Top 15 Movies for Dog Lovers (and the Pups that Appear in Them!)

Just about any movie is better with a dog in it, right? Whether they’re completing amazing acts of heroism, going on a memorable adventure, or just adding doses of cuteness to a scene, it’s no wonder our four-legged friends have a long history of being on screen.

Recent decades have seen a rise in animated and CGI dogs in movies, but it was real pups who helped pave the way for cinema as an art form in general. The first-ever dog movie star was Blair, a collie who held the titular role in the 1905 silent film, Rescued By Rover. Though it runs less than 10 minutes, the film was considered groundbreaking both for the impressive performance by its animal lead and for the gravity of the plot.

Today of course we love dog movies of all types, whether the canines in them are live-action or not. If you’re trying to decide which flick to watch with your own star tonight, you’re in luck! We’ve compiled a list of the best movies for dog lovers for you and your pal to cuddle up to after a long day of walks and playtime.

15 dog movies to watch with your pal

Ready to get cozy on the couch with your pal? From rambunctious and loveable puppies to full-grown family dogs, this lineup of movies will warm any dog lover’s heart:

1. Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Featured dog breed: Cocker Spaniel, mixed breed, and more!

This animated feature is as dog-tastic as it gets! While the main two dogs are a cocker spaniel and a mixed breed, there’s a whole rainbow of pups to enjoy in this movie (the “twilight bark” scene, anyone?) To capture each breed’s movements and personality traits, the animators studied a wide variety of real-life dogs before they started drawing. Another fun fact? The producers almost cut the famous spaghetti-eating scene because they thought it was too silly.

2. Old Yeller (1957)

Featured dog breed: mixed breed

For many, Old Yeller is the quintessential dog movie. Set in the 1800s, this “boy and his dog” story follows a teenager who bonds with a stray pup who shows up at the family farm. Yes, the ending is sad, but so are a lot of other dog movie endings. If anything, it’s just another reminder of why these awesome animals are such important members of the family. On an interesting side note, the character of Old Yeller is a stray mix of unknown breed, but he’s portrayed by Spike, a yellow Mastador (a cross between a mastiff and Labrador retriever).

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3. Benji (1974)

Featured dog breed: mixed breed

The character of Benji has appeared in a whole string of movies over the past several decades, but this is the original so it’s worth a watch for dog lovers. In it, the famous golden mixed breed is a popular stray dog who is friends with many people around town. When two of those friends—both children—are kidnapped, it’s up to Benji to save the day! The titular canine is played by Higgins, a dog actor who worked in show business for an impressive 14 years. Fun fact: like Benji, he was also discovered as a stray.

4. Turner & Hooch (1989)

Featured dog breed: French Mastiff

Buddy cop movies are always fun, but this one ups the ante by making one partner an enormous French mastiff or “dogue de Bordeaux” with a penchant for drooling all over those he loves. Like many great dog films, this one has since been remade for modern audiences (a TV show came out in 2021), but the original remains an adorable classic. Hooch is played by canine actor, Beasley the Dog.

5. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Featured dog breeds: American Bulldog and Golden Retriever

This ‘90s classic is for dog and cat lovers alike! When three pets (two dogs and a Himalayan cat) mistakenly think they’ve been abandoned by their human family at a farm, they escape and set off on an adventure through the wilderness to get back home. This movie’s full of fun and excitement, and thanks to some talented voice acting, it also captures the kinds of conversations we imagine our pets having with one another.

6. Iron Will (1994)

Featured dog breed: Husky

If you've never had an interest in dog sled racing before, you will after watching this unique sports movie. Iron Will follows the adventures of a young man competing in an intense international dog sled race. With him is his late father's mushing team, led by a beautiful white husky named Gus (played by doggy actor, Beau). The canine characters are just as much a part of the story as the human ones are, and you'll find yourself rooting for both as the race progresses. 

7. Babe (1995)

Featured dog breed: Border Collie

Yes, the main character in Babe is a little pink pig. But he's a little pink pig with an adorable dream to be a sheep dog! After being won at a local fair by a farmer, Babe the pig is adopted by a loving farm dog named Fly and becomes enamored with her day job of herding sheep. But unlike his puppy siblings (who are adorable, by the way), Babe is still a pig and must work extra hard to prove he's got the stuff. As silly as the plot may sound on the surface, the movie is a shockingly good comedy-drama that went on to be nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture. If you haven't seen it already, add it to your 'must' list. 

8. Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (1995)

Featured dog breed: Labrador Retriever

Stranded in the wilderness of British Columbia with no way to call for help, a boy and his dog must navigate natural dangers while keeping themselves alive. That's the plot of this mid-'90s film, featuring a talented dog named Dakota. Fans of both survival adventures and yellow Labs will mark this movie as one to keep returning to. 

9. 101 Dalmatians (1996)

Featured dog breed: Dalmatian

The 1961 animated original is a classic, but the ‘90s remake offers an adorable abundance of live-action pups! And don’t worry about Cruella. She may be evil, but she’s no match for all the cuteness here (fun fact: over 300 Dalmatian puppies were used during filming because dogs grow up so fast). For any Dalmatian owner—or any fan of the breed in general — this dog movie is a must.

10. Marley & Me (2008)

Featured dog breed: Labrador Retriever

This list would not be complete without this heartwarming tearjerker. An adaptation of Josh Grogan’s non-fiction novel of the same name, Marley & Me follows the story of a couple adopting a Labrador retriever to prepare themselves for parenthood. Marley the dog (played by a whopping 22 different yellow labs) soon proves to be quite unpredictable, but also an indispensable member of the growing family. If there’s a movie that fully captures all the emotions that come with having a dog in the home, it’s this one.

11. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)

Featured dog breed: Akita

You’ll want to get some tissues ready for this one. This sentimental dog flick is based on the real-life story of Hachiko (played by three different dogs in the movie), a Japanese dog who would meet his owner every day after work at a local Tokyo train station. Unfortunately, one day his owner passed away unexpectedly at work and never showed up. That didn’t hinder Hachiko’s loyalty, and he continued to return to the train station every day for almost a decade afterward. Have those tissues ready yet?

12. The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

Featured dog breeds: Jack Russell Terrier, Pomeranian, Dachshund, and more!

This computer-animated dog movie may take some creative liberties with how its animals look, but boy, does it capture their personalities. And for dog lovers, there are so many fun characters here. The main pup is a Jack Russell who socializes with the other pets in his apartment building during the day while his owner is away at work. But when his owner adopts another dog, chaos ensues, and all the pets find themselves racing around the city to get things back to normal.

13. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Featured dog breed: American Pit Bull Terrier

Quentin Tarantino’s historical reimagining isn’t about dogs per se, but Brandy the pit bull is integral to the movie’s climax. She’s an example of an extremely well-trained dog who is completely in tune with her owner, and her sweet, loyal nature steals every scene she appears in. Brandy’s played by doggy actress Sayuri, a pit from Delaware who was three years old at the time of filming.

14. The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019)

Featured dog breed: Golden Retriever

As many dog parents can attest, golden retrievers often make wonderfully loyal pets. This movie is about just that, following the story of Enzo (played by two-year-old Hollywood dog, Parker, and a smattering of puppies) and his quest to be the best pup ever for his owner. It’s even narrated by the dog, which ups the “aww” factor. This is the kind of movie you can tell from the beginning is going to tug at your heartstrings nonstop, but it’s okay because the dog’s story is so touching.

For those who like to read the source material first, this movie's based on the 2008 novel of the same name, written by author (and dog lover) Garth Stein.

15. Dog (2022)

Featured dog breed: Belgian Malinois

Unlikely pairings are common in movies, but they're especially welcome when they're a human and a dog. In this comedy-drama, an army ranger is given the special task of transporting the military dog of his fallen friend back to Arizona for the funeral. The story was inspired by a road trip that director and star Channing Tatum took with his actual dog after she was diagnosed with cancer, and if that's not enough to make you give your own dog a big hug right now, you'll definitely want to after actually watching this heartwarming film.

Keep movie time safe for you and your dog

Watching a movie with your dog is a great way to spend any evening, but as with all activities, it’s important to make sure you’re being safe. Always keep an eye on your best friend and know where he is at all times. And no matter how big those puppy eyes get, only share healthy movie snacks with your four-legged friend. Popcorn, for example, can actually be a safe treat for dogs, but only if it’s plain and without any added ingredients or toppings.

Know some fellow dog lovers who are also movie fans? Share this post and spread the fun! And don't worry, cat lovers — we put together this list of best cat movies just for you.