Movies about dogs are touching stories about our faithful four-legged friends. In these films, dogs are presented as devoted and courageous companions of their owners who will not leave them and will always support them in difficult times. Horrors and thrillers are rare among films about dogs, more often they are pleasant comedies and dramas that evoke the most sincere emotions in viewers.
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale
- Rating IMDB – 8.1
- Genre: Drama, family, biography
- US, UK production / 2008
- Budget: $16,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $46,184,345
- Directed by Lasse Hallström
- Cast: Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Sarah Roemer, Jason Alexander, Eric Avari, Davinia McFadden, Robbie Sublett, Kevin DeCoste, Rob Denyan
The film about the dog Hachiko is based on real events. This story took place in Japan, but in the film the events were moved to the United States. Returning home, Professor Parker Wilson found a cute Akita Inu puppy. Since his owners could not be found, Wilson took the puppy with him and named Hachiko.
A warm relationship developed between the owner and the dog. Every time Wilson returned from work by train, Hachiko would meet him. Even when the professor was gone, Hachiko’s faithful friend always came to the station, hoping that his owner would definitely get out of one of the cars.
In reality, during the life of Hachiko, a monument was made to him at the Shibuya station, at the opening of which the dog was personally present.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
- Rating IMDB – 7.6
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, comedy, sports, family
- US production / 2019
- Budget: $18,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $33,766,787
- Directed by Simon Curtis
- Cast: Kevin Costner, Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried, Kathy Baker, Martin Donovan, Gary Cole, McKinley Belcher III, Jackie Minns, Marcus Hondro, Ian Lake
A golden retriever named Enzo is used to living at a fast pace. His owner, Danny Swift, is a successful racing driver for whom Enzo was an irreplaceable member of the team and a lucky charm. The dog was present at the most important events that happened in Danny’s life: victories on the track, meeting his future wife, the birth of his daughter.
But he played a special role in those moments when Danny most needed support. Enzo did not allow the owner to give up and encouraged him to fight to the end for what was dear to him.
The American drama is based on the novel with the same name by Garth Stein. Stein’s work since 2008 and for three years held the position of a bestseller according to the New York Times.
Eight Below
- Rating IMDB – 7.3
- Genre: Drama, adventure, family
- Production USA, Canada, Antarctica / 2005
- Budget: $40,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $120,455,994
- Directed by Frank Marshall
- Cast: Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, Wendy Crewson, Gerard Plunket, August Schellenberg, Jason Biggs, D.J., Timba, Koda
The action of the adventure film takes place in 1993 in Antarctica. Professor Davis McLaren and polar explorer Jerry Sheppard arrive north on dog sleds to find a meteorite. But an accident occurs, and both researchers get injured. In addition, weather conditions get worse.
Only the members of the expedition managed to evacuate, but eight sled dogs remained in Antarctica. For six months, the dogs will have to fight the cruel weather, hoping that the researchers will come back for them.
The film is based on real events of 1958-1959. Then 15 dogs were left at the Antarctic station, of which only two returned alive – Taro and Jiro.
Togo
- Rating IMDB – 8.0
- Genre: Drama, adventure, family, biography, history
- US production / 2019
- Directed by Erickson Core
- Cast: Willem Dafoe, Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl, Richard Dormer, Adrian Dorval, Madeleine Wickins, Michael Greyes, Niv Nielsen, Nikolaj Nikolaeff, Thorbjorn Harr
From the early days, Togo had to prove to the owner that he was a strong and courageous dog. Leonard Seppala wanted to get rid of a hopeless puppy more than once, until he realized that Togo was the worthy leader whom he had long wanted to breed. In 1925, the dog was no longer young when Seppala has got news about a diphtheria epidemic in the town of Nome, Alaska.
Despite the risks to aging Togo, Leonard decides to take part in the Great Mercy Race and deliver a life-saving antitoxin to the town. After this run, Togo no longer participated in the races. Seppala regretted only that all the glory went to the dog Balto, although he covered a shorter distance than Togo.
