Dr. Dolittle (1998 film)

Dr. Dolittle
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBetty Thomas
Screenplay by
  • Larry Levin
  • Nat Mauldin
Based onDoctor Dolittle
by Hugh Lofting
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRussell Boyd
Edited byPeter Teschner
Music byRichard Gibbs
Production
companies
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • June 26, 1998 (1998-06-26)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$71.5 million
Box office$294.4 million

Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 American fantasy comedy film directed by Betty Thomas, written by Larry Levin and Nat Mauldin, and starring Eddie Murphy in the title role, along with Ossie Davis and Oliver Platt. The film is loosely based on the series of children's stories by Hugh Lofting.

Dr. Dolittle received mixed reviews from critics and was a box-office success, grossing $294 million against a $72 million budget.

The film's success generated a theatrical sequel, Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), and three films released direct to video: Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006), Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief (2008), and Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts (2009).