We all enjoy watching movies. And for most dog lovers, there’s nothing quite like a movie with a dog in it.
Adorable canines have filled the screens and our hearts, from the early silent movies to the most recent CGI productions. Whether they make us laugh or cry, they are certainly inspirational.
Here is a list of great dog-themed films to enjoy while snuggled up on the couch:
Romantic Movies With Dogs In Them
You’ve Got Mail
Genre: romance, comedy
Two business enemies adventure anonymously on the same internet chat site . Tom Hanks stars as Joe Fox, who parents the sweetest Golden Retriever.
Must Love Dogs
Genre: romance, comedy
A preschool teacher is caught between the love of two men. Diane Lane and John Cusack got to interact with a cute Newfoundland puppy.
Dog Days
Genre: romance, comedy
Stories of several people in Los Angeles whose lives are influenced by their dogs.
Love to the Rescue
Genre: romance
Two people want to adopt the same shelter dog. By agreeing to share custody, they end up sharing their hearts.
Movies About Dogs
A Dog’s Purpose
Genre: comedy, drama
A dog finds his purpose through various reincarnations as different breeds, and mixed breeds. Quote – “With Each new life, I was learning a lesson”.
A Dog’s Journey
Genre: comedy, drama
Another reincarnation movie where a dog finds his past life family.
Dog
Genre: comedy, drama
A young man and a dog come together against their will on a road trip that would change their lives. This movie stars Channing Tatum and a Belgian Malinois called Lulu.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Genre: romance, comedy
A Golden Retriever has an exciting life with racing car pilot, Denny. Voiced by Kevin Costner and starred by Milo Ventimiglia and Jackie Minns.
Alpha
Genre: action, drama
The story of the first bond between a prehistoric human and a wolf. In this movie, actor Kodi Smit-McPhee interacts with a Czechoslovakian Vlcak dog.
Dog Movies Based on True Stories
Marley and Me
Genre: comedy, drama
Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a young couple who moves to Florida and get a yellow Labrador Retriever puppy. While the pup is growing up, his behavior just gets worse.
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale
Genre: biography, drama
Richard Gere plays a professor who finds an Akita puppy on his way to work.
After Thomas
Genre: biography, drama
The ups and down of an autistic boy and his Golden Retriever dog.
Megan Leavey
Genre: biography, drama
The story of a Marine and her working German Shepherd Dog during their deployment in Iraq.
Red Dog
Genre: biography, drama
A dog brings an Australian community together while in search of his lost human. The dog featured in this film is an Australian Kelpie.
Eight Below
Genre: adventure, drama
While not a true story per se, this movie was inspired by the Antarctic explorers and their dogs. During extreme weather, two explorers leave behind their sled dogs. As the dogs struggle to survive, the explorers try to find sponsors to rescue them. The film stars Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Paul Walker, and Jason Biggs.
Dog Animation Movies
Instead of using cartoon figures, we decided to illustrate this segment with examples of dog breeds that inspired the animation movies.
Lady and the Tramp
Genre: animation, comedy
This animation movie depicts the love between a high society Cocker Spaniel and a homeless mixed-breed dog. Lady’s life is turned upside down when her human parents have a baby.
The Queen’s Corgi
Genre: animation, comedy
One of the British Queen’s beloved Pembroke Welsh Corgi gets lost. While trying to find his way back to the palace, he falls in love with a Saluki called Wanda.
The Secret Life of Pets
Genre: animation, comedy
A Jack Russel Terrier life is turned upside down when his human brings home a second dog.
101 Dalmatians
Genre: animation, comedy
Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita go to the rescue of their 15 puppies abducted by the deranged Cruella de Vil.
DC League of Super-Pets
Genre: animation, comedy
Villain Lex Luthor kidnaps Superman and the rest of the league. Superman’s dog, Krypto, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, convinces a group of shelter dogs to go on a rescue mission. According to The New York Times, Krypto is a Labrador Retriever.
Documentaries About Dogs
Pick of the Litter
Genre: documentary
This documentary follows the journey of five Labrador Retriever puppies in their mission to become Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Lucky Dog
Genre: documentary
The stories of Rescued dogs that are trained and given new homes.
Pet Fooled
Genre: documentary
Exposing the pet food industry, and calling them out to do a better job on commercial dog food.
Dogs With Jobs
Genre: documentary
Dogs around the world perform several jobs.
To Be Of Service
Genre: documentary
This documentary is about dogs helping war veterans with PTSD.
Conclusion
Dogs and humans share an extraordinary interspecies bond that has been showcased in art throughout history.
It makes perfect sense that the performing arts would also portray this relationship. From the earliest silent movies to modern CGI productions, canines have appeared in almost every genre of film.
We’ve compiled the above list of best movies featuring dogs, or with dogs in them, that you shouldn’t miss. Whether they’ll make you cry or laugh, they will certainly be inspirational.
Are there any movies on the list that you have previously seen? What’s your take on them?
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