A Dog’s Journey
- Rating IMDB – 7.4
- Genre: Fantasy, drama, comedy, adventure, family
- USA, China, Hong Kong, India production / 2019
- Budget: $16,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $75,741,734
- Directed by Gail Mancuso
- Cast: Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Kathryn Prescott, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Henry Lau, Abby Ryder Fortson, Ian Chen, Emma Volk, Johnny Galecki
A dog named Bailey had to go through several reincarnations until he was reunited with his beloved owner Ethan again. In the life of Ethan, unpleasant changes began to occur. Having quarreled with her parents, his daughter decided to break off relations with them and leave, forbidding them to communicate with the granddaughter CJ. All that remains for Ethan is to ask Bailey to have the dog look after the girl. Also Bailey will not disappoint Ethan in the next life, no matter who he has to become, he will find CJ.
The film is based on Bruce Cameron’s international bestseller The Good Dog Journey. The script for the second part was written by Cameron’s wife Catherine Michon.
A Dog’s Purpose
- Rating IMDB – 7.2
- Genre: Fantasy, drama, comedy, adventure, family
- US production / 2017
- Budget: $22,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $205,035,819
- Directed by Lasse Hallström
- Cast: Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Bryce Geisar, KJ Apa, Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Gabriel Rose, Michael Bofshever, Britt Robertson
The film tells the story of a dog who, in the process of constant rebirth, is trying to find its true purpose and place. The first life ended quickly, but when the dog was reborn, he met Ethan. Ethan named the dog Bailey and they became true friends.
But Bailey didn’t manage to stay with the owner for a long time, and a series of rebirths awaited him again. During his life he managed to visit many guises, but his soul always yearned back to Ethan.
The original source of the plot is Bruce Cameron’s bestselling book of the same name.
The film was the last work for Peggy Lipton, known to the viewer thanks to the TV series Twin Peaks.
Fluke
- Rating IMDB – 6.6
- Genre: Fantasy, drama, family
- US production / 1995
- Budget: $15,000,000
- US fees: $3,987,768
- Directed by Carlo Carlei
- Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew Modine, Nancy Travis, Eric Stoltz, Max Pomeranz, Ron Perlman, Jon Polito, Bill Cobbs, Colleen Wilcox Paxton, Federico Pacifici
After dying in a car accident, a man is reborn in the body of a newborn puppy. With each year of his life, memories gradually return to him. He realizes that he has not always been a good person. He remembers his wife, his son, and also circumstances of death.
He also realizes that his friend is guilty of his death. Willing to put everything in its place, he goes in search of a family, but he realizes that he does not know how to behave like a real dog.
The film is based on the novel of the same name by James Herbert. At the time of its release, it was coldly received by critics and viewers, but a year later it has got a status of the Best Fantasy Film of those years.
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
- Rating Kinopoisk – 7.9 / IMDB – 6.9
- Genre: Drama, comedy, adventure, family
- US production / 1993
- US fees: $41,833,324
- Director Duane Dunham
- Cast: Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, Don Amici, Robert Hayes, Kim Greist, Kevin Chevalia, Benj Tull, Veronica Lauren, Jean Smart, Don Alder
When the owners of the dogs Chance and Shadow and the cat Sassy needed to have a business trip, they decided to leave the pets under the supervision of friends. The animals were unpleasantly surprised by the temporary home. The panic prompted them to run away and go looking for their owners to make sure they were all right.
The road to San Francisco is not close, besides, the dogs and the cat will have to overcome the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Ahead of them is an amazing adventure that has revealed to pets the wonders and dangers of wildlife.
When creating the film, the authors worked on the mouths of animals that move in time with the words, which is rare for such films.
As Good As It Gets
- Rating IMDB – 7.7
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, comedy
- US production / 1997
- Budget: $50,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $314,178,011
- Directed by James L. Brooks
- Cast: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Shirley Knight, Yeardley Smith, Lupe Ontiveros, Randall Batinkoff, Jesse James
This film is ranked 140th on Empire magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Movies of All Time. This film is about writer Melvin Udell, who suffers from OCD and misanthropy, which makes many people dislike him.
