You’re sitting on the couch, the kids are vibrating with that specific "pre-movie" energy, and you need to know one thing: how long is The Croods? You've got snacks. You've got drinks. But do you have enough time before bedtime or that next meeting?
Honestly, the answer depends on whether you're talking about the original 2013 adventure, the bright and flashy sequel, or the sprawling TV shows that followed. Let’s break down the clock on Grug and the gang so you aren't left guessing.
The Original Run: How Long Is The Croods (2013)?
The first movie, directed by Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco, clocks in at exactly 98 minutes.
That is roughly 1 hour and 38 minutes.
If you strip away the end credits—which are actually quite fun to watch with the cave-painting aesthetic—you’re looking at about 90 minutes of actual story. It’s a tight, fast-paced ride. It doesn't overstay its welcome. For a family film featuring Nicolas Cage as a paranoid caveman and Ryan Reynolds as a "modern" guy with a sloth belt, that hour and a half feels like it flies by.
Most parents find this length perfect. It’s long enough to feel like a "real" movie but short enough that a six-year-old won't start doing somersaults off the ottoman by the third act.
Keeping Track of the Sequel: A New Age
When DreamWorks finally released the sequel, The Croods: A New Age, in 2020, they kept a similar rhythm.
This one is slightly shorter. It runs for 95 minutes.
That’s 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Basically, it's the same commitment as the first. If you’re planning a double feature, you’re looking at about 3 hours and 15 minutes total, including a quick bathroom break between films. The sequel introduces the Betterman family, and the pacing is arguably even faster than the original, so it might feel like it's over in a heartbeat.
Beyond the Movies: The TV Spin-offs
Now, if you’re asking "how long is Croods" because you’ve stumbled onto the series on a streaming platform, the math changes. We aren't in movie territory anymore.
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- Dawn of the Croods (Netflix): These episodes are standard 2D animated fare. Each one runs about 23 minutes. There are 4 seasons and 52 episodes in total.
- The Croods: Family Tree (Hulu/Peacock): This 3D series brings back the look of the movies. Much like the Netflix show, these episodes also run for roughly 22 to 24 minutes.
If you were to binge-watch all 8 seasons of Family Tree, you’d be sitting there for over 20 hours. That’s a lot of caveman antics. Probably don't do that in one sitting.
Why Does the Runtime Matter?
It's about the "parental calculation."
You've got 100 minutes of peace.
According to data from Common Sense Media and various film critics, movies in the 90-to-100-minute range are the "sweet spot" for family engagement. The Croods hits this perfectly. It isn't a three-hour epic like Avatar, and it isn't a 20-minute short.
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A Quick Cheat Sheet for Planning
If you're trying to fit this into a schedule, here is the real-world breakdown:
- Movie Start to End Credits: 1 hour 38 minutes.
- Actual Story Content: ~1 hour 30 minutes.
- The "I Need a Snack" Buffer: 1 hour 45 minutes total.
Technical Details for the Nerds
For those who care about the technicalities—maybe you're setting up a home theater—the theatrical run time for the original was officially 1h 38m. It was framed in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. This means it has that "cinematic" wide look, even on your TV. The sequel followed suit with a 95-minute theatrical cut.
Interestingly, the budget for the first film was around $135 million, while the sequel was produced for about $65 million. Usually, shorter runtimes and smaller budgets go hand-in-hand, but A New Age managed to look just as polished as its predecessor despite being three minutes shorter and significantly cheaper to make.
What Most People Miss
People often forget about the "extras." If you own the Blu-ray or the "Ultimate Collection," you might see runtimes listed as much longer. This is because of the bonus features.
- Belt’s Cave Journal: A 6-minute short.
- Deleted Scenes: Usually add about 20-25 minutes of "what if" content.
- World’s First Pranks: Another short that's about 4 minutes long.
If you’re just watching the movie on a service like Netflix or Disney+, you don't have to worry about these. The progress bar will tell you 1:38 or 1:35 and you're good to go.
Actionable Tips for Your Movie Night
If you're gearing up to watch The Croods tonight, here’s how to handle the time:
- Start at 6:30 PM: You'll be done by 8:10 PM, which is perfect for an 8:30 PM bedtime.
- Skip the Credits: Unless you really love the music (which is by Alan Silvestri, the guy who did Back to the Future, so it is actually pretty great), you can kill the TV at the 1 hour 31 minute mark.
- The Sequel Swap: If you only have a very tight window, go with A New Age. It’s three minutes shorter and arguably has more "bright colors" to keep younger kids focused.
The franchise is built for efficiency. It’s caveman-themed, but the production is very modern. You get in, you get some laughs, you get a heartfelt message about family, and you get out in under a hundred minutes.
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To make the most of your time, check which streaming service currently has the films in your region—usually Peacock or Hulu—and ensure you've got the 4K version if your internet can handle it, as the vibrant prehistoric colors really pop in higher resolutions.