On screen, a dog can be an adventure hero, a loyal friend, a police officer’s partner or even the narrator. We have gathered 12 films in which a dog is the main character, from Lady and the Tramp (1955) to Dog (2022). There are animated films and adventures for the whole family, as well as comedies and dramas aimed at older viewers; three of the stories are based on real events. Each entry gives the year, director, runtime and a reason to watch. No spoilers: only the setup. The facts come from Wikipedia pages checked on October 21, 2026. We do not list age ratings: they differ between countries and services, so check the rating on the film’s page before watching.
Lady and the Tramp
Official trailer · “Lady and the Tramp” (1955)Lady and the Tramp is a classic Disney animated film about Lady, a pampered cocker spaniel who grows up, goes through changes in her family and falls in love with a stray dog called Tramp. It is based on a 1945 story by Ward Greene, and the songs were written by Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke. It was the first animated film made in the CinemaScope widescreen format, and in 2023 it was added to the US National Film Registry. Why watch: a Disney classic for a family evening.
Turner & Hooch
Turner & Hooch is a buddy cop comedy in which one of the partners is a dog. Fastidious detective Scott Turner (Tom Hanks) is getting ready for a transfer to Sacramento but has to take charge of Hooch, a huge Dogue de Bordeaux and the only witness to a murder. Hooch was played by a dog named Beasley. According to Wikipedia, the reviews were mixed. Why watch: a comedy for older viewers about a neat freak and an unruly dog.
Bolt
Official trailer · “Bolt” (2008)Bolt is a Walt Disney Animation Studios film about a white shepherd dog named Bolt. He has spent his whole life starring in a TV series and sincerely believes he has superpowers. In the original version he is voiced by John Travolta, and his owner Penny by Miley Cyrus. The film was nominated for the Oscar and the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, and Wikipedia regards it as one of the films that started the studio’s revival. It was first shown in Ukraine on December 18, 2008. Why watch: an adventure for children about a dog discovering the real world.
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale
Official trailer · “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” (2009)Hachi: A Dog’s Tale is the American version of a 1987 Japanese film that told the true story of Hachikō, an Akita who lived in Japan from 1923 to 1935. Here the action moves to present-day America: Professor Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) finds a lost puppy at a railway station and takes it home. The film was not released in US cinemas: Sony put it straight out on DVD. Why watch: a quiet drama about a dog’s attachment to a person, based on a true story.
Red Dog
Official trailer · “Red Dog” (2011)Red Dog is an Australian family comedy-drama based on the true story of a dog nicknamed Red Dog. In the 1970s this kelpie cross roamed the Pilbara region of Western Australia and made friends among the workers of the town of Dampier. The screenplay draws on Louis de Bernières’s 2002 novel, and the title role was played by a dog named Koko. The film won the Australian AACTA Award for Best Film. Why watch: the true story of a dog known all over the region.
Frankenweenie
Official trailer · “Frankenweenie” (2012)Frankenweenie is Tim Burton’s black-and-white stop-motion animated film, a feature-length version of his own 1984 short. A boy named Victor Frankenstein uses electricity to bring his dog Sparky back to life, but his classmates find out and start experiments of their own. The film is full of references to Frankenstein and old horror movies, and it was nominated for the Oscar, the Golden Globe and the BAFTA. Why watch: a gothic fairy tale for children who don’t mind something a little spooky.
A Dog’s Purpose
Official trailer · “A Dog’s Purpose” (2017)A Dog’s Purpose is based on W. Bruce Cameron’s 2010 novel. A dog is reborn several times, lives lives with different people and tries to understand why he exists; in the original version he is voiced by Josh Gad. According to Wikipedia, the film deals with loyalty, grief and dysfunctional families, and the reviews were mixed. Why watch: a family drama with humor, told by the dog himself.
Isle of Dogs
Official trailer · “Isle of Dogs” (2018)Isle of Dogs is a stop-motion animated film by Wes Anderson. In the fictional Japanese city of Megasaki, the mayor uses an outbreak of dog flu to banish all dogs to Trash Island, and 12-year-old Atari goes there to look for his dog, Spots. The film premiered as the opening film of the 2018 Berlin International Film Festival, where Anderson won the Silver Bear for Best Director. Why watch: animation aimed more at teenagers and adults, in Anderson’s recognizable style.