The only one who is ready to endure Melvin is the waitress Carol, with whom he develops a warm but strange relationship. Once Melvin has to settle in his neighbor’s dog, which begins to change the writer for the better, forcing him to reconsider his previous views on life.
The role of the dog Verdell was played by six Brussels Griffon dogs at once: Timer, Octopus, Debbie, Billy, Parfait and Jill.
The Call of the Wild
- Rating IMDB – 6.7
- Genre: Drama, adventure, family
- Production USA, Canada / 2020
- Budget: $135,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $111,105,497
- Director Chris Sanders
- Cast: Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Kara Gee, Dan Stevens, Bradley Whitford, Jean Louisa Kelly, Michael Horse, Karen Gillan, Colin Woodell, Micah Fitzgerald
Buck was a mischievous and spoiled dog who enjoyed the love of his owners. His naivety played a trick on him when the attackers lured Buck out of the house and took him to Alaska. There he was lucky to meet a local postman who just needed a sled dog.
But Buck’s postal service came to an end when the telegraph arrived in the lands of the miners. He will again have to find his place in the world, going on a dangerous journey to places where no one has been before.
All of the dogs were created using CGI, and each of the dogs in Buck’s team has the features of the gnomes from the Disney cartoon Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Buck himself was created based on the appearance of the dog Buckley, the director’s pet.
K-9
- Rating IMDB – 6.0
- Genre: Action, comedy, crime
- US production / 1989
- Budget: $17,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $78,247,647
- Director Rod Daniel
- Cast: James Belushi, Coton, Mel Harris, Kevin Tai, Ed O’Neill, James Handy, Daniel Davis, Kotter Smith, John Snyder, Pruitt Taylor Vince
This is a cult comedy film about dog Jerry Lee and its partner, Detective Michael Dooley. Dooley is a well-known fighter against drug dealers, so he managed to make a lot of enemies for himself. Despite the threat of revenge, the detective refuses to work with a partner.
He makes an exception only for the dog Jerry Lee, who was specially trained to search for drugs. But the dog turned out to has a specific character: with his appearance, not only work, but also Dooley’s personal life received an unexpected development.
The role of Jerry Lee was played by a real police shepherd Coton, who is trained on looking for drugs.
Marley & Me
- Rating IMDB – 7.1
- Genre: Drama, comedy, family
- US production / 2008
- Budget: $60,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $255,743,093
- Directed by David Frankel
- Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Alan Arkin, Kathleen Turner, Nathan Gamble, Hayley Bennett, Ann Dowd, Clarke Peters, Finlay Jacobsen
John and Jenny Grogan are a young couple of journalists who have moved to warm Florida. They bought a large house, which, among other amenities, has a children’s room. But John and Jenny aren’t sure they’re ready to be parents. They get the idea that the first thing to do is to get a dog. So a Labrador puppy appeared in their house.
He received the name Marley. The mischievous puppy quickly established his own rules in the family, not wanting to succumb to training. Despite the problems he created, he always remained a beloved member of the family, to whose life Marley made a great contribution.
The film is based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by John Grogan. The puppy has got his name in honor of the Jamaican musician Bob Marley.
A Dog’s Way Home
- Rating IMDB – 6.7
- Genre: Melodrama, family, adventure
- Production USA, China / 2019
- Budget: $18,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $80,708,134
- Directed by Charles Martin Smith
- Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp, Jonah Hauer-King, Christopher Bauer, Barry Watson, Motell Jean Foster, Wes Studi, John Cassini
From early childhood, little Bella was taken care of by cats, with whom she lived in a barn. A little later, she met Lucas, who, despite all the prohibitions and threats of eviction, took the puppy with him.
She was his good friend and assistant in his work. And although Bella was a smart dog, she also loved games with other animals and sometimes chased them, which got her into trouble. She was separated from Lucas, but Bella is not going to give up. She will return to the owner and will not stop at any test that has fallen to her lot.
