The Five Best Dog Movies

The five greatest films that explored the special bond between man and his "best friend"

Who said Dogs can't drive? 'My Dog Skip' (CREDIT: Warner Bros.)

by Jack Linsdell

There are estimated to be (roughly-speaking) half a billion dogs across the world, with 42.5 million households in the US owning at least one of them. That's a lot of dogs. Anyway, dogs are the most popular type of pet for people to have. But why? Well, dogs are truly "man's best friend", beings of love that don't see gender, skin colour, race, sexuality, disability or someone with a "dark past", all the barriers we humans construct to alienate people. Dogs love whoever unconditionally, which is a big reason why we in turn love them so much. We also can't forget their key roles aiding society too (mountain rescue, guide dogs, finding drugs etc.). So, it's with no surprise that Hollywood has tried capturing this special bond between man and dog for many years on the big screen. Sure, some our better than others, but most "dog films" share the unique ability to be far more moving and relatable to dog owners (like myself) than those who aren't. So, without further ado, here are the five best "dog movies"...

TURNER & HOOCH  (1989)

Tom Hanks in 'Turner & Hooch' (CREDIT: Disney)

Roger Spottiswoode's "Lethal Weapon but with a dog" flick successfully capitalised on society's love of buddy cop movies and dogs and put it all into one heart-warming package. Starring a fresh-faced (and very young) Tom Hanks the year after his Big breakthrough (you're welcome), Turner & Hooch is the sort of light, character-driven movie that has now virtually become extinct. Hanks stars as Detective Turner, whose life is disrupted when a brutish Dog (Hooch) comes into his life. Hooch is the only witness to Turner's murder case and his distress over his owner's disappearance only creates more problems for Turner. The bond between "man and dog" is as emotionally fulfilling here as the likes of "girl and robot" (Bumblebee) and "women and Gorilla" (King Kong). The film works as perfectly charming, kid-friendly, Sunday afternoon entertainment. Oh, and it's one of the best dog flicks too. 

MY DOG SKIP (2000)

Frankie Muniz in 'My Dog Skip' (CREDIT: Warner Bros.)

Jay Russell's My Dog Skip (joining Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man and Thomas Carter's Coach Carter as movies where the director's last name feels like a deliberate marketing joke) about the bond between a young outcast boy and his Jack Russell, is one of a few movies to make me cry (repeatedly) every time I watch it. That's partly because I have a Jack Russell too. But, I digress. This compelling "based on true story" coming-of-age drama charts the childhood of American Willie Norris, whose not just contending with being an isolated and bullied only child, but one growing up during the Second World War too. The screenplay penned by Gail Gilchriest (from a story by Norris himself) tells a poignant and relatable story, one which balances harsh reality with childish fantasy. Diane Lane and Kevin Bacon provide excellent support as Norris' parents, not to mention to scene-stealing dog Enzo (from Fraser fame). 

MARLEY & ME (2008)

Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston in 'Marley & Me' (CREDIT: Fox/Disney)

Marley & Me is the kind of star-driven comedy vehicle we no longer get. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, two of the most underrated comedy "stars", just after their career peak movies (The Break-Up and The Wedding Crashers respectively), this David Frankel-directed flick broke the Christmas day box office record domestically ($14 million) on it's way to a whopping $247 million worldwide. This is one of the more lighter-hearted movies on this list and an utter delight from start to finish. Following a happily married couple whose life turns upside down when they adopt a free-spirited pup, Marley & Me ends up highlighting how significant dogs can be in teaching us things we never would have learned, and the importance of having them around when bringing up young children. This is all wrapped in a funny and heartfelt comedy, which bundles along on the charm and chemistry of Aniston and Wilson. Oh, and because it's technically set at Christmas, you may want to save this one for the festive holiday. 

DOG DAYS (2018)

Vanessa Hudgens in 'Dogs Days' (CREDIT: LD Entertainment)

An LD Entertainment release originally (it only grossed $7.6 million globally) before finding a home on Netflix, Ken Marino's romantic comedy Dog Days is one of my favourite hidden gems. Best described as "Love Actually but with dogs", this ensemble flick is both a love letter to dogs and a poignant drama about adult relationships too. Starring (amongst others) Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, John Bass and Thomas Lennon, Dog Days makes for an excellent piece of family friendly entertainment, providing many laughs and provoking many tears too. It's characters are really well developed, and the intertwined narrative in the style of Love Actually creates an element of sophistication too. Following the lives of various dogs and their owners living around Los Angeles, Dog Days takes a deep dive into the relationship between dogs and their owners, and how they can in turn impact human-to-human relationships too. If you have Netflix this is well worth a watch. 

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN (2019)

Milo Ventimiglia in 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' (CREDIT: Fox/Disney)

Directed by Simon Curtis and penned by Mark Bomback (whose Unstoppable is still a guilty pleasure), The Art of Racing in the Rain was by far one of 2019's best movies that hardly anyone saw ($33 million worldwide). Sadly becoming one of Fox's last movies before their Disney take over, this tear-jerking drama, based on Garth Stein's book of the same name, is not an easy watch, especially if you are a dog owner. But, it's a caulking movie and an excellent example of masterful storytelling. Following the life of a struggling F1 racing driver as he navigates life, marriage and parenthood, the 2019 flick is told through the perspective of his Dog Enzo (narrated by Kevin Costner). If you're a dog owner, the unique examinations it offers about what our dogs think and feel about us and what's going on in our lives is certainly eye-opening and fascinating subtext. Also starring Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried and with a killer score courtesy of Dustin O'Halloran (The Hate U Give) and Volker Bertelmann, this is a must-see movie.