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Famous dog movies according to IMDb ratings

There is something about dogs that nearly every human who has a beating heart feels emotionally attached to. It could be their legendary loyalty, those absolutely innocent eyes, the floppy ears, or just that silly yet guiltless grin. For ages immemorial, a dog has been a man’s best friend, and that is perhaps the reason some truly famous movies have a canine playing the lead or a pivotal role.

Dogs in movies are quite a common sight; they have been part of cinematic history for decades across continents from Japan to the US. Some of them have been so famous that they became bona fide stars in their own right. Take for instance, Spike from Old Yeller (1957). He played the titular role and remained one of the most well-known celebrity canines in the American entertainment industry till his death in 1962.

While fans remember some dogs from the fictional roles they played, such as Sounder in Sounder (1972), Samantha in I Am Legend (2007) or Enzo in The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019), many of the renowned movies starring dogs are about the real-world canines and their exploits. One may call them ‘dog biographies’ as they retell a heroic deed, an incredible display of endurance or a show of remarkable loyalty of a real doggo.

Remember Hachikō? The iconic Japanese Akita died waiting for his master for almost a decade at a Tokyo station unable to accept the fact that he had passed away. Then there are Togo and Balto, two legendary Siberian huskies whose valiant run of over 500 km saved the lives of sick children in a remote Alaskan town in a bitter winter of the early 20th century. These real-life hero dogs have been depicted on the screen in their respective eponymous movies, sometimes more than once and in different styles — both live-action and animation. Many of these movies are adaptations of novels where their selfless courage and society’s gratitude towards them were presented for the first time.

And since we have broached animation, how can anyone not know Scooby-Doo? The talking Great Dane who is perpetually hungry, mostly clumsy, and sometimes heroic is the main character in his eponymous animated franchise for over five decades. Similar is the enduring legacy of the Dalmatians in Walt Disney’s 101 Dalmatians franchise, which includes two animated films, three live-action films and two animated TV shows.

In 2024, a new dog superstar took the world by storm — dog actor Peggy, who played Mary Puppins, aka Dogpool, one of the many superhero variants of Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine. She was part of the promotional tour of the film, often enjoying the media attention while Ryan Reynolds held her in his arms, like in this video below.

Be it drama, action, romance, or even comedy, the best movies featuring memorable dogs often throw light on this near-eternal fact: humans need dogs for their survival and emotional growth, and no animal on Earth can show as fierce a loyalty as a dog. That is why they are the best friend for as long as they live. This is why people see dogs as important members of the family and not just some domesticated animal. And that is perhaps the reason there are so many famous movies featuring dogs that can be watched over and over again no matter the language, time or genre.

Though this list features the movies best known for the dog protagonist with an IMDb rating of 7.2 and above, many others have garnered lower ratings and are yet worth watching. These include Lassie Come Home (1943), The Fox and the Hound (1981), White Dog (1982), Marley & Me (2008) and Wendy and Lucy (2008).

Note: This list does not include remakes, where remakes have lower ratings than the originals.

Watch these best movies starring dogs that tell tales of courage, loyalty and perseverance

1
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Samantha in ‘I Am Legend’ (2007) 

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok

Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.2

Synopsis: Robert Neville (Smith) is a military scientist trying to survive in a dystopian New York City with his German Shepherd named Samantha, or Sam for short. They hunt together but must remain indoors after dark, as bloodthirsty mutants emerge from the shadows. Since Robert is immune to the virus that turned humans into nocturnal mutants, he tries to find a cure using his blood.

Trivia: Though loosely based on the 1954 novel of the same name by Richard Matheson, it is the first film that actually takes the title of the book. There are two other movies based on the novel, but none carry the same title — The Last Man on Earth (1964) and The Omega Man (1971). Sam in the film is played by two German Shepherds, Abbey and Kona. Smith reportedly wanted to adopt Abbey, but her owner was not ready to part with her.

2
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Old Yeller in ‘Old Yeller’ (1957)

Directed by: Robert Stevenson

Cast: Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Jeff York, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran, Beverly Washburn, Chuck Connors, Spike

Runtime: 1 hour 23 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.2

Synopsis: In 1860s Texas, a teenage Travis (Kirk) takes care of his family’s ranch with his mother Katie (McGuire) and younger brother Arliss (Corcoran) after his father Jim Coates (Parker) leaves for a cattle drive. A stray yellow Black Mouth Cur causes damage to their field, but the family accepts him after he saves Arliss from a bear attack. They name him Old Yeller (Spike), and he quickly becomes everyone’s favourite. However, a rabies outbreak threatens their bond.