A Dog’s Way Home is an adaptation of the book by Bruce Cameron. When working on his work, the author studied the behavior of dogs that were far from their houses.
Red Dog
- Rating IMDB – 7.4
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, comedy, family, biography
- Production Australia, USA / 2011
- Budget: A$ 8 500 000
- Worldwide gross: $21,185,162
- Directed by Kriv Stenders
- Cast: Coco, Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, Roen Nicole, Luke Ford, Arthur Angel, John Batchelor, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Noah Taylor, Loen Carmen
In 1979, a guy named Thomas arrives in a mining town on a truck. In a local pub, he witnesses strange events: a sick dog lies on the floor, and one of the men pointed a gun at him. As it turns out later, the dog’s name is Red Dog, the locals love him very much and cannot see how the animal dies, but they do not dare to euthanize him. Thomas is told the incredible story of the Red Dog, who dramatically changed the life of a small settlement.
Red Dog did exist and was also known as the Tramp or Tully Ho. In memory of him, a monument was made in Dampier.
Shiloh
- Rating IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Drama, family
- US production / 1996
- US fees: $1,007,822
- Director Dale Rosenblum
- Cast: Scott Wilson, Blake Heron, Bonnie Bartlett, Rod Steiger, J. Madison Wright, Anne Dowd, Michael Moriarty, Shira Roth, Tory Wright, Montrose Hagins
Beagle dog escapes from his harsh master – hunter Judd Travers. On his way he meets young Marty. The teenager immediately liked the dog, he calls him Shiloh and takes him home. But Marty’s father is against the new pet, because he knows whose dog it is. Knowing that Shiloh won’t get anything good from Travers, the teenager decides to hide him, but no matter how hard he tries, he can’t hide the beagle for a long time.
The film is based on the book by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, which is based on a true story that took place in Friendly, West Virginia. The book was awarded the John Newberry Medal, the highest award for youth literature.
Belle and Sebastian (trilogy)
- Rating IMDB – 6.9
- Genre: Drama, adventure, family
- Production France / 2013
- Budget: €10 430 000
- Worldwide gross: $4,030
- Directed by Nicolas Vanier
- Cast: Felix Bossuet, Cheky Caryo, Margot Chatelier, Dimitri Storozh, Urbain Canselier, Andreas Pichman, Mehdi El Glaoui, Paloma Palma, Karin Adrover, Loïc Warr
Residents of the French town, that is hidden in the mountains – Saint-Martan – are forced to confront a mysterious beast attacking sheep. Only little Sebastian knows that not the Beast is hiding in the mountains, but a dog of the Pyrenean breed – Belle.
The beauty quickly won his heart, and they became inseparable friends who have unforgettable adventures ahead. Second and third parts continue the story of two friends who will have to go in search of the missing girl, and then completely confront the kidnapper who planned to steal the dog.
The trilogy is based on a series of books by Cécile Aubry. The first film adaptation was filmed in 1965, and the main role was played by the writer’s son, Mehdi Al Glawi.
Megan Leavey
- Rating IMDB – 7.1
- Genre: Action, drama, military, biography
- US production / 2017
- Worldwide gross: $14,510,490
- Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
- Cast: Kate Mara, Edie Falco, Common, Ramon Rodriguez, Tom Felton, Demson Idris, Shannon Edwards, Bradley Whitford, Alex Hafner, Will Patton
Megan Leavey’s life could not be called ideal. In the family and at work she was pursued by failures. One day, the girl decided to run away from her hometown and join the army. A difficult training course almost broke Leavey.
But she overcame the trials and was transferred to the cynological unit. She got a dog named Rex, who had a complex and aggressive character: not a single cynologist could tame him. But Leavey finds an approach to Rex. Ahead of them are hundreds of tasks that have made them real heroes.
The film tells the true story of the soldier Megan Leavey and the dog Rex. Leavey herself appears in the film in a cameo role.
