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Megan Leavey is a 2017 drama based on the story of U.S. Marine corporal Megan Leavey and military working dog Rex. It follows their handler-and-dog partnership through training and deployments, an improvised explosive device blast that injured them both, and Leavey’s effort to remain with Rex and reunite with him after service. Public accounts support that central story, but they do not establish that every scene or line in the film happened exactly as shown.
What the film tells
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Megan Leavey stars Kate Mara as Leavey; Netflix Tudum also lists Ramón Rodríguez and Tom Felton among the cast. The film’s official streaming-guide summary presents Leavey as looking for a fresh start, joining the Marines and becoming Rex’s handler in the K9 unit. It then follows the pair’s deployments, their injury in an explosive-device blast and Leavey’s fight to keep Rex with her. Netflix Tudum’s film guide and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s release notice describe that premise.
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Megan Leavey | $11.15 | Buy on Amazon |
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Megan Leavey | $8.53 | Buy on Amazon |
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Megan Leavey | Buy on Amazon | |
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Megan Leavey (DVD) | $15.96 | Buy on Amazon |
Universal’s 2017 announcement says the pair completed more than 100 missions before the blast. That is the distributor’s published figure, not an independently audited mission count. The sources establish the film’s basis in Leavey and Rex’s story, but do not provide a scene-by-scene historical check of the screenplay.
What public accounts say about Leavey and Rex
A 2018 New York State Senate profile says Leavey and Rex served in Fallujah in 2005 and Ramadi in 2006. It reports that after their IED injury, Leavey returned to the United States with Rex for physical therapy, was discharged in December 2007, and eventually adopted Rex when he retired in 2012. A Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton search-result record also surfaced the retirement and reunion story. The specific dates and service details below are attributed to those institutional accounts; the Senate profile and Camp Pendleton page were not accessible in full for verification.
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| Reported detail | Attribution |
|---|---|
| Rex E168 served from May 14, 2002, through April 6, 2012 | New York State Senate profile, 2018 |
| More than 11,575 military work hours | New York State Senate profile, 2018 |
| More than 6,220 vehicles searched | New York State Senate profile, 2018 |
| 7,800 barracks rooms searched during 260 inspections | New York State Senate profile, 2018 |
| Retirement and reunion date: April 6, 2012 | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton search-result record |
The figures give a sense of the work the Senate profile attributes to Rex, but they should be read as that profile’s reported totals, not as independently checked military records. The chronology also clarifies why the post-service reunion matters to the story: Leavey’s bond with Rex continued beyond deployment and his working career.
Where the story takes place
Netflix Tudum identifies Parris Island, South Carolina; San Diego County, California; and locations across Iraq as settings in the film. The Senate profile names Fallujah and Ramadi as the two locations of Leavey and Rex’s Iraq tours, in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The film’s settings and the profile’s service chronology provide different kinds of information: one describes the movie’s locations, the other attributes specific deployments to the pair.
Rank #2
How closely is the film based on real events?
The supported conclusion is that the film is based on Leavey and Rex’s real story, including their handler partnership, deployment, IED injury and post-service reunion. Netflix Tudum and Universal’s release announcement establish that broad connection; the Senate and Camp Pendleton accounts offer some historical detail. None of these sources verifies the film scene by scene, so dialogue, characterizations, precise chronology and individual dramatic moments should not automatically be treated as literal history.
How the dog scenes were staged
American Humane’s production account says animal actors were monitored through its No Animals Were Harmed® program. It describes trained behaviors performed on trainer cues, handler support and inspected runs. For an apparent hand-bite moment, the account says the production used separate shots, a bite suit and a tug toy; it says the dog did not make actual contact or apply pressure in that shot. This is a description of the production practices reported by American Humane, not a blanket guarantee about every aspect of filming. American Humane’s production report provides the details.
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Rank #3
Runtime, rating and home-video formats
Apple TV’s U.S. listing gives the film a runtime of 1 hour 56 minutes and a PG-13 rating. Universal’s 2017 release notice announced Digital HD for August 22, 2017, followed by DVD and Blu-ray on September 5, 2017. Its format specifications are historical release details, not evidence of current stock or playback testing.
| Format | Universal’s listed specifications |
|---|---|
| Blu-ray, selection 57187474 | BD-50; widescreen 2.40:1; English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English SDH; Spanish subtitles |
| DVD, selection 57187470 | Dual layer; anamorphic widescreen 2.40:1; English Dolby Digital 5.1; English SDH; Spanish subtitles |
The listed runtime and PG-13 rating are the same for both disc formats. The specification differences are in disc type and audio format; the release notice does not establish a tested picture-quality preference between them. Apple TV’s U.S. title listing and Universal’s release notice are the sources for these details.
Rank #4
Where to watch
Netflix Tudum’s April 11, 2024 page carried a “Stream it now” prompt, which establishes the page’s streaming prompt at that time—not current availability in every country or on a particular subscription. Streaming catalogs and rental or purchase options can change by region, so check the live catalog where you are before choosing a service. The 2017 DVD and Blu-ray announcement confirms those releases, but not whether a specific retailer currently has them in stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Megan Leavey based on a book?
Netflix Tudum says the film is not based on a book; it is based on the story of Leavey and Rex.
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Did Megan Leavey get Rex back?
The New York State Senate profile says Leavey eventually adopted Rex after he retired in 2012. The Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton result also records their retirement and reunion.
Who plays Megan Leavey?
Kate Mara plays Megan Leavey. Netflix Tudum also lists Ramón Rodríguez and Tom Felton among the film’s stars.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