Togo
Official trailer · “Togo” (2019)Togo is a Disney+ historical adventure film about the real Great Race of Mercy of 1925: during a diphtheria epidemic, dog sled teams carried diphtheria antitoxin to the town of Nome, Alaska. Musher Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) and his Siberian husky Togo set out on this journey in harsh conditions, while the film also shows how a weak and unruly puppy grew into a sled dog. Why watch: a true story about a dog and a man in the Alaskan winter.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Official trailer · “The Art of Racing in the Rain” (2019)The Art of Racing in the Rain is based on Garth Stein’s 2008 novel. The story is told by Enzo, a golden retriever named after Enzo Ferrari: he lives with race car driver Denny Swift (Milo Ventimiglia) and follows his career and family. In the original version Enzo speaks with Kevin Costner’s voice, and Denny’s sweetheart is played by Amanda Seyfried. Why watch: a drama for those who love both dogs and motor racing.
The Call of the Wild
Official trailer · “The Call of the Wild” (2020)The Call of the Wild is an adaptation of Jack London’s 1903 novel. During the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s, Buck, a big good-natured dog, is stolen from his home in California and sent to the Yukon, where he befriends an old wanderer, John Thornton (Harrison Ford). Buck was created with computer graphics: according to Wikipedia, critics praised Ford and the score but faulted the unnatural look of the animated animals. Why watch: an adventure in the far North for the whole family.
Dog
Official trailer · “Dog” (2022)Dog is the directorial debut of Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin, a comedy-drama road movie. Former Army Ranger Briggs (Tatum) has to drive Lulu, a Belgian Malinois and the service dog of his fallen comrade, to the soldier’s funeral, and the trip down the Pacific coast turns out to be anything but easy, because Lulu has a difficult temperament. According to Wikipedia, critics generally praised the direction and Tatum’s performance. Why watch: a road movie for adults about a veteran and a headstrong dog.
How we chose
We took films that are already out, have detailed Wikipedia pages and in which a dog is the main character or one of the two leads. There are animated films, family adventures, comedies and dramas; three of the stories are based on real events: Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, Red Dog and Togo. This is not a ranking: we do not invent our own ratings or compare box office, and we take English titles from English Wikipedia.
What to choose by mood
| What you want | What to pick |
|---|---|
| An animated film for the whole family | Lady and the Tramp, Bolt |
| A little spooky, but kind-hearted | Frankenweenie |
| Animation for teenagers and adults | Isle of Dogs |
| Adventures in the North | Togo, The Call of the Wild |
| True stories | Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, Red Dog, Togo |
| Comedy | Turner & Hooch, Dog |
| A story told by the dog himself | A Dog’s Purpose, The Art of Racing in the Rain |
Craving speed after The Art of Racing in the Rain? Take a look at our selection of racing movies, and you will find adventures in harsh wilderness among our survival movies.
Tip. If you are watching with children, start with Bolt or Lady and the Tramp. Turner & Hooch has a crime storyline, and Dog is about a war veteran, so check the age rating first before showing them to children.
Frequently asked questions
Which dog movies are suitable for children?
The animated films Lady and the Tramp, Bolt and Frankenweenie (which is black-and-white and a little spooky), as well as the adventures Togo and The Call of the Wild. Check the age rating on the service before watching.
Which of these films are based on true stories?
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (the American version of a Japanese film about Hachikō, an Akita who lived from 1923 to 1935), Red Dog (a wandering dog from 1970s Western Australia) and Togo (the 1925 Great Race of Mercy in Alaska).
In which films does a dog tell the story?
In A Dog’s Purpose and The Art of Racing in the Rain. In the original versions, the dog is voiced by Josh Gad in the first and by Kevin Costner in the second.
Where can I watch these films?
Streaming catalogs change, so we do not list them. Togo was first released on Disney+; for the rest, check the page of the film you want on a service available to you.
Sources
- Lady and the Tramp (Wikipedia)
- Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (Wikipedia)
- Togo (film) (Wikipedia)
- Isle of Dogs (film) (Wikipedia)
- The Call of the Wild (2020 film) (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against Wikipedia on October 21, 2026.
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