Iron Will
- Rating IMDB – 6.6
- Genre: Adventure, drama
- US production / 1993
- US fees: $21,006,361
- Directed by Charles Heid
- Cast: Mackenzie Astin, Kevin Spacey, David Ogden Stiers, August Schellenberg, Brian Cox, George Gerdes, John Terry, Penelope Windust, Jeffrey Alan Chandler, Michael Laskin
After the death of his father, Will Stoneman was the only one who could take care of his mother and look after the house. His peers are planning to go to college, but Will has other plans. He wants to take part in a dog sled race across the endless cold terrain. This race will be a real test for Will, during which he will have to show courage and a strong spirit.
The film is partly inspired by the 1917 dog sled race. The prototypes for Stoneman were two participants in those races: Albert Campbell and Fred Hartman.
Air Bud
- Rating IMDB – 5.2
- Genre: Family, sports, drama, comedy
- Production USA, Canada / 1997
- Budget: $3,000,000
- US fees: $23,144,499
- Directed by Charles Martin Smith
- Cast: Michael Jeter, Kevin Zegers, Wendy McKenna, Bill Cobbs, Eric Christmas, Jay Brazeau, Nicolas Cavendish, Brendan Fletcher, Norman Browning, Steven E. Miller
The embittered clown Norm is not popular with the audience. They like the dog Buddy more, thanks to which Norm’s performances attract at least some attention. But the man doesn’t like it: he constantly breaks down on the dog, beats him.
One day, Buddy ran away and met 11-year-old Josh. The boy dreams of becoming a basketball player, but fails in it. Buddy not only inspires him to sport wins, but also begins to be good with a basketball himself. But then Norm appears again, demanding that the talented dog be returned to him.
During filming, there were no special effects, and Buddy needed only two stunt doubles.
Because of Winn-Dixie
- Rating IMDB – 6.4
- Genre: Drama, comedy, family
- US production / 2005
- Budget: $14,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $33 539 608
- Directed by Wayne Wang
- Cast: AnnaSophia Robb, Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Dave Matthews, Eva Marie Saint, Courtney Jaynes, Nick Price, Luke Benward, Elle Fanning, Marka Pry
Ten-year-old Opal is forced to move with her father to a provincial town in Florida. The locals are wary of newcomers, so Opal can’t find friends. The girl feels lonely, besides she is morally depressed due to the loss of her mother. At the local supermarket Opal encounters a stray dog.
She takes him with her, naming him after the place where she found him – Winn-Dixie. From that day on, Opal’s life changes dramatically: she finds her best friend in Winn-Dixie, who helped her build relationships with her father and new neighbors.
Winn-Dixie was played by two rare breed dogs, the Picardy Sheepdogs, who nearly died out during the first and second world wars.
Beethoven
- Rating IMDB – 5.7
- Genre: Drama, comedy, family
- US production / 1992
- Worldwide gross: $147,214,049
- Director Brian Levant
- Cast: Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones, Nicole Tom, Christopher Castile, Sarah Rose Carr, Oliver Platt, Stanley Tucci, David Duchovny, Patricia Heaton
After escaping from thieves, a St. Bernard puppy runs away from a pet store. He finds refuge in the Newtons’ house. Everyone in the family was happy about the new pet, except for the father, George, who didn’t want to get a dog. But he surrendered under the persuasion of his children and wife, so Beethoven settled in their house.
No matter how good the dog was, the head of the family always treated him with distrust and jealousy. He was played along by the cruel veterinarian Varnik, who wished to get Beethoven for the sake of his experiments. But the Newtons have no intention of handing over a member of their family to a “mad scientist”.
During filming, the dogs were kept safe: non-toxic make-up and puppets were used, and also human stuntmen in dog costumes were used as understudies.
Lassie
- Rating IMDB – 5.8
- Genre: Adventure, family
- US production / 1994
- US fees: $9,979,683
- Directed by Daniel Petrie
- Cast: Tom Guiry, Helen Slater, John Tenney, Brittany Boyd, Frederic Forrest, Richard Farnsworth, Michelle Williams, Joe Inscoe, Yvonne Erickson, Clayton Barclay Jones
The list of films about dogs would be incomplete without the classic film about Lassie. The Turner family had to leave Baltimore to move to a farm in Virginia. On the way to their new home, they witness a terrible accident. The driver of the van died, and only the collie, Lassie, survived.
