Top 20 Best Movies About Dogs

Dogs are humans' best companions, so it's no surprise they star in quite a few movies. Whether as lead or supporting actors, animated or live-action, dogs have always had a place in film.

Below, we offer a selection of twenty must-see movies for dog lovers. We cover different genres and styles so everyone can find their favorite film.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

Starring Richard Gere alongside an Akita dog, this touching film tells the true story of Hachiko, who waited at the train station for his owner to return from work and kept doing so even after his owner passed away, winning the affection of the neighborhood. There's a statue in his honor as a symbol of loyalty.

Marley & Me (2008)

This comedy follows a couple's life journey during the years they share with their dog, a lovable Labrador. Arriving as a puppy, its growth runs parallel to its owners' personal, family, and work life. It's a reflection on love told with humor.

Among Wolves (2010)

This is a true story about a boy who, after the death of the goatherd he lived with, ends up bonding only with wolves. This happened in Spain, and its subject, still alive today, has rejoined human society, though with difficulty.

Lady and the Tramp (1955)

A true classic of animated film, telling the story of the beautiful Cocker Spaniel Lady and the charming mutt Tramp. It's the typical story pitting social classes against each other, this time told from a canine perspective. The shared spaghetti scene is legendary.

Bombón: El Perro (2004)

Filmed in Argentina, this movie tells the story of a middle-aged man who's just lost his job. In that difficult moment, he receives an Argentine Dogo as a gift. Gradually, the animal becomes his hope, an opening toward a better future.

Hotel for Dogs (2009)

This is a movie aimed at kids and teens. In it, two siblings, a boy and a girl, spend their time taking in abandoned dogs. When they learn they're about to be adopted and can't bring their dogs along, they decide to house them in an abandoned hotel instead.

Lassie (1943) (2005)

Lassie was the most famous Collie dog in the world, although she was actually played by a male dog. Her popularity dates back to the 1940s, and since then, several movies and shows have followed this dog and her family's adventures.

101 Dalmatians (1961) (2019)

In this extremely famous story, which we find in both animated and live-action versions, the Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita must protect their 101 puppies, together with their friends, from the evil Cruella de Vil's clutches. This villain dreams of making a coat out of their spotted fur.

Cats & Dogs (2001)

Aimed at kids and teens, this movie uses humor to show the traditional rivalry supposedly existing between cats and dogs. A Persian cat leads the uprising against the dogs, defended by a Beagle puppy.

Beethoven (1992)

Beethoven is fiction's best-known Saint Bernard. This enormous, always drooly dog completely changes his new family's life and gets caught up in various family-friendly adventures across several sequels.

The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

This kids' movie will also appeal to adults. It tells the secret life of pets when their owners leave them home alone. It's also a reflection on companionship and friendship.

Turner & Hooch (1989)

Starring Tom Hanks as a detective, his life changes when he decides to adopt the dog of a murdered friend. The movie shows the relationship that develops between the two, and how they end up becoming partners.

Max (2015)

Max is a military dog that returns home after his handler dies in an attack. There, he ends up living with the fallen soldier's brother and parents, and although the relationship isn't great at first, the dog and the boy end up forming a great team against those who turn out to not be who they seem.

Homeward Bound (1993)

This adventure movie for kids and teens tells the story of a family's pets, an older dog, a younger one, and a cat, who get lost and must cross a forest full of dangers to reunite with their loved ones, who never stop searching for them.

Marmaduke (2010)

This movie stars a Great Dane who moves with his family to a new neighborhood. He soon gets caught up in issues between mixed-breed and purebred dogs, along with problems from his attraction to a female dog.

Benji (2018)

Benji is an abandoned dog taken in by some kids, but they have to return him to the street since their mother won't let them keep him. Even so, Benji doesn't lose sight of them and will fight to get them back when they're kidnapped during a robbery.

The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996)

This is a romantic comedy starring an animal-loving radio host insecure about her looks. Fear of going on a date leads her to send a neighbor in her place. From there, the mix-ups unfold.

White Fang (1991)

This adventure movie is set in the snow in the late 19th century, based on Jack London's novel of the same name. In it, a young man arrives in Alaska to claim an inheritance and meets the wolf-dog hybrid White Fang.

Balto (1995)

Balto is an animated movie based on a true story. It recreates the tale of the dog Balto, who led the expedition tasked with transporting diphtheria vaccines to a small Alaskan town suffering an outbreak.

Frankenweenie (2012)

Directed by Tim Burton in his signature style, this black-and-white animated story follows a boy who tries to bring his dog back to life using all his scientific knowledge.