Trivia: The film is based on the 1956 novel of the same name by Fred Gipson. Unlike his depiction as a Black Mouth Cur in the film, Spike was actually a yellow Mastiff/Labrador Retriever crossbreed. His other famous roles include King in The She Creature (1956), Patrasche in A Dog of Flanders (1960) and Pete in The Silent Call (1961).

3
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Bobby in ‘Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog’ (1961) 

Bobby in 'Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog' (1961) 

Directed by: Don Chaffey

Cast: Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alex Mackenzie, Kay Walsh

Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.2

Synopsis: The true story revolves around a beautiful Skye Terrier named Bobby, who regularly visits the grave of the kind shepherd Old Jock who took care of him once. But not having a master in 19th-century Edinburgh meant certain death for Bobby. However, a coffee house owner named Mr. Traill (Naismith) and the children of the city decide to save Bobby.

Trivia: American writer and teacher Eleanor Atkinson wrote the novel Greyfriars Bobby in 1912, bringing to wider attention the incident that happened in the 19th century. The film is based on that novel. A statue of Bobby stands at the George IV Bridge in Edinburgh, near the place where Old Jock is buried.

Image credit: IMDb

4
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Red Dog in ‘Red Dog’ (2011)

Directed by: Kriv Stenders

Cast: Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, John Batchelor, Koko

Runtime:

IMDb rating: 7.3

Synopsis: In Dampier, Western Australia, a disparate community of miners are united by their common friendship with a canine named Red Dog (Koko) who lost his master but continues to search for him across the outback.

Trivia: Though there are many books about the real-life Red Dog, the film is primarily based on the 2002 novel Red Dog by Louis de Bernières. It has had many sequels, but the original remains the most popular.

5
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The Dalmatians in ‘One Hundred and One Dalmatians’ (1961)

Directed by: Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Wolfgang Reitherman

Voice cast: Rod Taylor, Cate Bauer, Lisa Daniels, Betty Lou Gerson, J. Pat O’Malley, Martha Wentworth, Ben Wright, Dave Frankham, Lisa Davis

Runtime: 1 hour 19 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.3

Synopsis: The evil Cruella De Vil (Gerson) abducts a litter of 15 Dalmatian puppies to make a fur coat with their skin. The Dalmatian parents, Pongo (Taylor) and Perdita (Bauer and Daniels), must rescue their pups before it is too late.

Trivia: The animated classic is based on Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel of the same name. At the time of its release, the Walt Disney movie earned more than USD 10 million — the first animated film to do so. It gave birth to an eponymous franchise, whose most recent release was the live-action film Cruella (2021), starring Emma Stone in the role of the titular character.

6
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Sounder in ‘Sounder’ (1972) 

Sounder in 'Sounder' (1972) 

Directed by: Martin Ritt

Cast: Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Carmen Mathews, Taj Mahal

Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.5

Synopsis: During the Great Depression in rural Louisiana in 1933, a young African-American boy named David (Hooks) from a family of poor sharecroppers joins his father, Nathan (Winfield), to hunt for food with the help of their loyal dog, Sounder. When Nathan is jailed for stealing food and an injured Sounder runs away, David must persevere and support his family. Despite all odds, he never loses hope that both Sounder and his father will return to him.

Trivia: The film is based on the 1969 novel by William H. Armstrong. The dog, Sounder, is a central figure due to his fearlessness, loyalty and will to survive despite an injury. It is his traits that form the overarching theme reflected in the never-give-up attitude of the sharecropper family, especially the young boy. Sounder was phenomenally well-received upon release and received four Oscar nominations.

Image credit: IMDb

7
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All the dogs in ‘Best in Show’ (2000)

Directed by: Christopher Guest

Cast: Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, John Michael Higgins, Michael McKean, Michael Hitchcock, Parker Posey, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Lynch

Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.5

Synopsis: Five dogs and their respective owners compete in a dog show. However, the eccentricities and ruthlessness of the owners make the competition hilarious and intense.

Trivia: Best in Show is a mockumentary comedy movie and much of the film is improvised instead of actors mouthing off scripted dialogues.

8
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Enzo in ‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ (2019) 

Directed by: Simon Curtis

Cast: Kevin Costner, Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried, Kathy Baker, Martin Donovan, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Parker

Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.6

Synopsis: Enzo (Parker, with the voice of Costner) is a golden retriever who is dearly loved by aspiring Formula One race car driver Denny (Ventimiglia). Through Denny, his loving wife Eve (Seyfried) and their little daughter Zoë (Armstrong), Enzo experiences the joys and the sorrows of human life and learns how to navigate them. When his own time nears, all that Enzo wants is to be reborn as a human.