The family takes the dog with them, not yet suspecting what a decisive role it will play in their future lives. Lassie will become a true friend to every member of the family and help them find their true calling.
The book about Lassie received wide popularity and was filmed several times. Lassie herself was one of three fictional dogs to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Firehouse Dog
- Rating IMDB – 5.5
- Genre: Action, comedy, family
- Production USA, Canada / 2006
- Worldwide gross: $17 299 151
- Directed by Todd Holland
- Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Bruce Greenwood, Dash Mihok, Steven Culp, Bill Nunn, Bree Turner, Scotch Ellis Loring, Maite Garcia, Teddy Sears, Claudette Mink
The life of Rex was everything a dog could dream of and more. He was a popular movie dog whose whims were instantly fulfilled. All changed when Rex got lost after an accident while filming. Wandering through unfamiliar streets, he finds refuge in a fire station whose workers are going through hard times.
The team of firefighters gladly accepts him, making him a kind of good luck talisman. Now Rex’s name is Dewey, and for the first time in his life he gets the chance to really become a hero, and not pretend to be one in front of the cameras.
The role of Rex was given to four dogs of the Irish Terrier breed – Frodo, Arwen, Rohan and Strider. All dogs are named after heroes and places from the Lord of the Rings books.
First Dog
- Rating IMDB – 5.1
- Genre: Drama, comedy, family
- US production / 2010
- Budget: $6,000,000
- Directed by Brian Michael Stoller
- Cast: Eric Roberts, Eliza Roberts, John-Paul Howard, Little Bear, Tom ‘Tiny’ Lister Jr., Priscilla Barnes, Paula Devic, Tim Peyton, Linda Bella, Paula Nelson
During the opening of a new school named after American President Barrett, the beloved dog of the country’s first person is lost. The disappearance confused the president’s entourage, but the press is silent about what happened in order to avoid a scandal.
A dog named Teddy meets Denny Milbright, a local orphan, whom he recognizes as a new owner. But Denny immediately recognized the president’s pet, but no one around him believes him. A strong sense of justice prompts the boy to travel all the way to Washington to bring Teddy back to the president.
Teddy the dog was performed by the same dog that appeared in the 2015 film The Amazing Wizard of Paws.
Max
- Rating IMDB – 6.7
- Genre: Drama, adventure, family, military
- US production / 2015
- Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $43,967,255
- Directed by Boaz Yakin
- Cast: Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins, Luke Kleintank, Lauren Graham, Robbie Amell, Jay Hernandez, Owen Harn, Joseph Julian Soria
Together with a partner, Max the shepherd dog, Kyle Wincott served in Afghanistan. But there a disaster happened: Kyle died, and Max was seriously injured, which put an end to his future career. Kyle’s family takes Max in, and the youngest son, Justin, is entrusted with raising the dog.
The guy is not happy with the new responsibility, and at first he and the dog didn’t like each other. Max will have to get used to a new peaceful life, and Justin will have to accept and love the dog, who will turn out to be much wiser than he seemed.
The role of Max was played by the dog Carlos, who had five understudies. The film also features the dog Loki, whose real name is Odin. In Norse mythology, Loki was the son of Odin.
Mon chien Stupide
- Rating IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Comedy
- Production France, Belgium / 2019
- Worldwide gross: $4,050,605
- Directed by Ivan Attal
- Cast: Yvan Attal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Eric Ruf, Pascal Arbillo, Ben Attal, Adele Wim, Pablo Vencal, Panagiotis Pascott, Oscar Kopp, Lola Marois-Bigard
By the age of 50, the writer Henri had long forgotten what success was. He can’t write something that would be popular with the audience. In his private life, not everything is going well for him: his wife devotes more time to antidepressants and wine, and adult children constantly ask for money for entertainment.
