Dogs are the most popular pets in the world. It won’t surprise many people that movie studios noticed this too. That’s why they’ve made hundreds of films about pooches and their relationships with their owners.
Let’s look at some of the greatest dog movies ever. We have classic tales of the bond between canines and their owners. There are stories about service animals as well as more surreal tales about dogs in their own worlds.
1. Lassie Come Home
It’s impossible to compile this list of dog movies without including this iconic 1943 film. This is also the oldest entry on this list. Lassie Come Home is the story of a boy’s love for his rough collie. It also shows the importance of being a moral dog owner and keeping your dog safe.
Lassie’s journey across the United Kingdom from Scotland to Yorkshire is inspiring. She overcomes many obstacles and threats to reunite with her beloved Joe. All pet owners know the importance of building a good relationship with their dogs. This classic film shows that they maintain strong connections and one human can’t replace another.
2. Isle of Dogs
This Wes Anderson story is a very different type of dog movie. He brilliantly uses stop-motion animation to create an evocative world. An evil Japanese mayor banishes all of the dogs in his city to Trash Island. The dogs conspire with a young girl to return to their regular lives and seek their freedom.
Many people wonder if a domesticated dog can survive in the wild. This movie shows that dogs are very adaptable when they have access to food and water. Like all Wes Anderson movies, this one is a little surreal. However, that is part of its charm. It’s a very effective fable about the importance of dogs in our lives.
3. Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo is one of the most famous fictional dogs ever. He is the main character in many animated series and movies. The notoriously cowardly Great Dane got a live-action film in 2002. Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar were its two biggest stars. Critics hated it but audiences enjoyed it and now the movie is a cult classic.
This story is also a great way to understand how dogs see the world. It underscores the bond between Scooby and Shaggy. Nobody will pretend that Scooby-Doo will change anyone’s life. But it’s a funny film that doesn’t take itself seriously. There’s a lot of joy and nostalgia to take from this.
4. I Am Legend
This is one for the dads! I Am Legend is an outlier on this list because it’s not an out-and-out dog movie. But it is one of the best visual depictions of the relationship between a dog and its owner. This post-apocalyptic thriller stars Will Smith as Robert, a scientist who is desperate to defeat a zombie-like virus. His beloved German Shepherd, Sam, is his only company in a hellish cityscape.
Sam is his guardian and his best friend as he survives alone. This movie also has one of the most emotional dog scenes on this list. It’s heartbreaking but beautiful and shows how we sometimes have to let our pets leave. This isn’t a typical dog movie but that’s what makes it so unique.
5. Dog
Here is one of the most recent films in this guide. There are many movies about service dogs but this 2022 production is one of the best. It’s also incredibly emotional and poignant at times. Channing Tatum stars as a former army ranger who suffers from PTSD. He agrees to transport his deceased friend’s Belgian Malinois, Lulu, across the nation to the funeral.
Tatum said that this movie was a cathartic experience for him. He told the media about a road trip he took with his previous dog and how emotional it made him feel. The movie proves that he’s a real dog lover. All owners will appreciate the bond between Lulu and Tatum’s character Jackson Briggs. Lulu evolves from a service animal into an emotional support dog.
6. 101 Dalmatians
This iconic Disney movie is one of the greatest dog films ever. It also kicked off a franchise because it’s so popular. Disney released the original movie in 1961 with massive success. The basic premise is that the evil Cruella de Vil wants to turn the Dalmatians into a line of coats. The dogs conspire to secure their freedom and defeat their nemesis.
There’s no denying that de Vil steals the show. There’s a real menace to her and that’s why they made so many sequels. She even got a standalone movie, Cruella, in 2021. The movie shows that Dalmatians are high-energy animals with great intelligence. However, 101 might be too many for even the most ardent dog lover!
7. The Call of the Wild
It’s over 120 years since Jack London first captured the imagination with his novella; The Call of the Wild. It still resonates and that’s why Harrison Ford starred in this 2020 adaptation. It’s one of the most underrated performances of the actor’s late career. He stars as John Thornton and delivers his lines with gruff emotion.
This movie also shows how dogs and wolves are alike. The setting is mostly in Yukon, Canada during the gold rush at the turn of the century. It’s also one of the best visual depictions of dog sledding. Buck is one of the most iconic fictional animals and this is a great version of him.
8. Marley & Me
This is another famous dog movie with a very emotional ending. It tells the story of Marley the labrador retriever and his family over 14 years. We see him as a playful puppy to his time as a senior dog. There are some heart-wrenching moments but it’s also pure in the way it shows an animal’s life cycle.
It emphasizes that dogs are family members. Even when parents have children, they find a way to keep their pets in their lives. They can also bring people together and teach them about responsibilities. This is an important movie for every dog lover.
