In the bustling streets of New York City, 12-year-old Emily Elizabeth Howard, a middle school student, struggles with the daily challenges of school life. She faces constant bullying from a popular girl named Florence but finds solace in her one true friend, Owen Yu. Emily’s life takes an unexpected turn when her mother, Maggie, leaves her in the care of her irresponsible uncle Casey, who lives in a van, while she heads off to a business trip in Chicago.
While Emily is staying with Casey, she visits a local animal rescue tent run by Mr. Bridwell, where she meets a small red puppy whose family has been taken by dogcatchers. Mr. Bridwell explains that the puppy’s size will grow depending on how much love it receives. Though Casey initially rejects the idea of adopting the dog because pets aren’t allowed in the building, Emily sneaks the puppy into her backpack and names him Clifford. Casey agrees to let her keep him for just one night.
The next morning, Emily is shocked to find that Clifford has grown to enormous proportions overnight. As she and Casey try to hide him from the building’s superintendent, Mr. Packard, they take Clifford to a veterinarian. However, Clifford’s playful antics cause chaos in the vet’s office, and the news of his existence quickly spreads on social media.
As Emily seeks help, she learns that Mr. Bridwell has a history of performing miracles with animals. Determined to find him, Emily and Casey begin their search, while Clifford’s antics continue to win Emily newfound friends, including Owen, who helps her along the way.
The viral attention Clifford garners catches the eye of Zac Tieran, the owner of a biotechnology company called Lyfegro. After seeing a picture of Clifford, Zac becomes obsessed with discovering the secret behind Clifford’s giant size, believing it could save his failing business. Zac falsely claims to have genetically engineered Clifford and incites a citywide manhunt to capture the giant dog.
As a result, Emily and Casey are evicted from their apartment by Mr. Packard, who was tipped off by Zac. The two, along with Owen and Clifford, are forced to flee. They take shelter in Owen’s luxurious apartment while several of their neighbors help fend off Zac’s henchmen. However, the search for Clifford intensifies as Zac and the police close in on them.
Desperate to find a solution, Emily and Casey race to locate Mr. Bridwell, who they believe might be able to shrink Clifford back to his original size. They discover that Bridwell has passed away, leaving them with few options. Owen’s father, Mr. Yu, owns a large animal sanctuary in Shanghai, and he arranges for a tugboat to take Clifford there. Though Emily bids a tearful farewell to her beloved dog, Clifford sails away under the cover of night.
The next day, the tugboat is intercepted by law enforcement under orders from Zac Tieran. Clifford is airlifted and kidnapped by helicopter to Lyfegro’s headquarters, where Zac plans to experiment on him. Emily, devastated, learns that the Bridwell who died was not the real one, and that the true Bridwell is still alive. She and Casey, aided by their friends, break into Lyfegro and rescue Clifford from the facility.
With Clifford now on the run again, Emily and Clifford are chased through the city, with Emily riding on Clifford’s back as he flees the authorities. They eventually reach Manhattan Bridge Park, where Emily reunites with Mr. Bridwell. Desperate for his help, she learns that Clifford’s giant size was a result of her love and not something that can be undone.
With a large crowd gathering at the park, Emily delivers an impassioned speech about the importance of love, acceptance, and embracing differences. As she explains that Clifford’s size is a gift and a reflection of their unique bond, Zac Tieran arrives and orders the police chief to scan Clifford’s ID chip, which reveals that Emily is his rightful owner. Zac is then fined for wasting police resources and misleading the authorities.
Emily’s family is reunited, and they are allowed to return to their apartment. Clifford’s popularity grows, and he becomes an iconic figure in the city. Mr. Packard, who once evicted Emily and her family, is now seen working with Clifford as his new assistant. Casey, who had been living in his van, finally decides to leave it behind and accept a new job at Scholastic Corporation, where he will write and illustrate books about Clifford.
In a heartwarming ending, the residents of New York come together to build Clifford a giant doghouse, ensuring that he has a comfortable and loving home where he can continue to bring joy to everyone around him.
If you haven’t seen Clifford’s heartwarming adventure yet, be sure to Clifford watch full movie and witness the unforgettable journey of love, friendship, and self-acceptance. This family-friendly film will inspire you to embrace differences and remind you of the power of love to change the world. Don’t miss out—watch Clifford today and join Emily, Clifford, and their friends in this magical story!