Trivia: The film is based on the 2008 novel of the same name by author Garth Stein. It marks the first voice acting role of Kevin Costner.

9
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Taro and Jiro in ‘Antarctica’ (1983) 

Taro and Jiro in 'Antarctica' (1983) 

Directed by: Koreyoshi Kurahara

Cast: Ken Takakura, Tsunehiko Watase, Eiji Okada, Masako Natsume

Runtime: 2 hours 23 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.6

Synopsis: A year after their 1958 Antarctica expedition, two Japanese scientists, meteorologist Kenjiro Ochi (Watase) and doctor Akira Ushioda (Takakura), return to the South Pole in hopes of rescuing their loyal sledge dogs who had to be left behind due to inclement weather. They discover that only two of the dogs, Taro and Jiro, could brave impossible odds for survival.

Trivia: The film is based on real events surrounding the 1958 incident, in which only two dogs, Taro and Jiro, survived. The film takes the liberty of explaining how the two may have survived, the truth behind which is not known. The American film Eight Below (2006) is a remake of Antarctica, but its story is set in 1993 and depicts slightly different events.

Image credit: © 1983 FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK INC/GAKKEN/KURAHARA PRODUCTIONS ©TOHO CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved/IMDb

10
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Scooby in ‘Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island’ (1998) 

Directed by: Jim Stenstrum

Voice cast: Scott Innes, Billy West, Mary Kay Bergman, Frank Welker, B. J. Ward

Runtime: 1 hour 17 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.7

Synopsis: The beloved Mystery Gang, comprising Scooby-Doo (Innes), Shaggy (West), Velma (Ward), Daphne (Bergman) and Fred (Welker), reunite for a road trip to find real ghosts and monsters instead of the usual fakes they had been exposing for long. They reach a haunted house on a Louisiana bayou named Moonscar Island, where lies a secret far more terrifying than they can imagine.

Trivia: Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is one of the earliest productions in the franchise in which the gang goes up against real supernatural creatures such as zombies, ghosts and werecats instead of cunning con men trying to scare people away to fulfil nefarious yet hilarious designs.

11
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Verdell in ‘As Good as It Gets’ (1997)

Directed by: James L. Brooks

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Shirley Knight

Runtime: 2 hours 19 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.7

Synopsis: Melvin Udall (Nicholson) is a writer of romantic fiction, but is also a bigot, misanthrope, irritable and psychoneurotic. He lives in New York City, where his neighbour is a gay artist named Simon (Kinnear) and the only one who can tolerate him is a waitress named Carol Connelly (Hunt). When Melvin is forced to look after Simon’s dog, Verdell, he senses a change in his heart and discovers that not only can he be a better person but he also has feelings for Carol.

Trivia: Verdell is played by dog actor Jill, a Brussels Griffon. She is integral to the movie as Nicholson’s initially irritable character undergoes a tremendous positive change when he starts to take care of her. Jill was also seen in Carolina (2003). The film received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Jack Nicholson won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role while Hunt won for Best Actress in a Leading Role. To date, As Good As It Gets is the last film to have won both of the lead acting Oscars. 

12
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Chief in ‘Isle of Dogs’ (2018) 

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Voice cast: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson, Kunichi Nomura, Tilda Swinton, Ken Watanabe, Akira Ito, Greta Gerwig, Akira Takayama, Frances McDormand, F. Murray Abraham, Yojiro Noda

Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.8

Synopsis: When Mayor Kenji Kobayashi (Nomura) of Megasaki banishes all dogs to a garbage dump called Trash Island, his 12-year-old nephew, Atari (Rankin), decides to rescue his bodyguard dog, Spots (Schreiber). Though he arrives alone on the island, Atari befriends a group of exiled dogs led by Chief (Cranston), and together, they embark on an epic adventure.

Trivia: Anderson drew inspiration for Isle of Dogs from the works of director Akira Kurosawa and anime movie legend Hayao Miyazaki as well as the animated film The Plague Dogs (1982) and live-action 101 Dalmatians (1996).

Following its release, Isle of Dogs was received with worldwide critical acclaim. Anderson won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival for the film, which was also nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the Academy Awards.