Henri has a chance for a new life when he finds a huge dog in his garden. Mastiff settles in Henri’s house, causing discontent of the rest of the family, but the man will never part with a good friend.
John Fante’s book “My Dog Stupid” was adapted by Ivan Attal, for whom the picture became a kind of continuation of the films “Ma femme est une actrice” and “Ils se marièrent et eurent beaucoup d’enfants”.
Dog Days
- Rating IMDB – 6.2
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, comedy
- US production / 2018
- Worldwide gross: $6,842,356
- Directed by Ken Marino
- Cast: Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Ann Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria, Rob Corddry, Tony Bell, John Bass, Michael Cassidy, Finn Wolfhard, Ron Cepas Jones
The plot of the film “Dog Days” revolves around several residents of Los Angeles. Each of them has his own life, hobbies, work, but all of them are united by a common love for dogs of different breeds.
For them, these are not just pets, but true friends who support in difficult times and help in making the most difficult decisions. But in this film, dogs also unite the destinies of various people who, under normal circumstances, could hardly meet.
The title of the film in both Russian and English means the period from July to early September, when the temperature reaches high values. The film is set in a hot summer.
Patrick
- Rating IMDB – 5.9
- Genre: Comedy
- Production UK, Belgium / 2018
- Budget: £6,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $3,369,468
- Directed by Mandy Fletcher
- Cast: Beatty Edmondson, Ed Skrein, Tom Bennett, Sam Fletcher, Rupert Holiday-Evans, Anne Queensberry, Jason Lewis, Katarzyna Kolecek, Patricia Potter, Ben Roddy
Sarah is a real loser. She has no luck with men, her parents treat her carelessly, and she has real chaos at work. The last thing she wanted at the moment was to take responsibility for the dog. But the grandmother bequeathed to her granddaughter her spoiled pug named Patrick.
The dog, like a hurricane, bursts into the life of a girl, adding new problems to her. But when the emotions subsided, Sarah noticed that with the advent of Patrick, her life began to change for the better.
The role of Sarah was played by Beatty Edmondson, daughter of actress Jennifer Saunders. Her mother also appears in the film dressed as a fairy, counting her drinks with a wand, a reference to the Fairy Godmother from Shrek 2, voiced by Saunders.
Alpha
- Rating IMDB – 6.7
- Genre: Action, drama, adventure
- Production USA, Canada, China / 2018
- Budget: $51,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $98,203,196
- Director Albert Hughes
- Cast: Cody Smith-McPhee, Johannes Høikur Johannesson, Marcin Kowalczyk, Jens Hulten, Natasha Malte, Spencer Bogert, Mercedes De La Zerda, Leonor Varela, Morgan Freeman
Events unfold 20 thousand years ago during the Upper Paleolithic. Young Keda goes on his first hunt with his fellow tribesmen. He is attacked by a bison, after which he falls into the abyss. The hunters decide that they have lost Keda, so they return home.
But the guy survived, although he was injured. Keda makes an attempt to find his way home. An unusual ally will help him in this. It’s a wolf, who received the name Alpha. The wolf has a chance to return to the pack, but he decides to accompany Keda on his difficult journey.
The ancient people in the film speak a fictitious language.
Alpha is the main letter of the Greek alphabet, which appeared in the 9th-8th centuries BC. Thus, during the life of Keda, such a word should not have been.
Benji
- Rating Kinopoisk – 6.5 / IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Drama, crime, family
- Production UAE, USA, Canada / 2017
- Director Brandon Camp
- Cast: Gabriel Bateman, Darby Camp, Keele Sanchez, Gralen Bryant Banks, Will Rothhaar, Angus Sampson, Jarod Haynes, Lacey Camp, Jim Gleason, Brady Permenter
Having lost his family, Benji became an orphan. He wanders aimlessly down the street and then meets the boy Carter. At first, Benji doesn’t trust him, but, realizing that Carter is kind, the dog opens up to the boy and follows him home.
