Our team compiled the best dog movies and here is what they came up with
Dogs are known for being man’s best friend, and it’s no surprise that movies featuring these beloved animals have been popular throughout the years. Here are 18 of the best dog movies of all time, along with a summary of the plot, the MPAA rating, box office gross, year of release, and why the movie was appreciated by audiences.
Here are the 24 best dog movies to check out on the streaming service.
1. Lassie Come Home (1943)
Rated G, grossed $3.7 million. This classic family drama tells the story of a young boy (Roddy McDowall) and his beloved collie, Lassie, who is sold to a wealthy Duke and must find her way back to her true home. The movie is appreciated for its heartwarming story, its performances, and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
2. Beethoven (1992)
Rated PG, grossed $147 million. This comedy-family film tells the story of a lovable St. Bernard named Beethoven who brings joy to the lives of a suburban family. The movie is appreciated for its comedy and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
3. The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Rated G, grossed $39.9 million. This Disney animated film tells the story of the unlikely friendship between a fox named Tod and a hound dog named Copper, and how their relationship changes as they grow older. The movie is appreciated for its animation, its storytelling and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
4. Old Yeller (1957)
Rated G, grossed $11.2 million. This classic family drama tells the story of a yellow Labrador Retriever named Old Yeller who becomes a member of a Texas family in the late 1800s and the bond they form. The movie is appreciated for its heartwarming story, its performances and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
5. Air Bud (1997)
Rated PG, grossed $27 million. This comedy-family film tells the story of a golden retriever who becomes a basketball star, and the bond he forms with his new owner. The movie is appreciated for its comedy, its representation of the bond between humans and dogs, and its depiction of the sport of basketball.
6. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
Rated G, grossed $46.8 million. This drama tells the true story of a college professor (Richard Gere) and his bond with a Akita dog named Hachiko, based on a true story that happened in Japan. The movie is appreciated for its heartwarming story, its performances, particularly Gere and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
7. Marley & Me (2008)
Rated PG, grossed $242.1 million. This comedy-drama tells the story of a young couple (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) who adopt a Labrador Retriever named Marley, and the ups and downs they experience with him throughout their lives. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Wilson and Aniston, and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
8. Turner and Hooch (1989)
Rated PG, grossed $71.6 million. This buddy-cop comedy-drama tells the story of a police detective (Tom Hanks) who is paired with a slobbering French Mastiff named Hooch to solve a murder case. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Hanks, and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
9. White Fang (1991)
Rated PG, grossed $8.1 million. This adventure-drama tells the story of a young man (Ethan Hawke) who travels to the Klondike gold rush of the 1890s and befriends a wolf-dog named White Fang, who helps him survive the harsh wilderness. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Hawke, and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
10. 101 Dalmatians (1961)
Rated G, grossed $144 million. This Disney animated film tells the story of a litter of Dalmatian puppies who are kidnapped by the villainous Cruella De Vil and the efforts of their parents, Pongo and Perdita, to rescue them. The movie is appreciated for its animation, its storytelling, and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
11. The Shaggy Dog (2006)
Rated PG, grossed $61.7 million. This comedy-family film tells the story of a man (Tim Allen) who is transformed into a shaggy sheepdog and must learn to navigate his new life while trying to turn back into a human. The movie is appreciated for its comedy and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
12. Bolt (2008)
Rated PG, grossed $314 million. This Disney animated film tells the story of a dog named Bolt (John Travolta) who stars in a TV show as a super-powered pup but gets mistaken for an actual superhero and must navigate the real world to return home. The movie is appreciated for its animation, its storytelling and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
13. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Rated G, grossed $93.6 million. This Disney animated film tells the story of a refined cocker spaniel lady and a street-smart mongrel tramp, and the bond they form. The movie is appreciated for its animation, its storytelling and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
14. A Dog’s Purpose (2017)
Rated PG, grossed $205.9 million. This family-drama tells the story of a dog who keeps being reincarnated and discovers the meaning of his existence through the relationships he forms with the humans he meets. The movie is appreciated for its heartwarming story, its representation of the bond between humans and dogs, and its performances.
15. Best in Show (2000)
Rated PG-13, grossed $18.7 million. This mockumentary comedy tells the story of several eccentric dog owners as they compete in a prestigious dog show. The movie is appreciated for its comedy and its representation of the world of dog shows.
16. My Dog Skip (2000)
Rated PG, grossed $11.7 million. This family-drama tells the story of a young boy growing up in Mississippi in the 1940s, and the bond he forms with his Jack Russell Terrier, Skip. The movie is appreciated for its heartwarming story, its representation of the bond between humans and dogs and its performances.
17. Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Rated PG, grossed $117.9 million. This family-comedy tells the story of two orphans who secretly take in stray dogs at an abandoned hotel, and the adventures they have while trying to keep them hidden. The movie is appreciated for its comedy, its representation of the bond between humans and dogs and its performances
18. A Dog’s Way Home (2019)
Rated PG, grossed $41.3 million. This family-drama tells the story of a stray dog named Bella who is adopted by a young girl and their adventures after Bella gets separated from her family and must journey to find her way back home. The movie is appreciated for its heartwarming story, its representation of the bond between humans and dogs and its performances
19. The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
Rated PG, grossed $875.5 million. This animated-comedy tells the story of what pets do when their owners are not at home and the adventure they have when one of them gets lost in the city. The movie is appreciated for its comedy, its representation of the bond between humans and pets and its animation.
20. The Artist (2011)
Rated PG-13, grossed $44.5 million. This silent black-and-white French film tells the story of a fading Hollywood actor who finds a new companion in a dog and a new role in the era of talking pictures. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly of the dog and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
21. Red Dog (2011)
Rated PG, grossed $21.2 million. This Australian family-drama tells the story of the adventures of a Red Cloud Kelpie cattle dog, across the Australian outback, and the bond he forms with the humans he meets. The movie is appreciated for its heartwarming story, its representation of the bond between humans and dogs and its performances.
22. The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation (2010)
Rated G, grossed $100,000. This family-comedy tells the story of Zeus, a retired police dog, who saves the day when burglars break into the family’s vacation home during the holidays. The movie is appreciated for its comedy and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
23. Rescue Dawn (2006)
Rated PG-13, grossed $5.5 million. This drama-war film tells the true story of Dieter Dengler, a US navy pilot shot down in Laos, who must survive in the jungle and befriends a stray dog. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Christian Bale and its representation of the bond between humans and dogs.
24. The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986)
Rated G, grossed $48.6 million. This family-adventure film tells the story of an orange tabby cat and a pug dog who have many adventures together in the Japanese countryside. The movie is appreciated for its storytelling and its representation of the bond between animals.
These movies showcase the special bond between humans and dogs in different ways, from heartwarming stories of friendship, to adventurous tales of survival. They are appreciated for their performances, representation of the bond and the special moments of joy and emotional connection they bring to audiences of all ages.