13
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Togo in ‘Togo’ (2019) 

Directed by: Ericson Core

Cast: Willem Dafoe, Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl, Michael Gaston

Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes

IMDb rating: 7.9

Synopsis: In the harsh winter in Alaska in 1925, dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala and his lead sledge dog, Togo, embark on a dangerous mission to bring diphtheria antitoxin to the small town of Nome to protect its residents from an epidemic.

Trivia: The film is considered more historically accurate than any that tells the story of the historic 1925 serum run to Nome. The run also included another famous dog, Balto, who was immortalised by the media of the time for finishing the run.

A 1995 part-animated and part-live-action film on him made Balto a household name in the late 20th century. But while Balto, whose pack was driven by Gunnar Kaasen, was credited for saving the children, he ran only the last leg of the mission, which was about 89 km and was much shorter and less difficult than the 420 km run by Togo.

Interestingly, both Balto and Togo belonged to Seppala.

14
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Dogpool in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024) 

Directed by: Shawn Levy

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Leslie Uggams, Aaron Stanford, Matthew Macfadyen

Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes

IMDb rating: 8

Synopsis: Deadpool (Reynolds) must find the right Wolverine (Jackman) from across time and space to save his dying world. In the process, both superheroes are drawn into a conspiracy involving the telekinetic and telepathic Cassandra Nova (Corrin) and Time Variance Authority (TVA) agent Mr. Paradox (Macfadyen).

Trivia: Peggy, who is a pug crossed with a Chinese Crested, was labelled ‘Britain’s Ugliest Dog’ in 2023. But that brought her to the attention of Reynolds who said, “I was a huge proponent for her [to be in the movie] because she feels like the animal manifestation of Wade Wilson.”

As for Deadpool & Wolverine, it has been a record-breaking juggernaut at the worldwide box office as well as the careers of both Reynolds and Jackman. 

15
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Hachikō in ‘Hachikō Monogatari’ (1987) 

Directed by: Seijirō Kōyama

Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Kaoru Yachigusa, Mako Ishino

Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes

IMDb rating: 8

Synopsis: Hidesaburō Ueno (Nakadai), an agricultural professor in Japan of the 1920s, has a pet Akita who he has named Hachikō, or Hachi for short. Every day, Ueno takes the train at Shibuya Station to his work and back. The ever-so-loyal Hachi always waits for Ueno in the evening at the station to greet him upon his return. One day, Ueno passes away in his class. To the surprise of everyone in Japan, a distraught Hachi continues to wait for Ueno every day for the next nine years at Shibuya Station.

Trivia: Hachikō Monogatari is based on the real-life story of a dog of the same name who lived from 1923 to 1935. Hachikō is remembered for his ultimate loyalty throughout Japan and beyond. His bronze statue is installed outside Tokyo’s Shibuya Station and is one of the city’s most famous attractions. The Japanese film was remade in Hollywood as Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009), starring Richard Gere.

16
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Flike in ‘Umberto D.’ (1952) 

Directed by: Vittorio De Sica

Cast: Carlo Battisti, Maria-Pia Casilio, Lina Gennari

Runtime: 1 hour 29 minutes

IMDb rating: 8.2

Synopsis: Umberto Domenico Ferrari (Battisti) is an elderly man living off meagerly government pensions in a post-World War II Rome. His only companion is his dog, Flike. He lives in a boarding house, but his rent is long overdue. Umberto’s landlady, Antonia Belloni (Gennari), demands 15,000 lire in rent. Unable to pay and unsure of his own future, he tries to find a way to find Flike a safe refuge.

Trivia: Battisti was a Professor of Linguistics at the Università degli Studi di Firenze and Umberto D. is his only film. However, he wasn’t the only non-actor in the film. In fact, Vittorio De Sica, one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century, hired people without any acting experience to play most of the major characters in this neorealist classic, including the role of the sympathetic maid, Maria (played by Casilio). The film was remade in France as A Man and His Dog in 2008.

(Hero and Featured images: IMDb)


Note:

The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is the highest-ranked dog movie according to IMDb?

The highest-rated dog movie, according to IMDb, is Vittorio De Sica’s ‘Umberto D.’ (1952). It has a rating of 8.2 stars.

Which is the best dog movie based on a true story?

‘Togo’ (2019) is the best dog movie based on a true story. It tells the story of its titular dog whose heroic run of over 400 km in inclement weather in the frigid Alaska helped save the lives of sick children in a small town.

Which is the best dog movie available to watch on Netflix?

‘I Am Legend’ (2007) is perhaps the best dog movie available on Netflix. It has a rating of 7.2 stars on IMDb.

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