However, Carter is unable to keep the dog because his mother is against the pet. Once again on the street, Benji doesn’t stop looking after the boy. He witnesses Carter being kidnapped by robbers and is the only one who can save him.
The original 1974 film was directed by Joe Camp. The remake was written and directed by his son Brandon Camp. During the filming, the process was observed by representatives of American Humane in order to prevent injuries to animals.
Oddball
- Rating IMDB – 6.4
- Genre: Adventure, family
- Production Australia / 2015
- Director Stuart McDonald
- Cast: Shane Jacobson, Sarah Snook, Alan Tudyk, Coco Jack Gillis, Richard Davies, Deborah Mailman, Tegan Higginbotham, Miko, Chip
A small town in southern Australia attracts tourists only thanks to one thing – the island named Penguin Country. But the place itself and the penguins inhabiting it are under threat due to the frequent raids of wild foxes.
Poultry farmer Swampy can’t remain indifferent to the plight of the penguins. He and his granddaughter decide to save the birds, and a mischievous shepherd dog named Oddball will help them in this.
Currently, the place referred to in the film is closed to the public due to the need to protect the local nature. This film was not the first mention of Oddball’s story. It was also told in the Australian show “Bondi Vet”.
Hotel for Dogs
- Rating IMDB – 5.5
- Genre: Comedy, family
- US production / 2008
- Budget: $35,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $117,283,065
- Directed by Thor Freudenthal
- Cast: Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Don Cheadle, Johnny Simmons, Kayla Pratt, Troy Gentile, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, Ajay Naidu, Eric Edelstein
A good children’s film about stray dogs that were adopted by orphans Andy and Bruce. Brother and sister know firsthand what loneliness and lack of care are, and therefore intend to warm lonely animals with their own warmth.
They find an abandoned building and decide that there will be a dog shelter. The case becomes large-scale, and the animals become too noisy. The situation is aggravated when the dogs break free and fall into the field of view of the flayers.
About 70 dogs took part in the filming. Most of them were vagrants. After filming, the pets were taken away by members of the film crew.
Fünf Freunde
- Rating IMDB – 5.6
- Genre: Crime, adventure, family
- Production Germany / 2012
- Worldwide gross: $7,823,413
- Directed by Mike Marzuk
- Cast: Valeria Eisenbart, Quirin Oettle, Justus Schlingensiepen, Neele-Marie Nickel, Coffey, Anja Kling, Michael Fitz, Armin Rohde, Johan von Bülow, Anatole Taubman
Inventor Kevin travels to a remote island to quietly do research. His daughter Georgina is very upset by the departure of her father, besides, now she and the dog Timmy will have to endure the company of annoying cousins – Dick, Julian and Anna.
At first, the guys could hardly bear each other, but the discovery of smugglers in the forest cave made them forget about the differences. Georgina’s father is in danger, and friends in the company of a faithful dog are going to save him.
The film is based on the Fab Five book series by Enid Blyton, which includes 21 books. The Frenchman Claude Voilier and the German woman Sarah Bosse tried to continue the series, but their books didn’t surpass the original.
Think Like a Dog
- Rating IMDB – 5.1
- Genre: Fantasy, drama, comedy, family
- Production USA, UK, China / 2020
- Worldwide gross: $1,239,498
- Directed by Jill Junger
- Cast: Gabriel Bateman, Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox, Todd Stashwick, Madison Horcher, Hou Minghao, Isaac Wang, Dillon Alf, Billy Johnston, Kunal Nayer
12-year-old Oliver is one of the smartest kids in school. That’s why he is not popular among his classmates. His only friend, Xiao, lives in China, but helps Oliver with his research.
Through one of his experiments, Oliver establishes a telepathic connection with his dog Henry. The dog turned out to be far from stupid, and his advices helped the boy solve many personal problems. A unique invention attracts too much attention. There are people who intend to deprive Oliver of his technology.
The film was shot in about 22 days, with another 10 days needed for filming in China. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the film was shown only in online cinemas.
