete's life remains intertwined with the forest and the legends that saved him. The family concludes their journey with a sense of lasting wonder.
Pete's Dragon Characters
Explore all characters from Pete's Dragon (2016). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Pete Healy (Oakes Fegley)
A resourceful five-year-old boy who survives a car crash and befriends a dragon. His imagination and stubborn courage help him cope with loss while yearning for a steady, loving family.
Elliot
A large, protective dragon with wings, green fur, and yellow eyes. He rescues Pete in the forest and becomes his guardian, risking hunters and humans to keep Pete safe. Their bond questions the line between wild danger and trusted friendship.
Grace Meacham (Bryce Dallas Howard)
A compassionate park ranger who believes Pete's story and offers him a place with her family. She navigates trust, danger, and the forest’s mysteries to help keep Pete and Elliot safe.
Jack Meacham (Karl Urban)
An ethical foreman who becomes a steadfast ally to Pete and Grace. He balances work with family protection, facing danger to safeguard the boy and his friend.
Conrad Meacham (Robert Redford)
Grace's father, a seasoned figure who discovered Elliot as a youth. His wisdom and trust in Pete help bridge the human world with the dragon's existence.
Natalie Healy (Oona Laurence)
Daughter of Jack who connects with Pete and becomes part of the extended forest family. Her courage and curiosity spark important moments in the pursuit and rescue.
Gavin (Wes Bentley)
Jack's ruthless brother who leads a hunt for Pete and Elliot. His ambition and aggression drive the central conflict and threaten the fragile peace.
Pete's Dragon Settings
Learn where and when Pete's Dragon (2016) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Late 1970s to early 1980s
The events begin in 1977 when Pete is five, then jump to 1983, six years later, showing a shift from a lone child to an extended family life. The era is pre-digital, with visible woodlands, logging work, and small-town dynamics driving the plot and character decisions.
Location
Forest, Lumber camp, Small town, Mountains
The story unfolds in a heavily wooded region with a nearby lumber camp, creating a rugged frontier atmosphere. The forest acts as both sanctuary and stage for pursuit, with a local hospital and a small town as key hubs. The surrounding mountains and river valleys shape the danger, escape routes, and sense of refuge that define the tale.
Pete's Dragon Themes
Discover the main themes in Pete's Dragon (2016). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Friendship
A child and a dragon form an unlikely, trust-based bond that transcends fear. Pete's loyalty to Elliot and Elliot's protective instinct demonstrate how friendship can flourish in hostile circumstances. The theme emphasizes mutual dependence and the healing power of companionship.
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Family
Pete's longing for belonging leads him to Grace and Jack, who become his surrogate family. The relationship between adopted child and guardians drives the emotional core of the story. Elliot's presence forces a choice between safety and loyalty to a friend.
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Protection
Hunter antagonism and human greed threaten the dragon's refuge and Pete's safety. The dragon's courage and the humans' protective actions create tension between danger and safety. Ultimately, protection comes from embracing both loyalty and responsibility, even when it means separation.
Pete's Dragon Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Pete's Dragon (2016). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the mist‑shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest, stories of a hidden creature have lingered for generations, whispered by loggers and locals alike. The towering evergreens and winding rivers create a world where the line between myth and reality feels porous, inviting anyone who wanders inside to wonder what else might be watching from the shadows. The film’s tone balances gentle wonder with an undercurrent of quiet tension, reflecting a place both beautiful and untamed.
Pete is a young boy whose life has taken an unexpected turn after a tragic accident leaves him alone in the wild. He has made an extraordinary companion for himself—a massive, green‑scaled dragon named Elliott—and together they have forged a bond that feels as natural as the forest itself. Their friendship is built on mutual trust and a shared love of imagination, offering a glimpse of a secluded world where the extraordinary becomes everyday life.
When Grace, a dedicated park ranger, arrives to investigate Pete’s claims, the story shifts from secret haven to a delicate dance between curiosity and skepticism. Grace’s grounded, methodical nature contrasts with the lyrical, almost fairy‑tale existence Pete has cultivated, creating a compelling dynamic that drives the narrative forward. The community around them, including Natalie, the foreman’s daughter, and Jack, a seasoned lumberman, adds layers of local color and hints at the deep‑rooted legends that have shaped the region for years.
The film weaves together themes of belonging, the search for family, and the allure of the unknown, all set against a backdrop of lush, atmospheric cinematography. As the characters navigate the intersection of human responsibility and wild enchantment, the audience is invited to pause and consider how much of the magic we dismiss might still be waiting just beyond the treeline.
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