TAGGED AS: movies

(Photo by Consolidated Pictures Group/courtesy Everett Collection)
100 Best Dog Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer
Dogs: Man’s best friend, movie’s most endangered hero. Seriously, how many times have we gone into a dog movie hoping we didn’t just get suckered into another one where the dog dies in the end? But some of those movies make up the classics. And some of those movies where the dog lives happily after ever, with a nice house and a bowl of kibble and a robust 401k, are also classics. And some dog movies ain’t so classic, but people love ’em anyways, so we’re including those, and all the other good boys and girls of canine cinema for our guide to the 80 Best Dog Movies, ranked by Tomatometer!
First, we’ve retrieved all the golden films of yesteryear, like Old Yeller, Lassie, and The Incredible Journey. Then we rescued those nearly forgotten from the kennels of history, including Wendy and Lucy, Sounder, and Megan Leavey. After that, we introduced them to the tearjerkers of today, such as Hachi: A Dog’s Tale and Marley and Me.
Because dogs can take on new dimensions of ferocity and cuteness in animation, there’s plenty to see here in this list. Take the Disney classics (The Fox and the Hound, Bolt). Add a little stop-motion (Isle of Dogs, Frankenweenie). And, of course, bring along the ones that can solve mysteries (Scooby-Doo), hold a job (Wallace, he of Gromit), and pilot their house (Snoopy, Come Home).
The latest additions include Channing Tatum’s Dog, documentary Pick of the Litter, and Arthur the King, based on the 2017 bestseller Arthur: The Dog who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home. We’ve also included Rotten movies that fans have embraced, like Clifford the Big Red Dog, A Dog’s Purpose, Balto. Now, time to let all of them off the leash for the Best Dog Movies, ranked by Tomatometer!
98%
Critics Consensus: With plenty of pooches and a memorable villain (Cruella De Vil), this is one of Disney's most enduring, entertaining animated films.
Synopsis: In a Disney animation classic, Dalmatian Pongo is tired of his bachelor-dog life. He spies lovely Perdita and maneuvers his master, Roger, into meeting Perdita's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, Cate Bauer, Lisa Daniels
Directed By: Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi
97%
Critics Consensus: Pick of the Litter has all the fluffy adorableness audiences expect from a puppy documentary, along with a story that's as edifying as it is heartwarming.
Synopsis: Following five spirited puppies from the moment they're born through their quest to become guide dogs for the blind.
Directed By: Dana Nachman, Don Hardy
95%
Critics Consensus: Of a piece with much of director Laurie Anderson's idiosyncratic output, Heart of a Dog delves into weighty themes with lyrical, haunting grace.
Synopsis: Musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother and her beloved dog.
Starring: Jason Berg, Paul Davidson, Laurie Anderson, Sasha Grossman
Directed By: Laurie Anderson
93%
Critics Consensus: A fine example of writer-director-star Christopher Guest's gift for improv comedy, Best in Show boasts an appealingly quirky premise and a brilliantly talented cast.
Synopsis: The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Hitchcock, Parker Posey, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara
Directed By: Christopher Guest
93%
Critics Consensus: A beautifully-made retelling of the classic collie tale, one need not be a dog-lover to fall for Lassie.
Synopsis: Young Joe Carraclough (Jonathan Mason) and his family (Samantha Morton, John Lynch) love their faithful collie, Lassie. However, when Joe's father loses his job in... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Peter O'Toole, Samantha Morton, John Lynch, Peter Dinklage
Directed By: Charles Sturridge
91%
Critics Consensus: A nostalgic charmer, Lady and the Tramp's token sweetness is mighty but the songs and richly colored animation are technically superb and make for a memorable experience.
Synopsis: This Disney animated classic follows a pampered cocker spaniel named Lady whose comfortable life slips away once her owners have a baby. When, after some... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Peggy Lee, Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson
Directed By: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
93%
Critics Consensus: An endearing and exciting underdog story that benefits greatly from its stars (canine and human alike), Togo is a timeless tale, well-told.
Synopsis: Togo is the true story set in the winter of 1925 of champion dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog, Togo. Together, they... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Michael Greyeyes, Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl
Directed By: Ericson Core
90%
Critics Consensus: The beautifully stop-motion animated Isle of Dogs finds Wes Anderson at his detail-oriented best while telling one of the director's most winsomely charming stories.
Synopsis: When, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray
Directed By: Wes Anderson
90%
Critics Consensus: Bolt is a pleasant animated comedy that overcomes the story's familiarity with strong visuals and likable characters.
Synopsis: The days of canine superstar Bolt (John Travolta) are filled with danger and intrigue ... until the cameras stop rolling. But Bolt doesn't know that... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, Mark Walton
Directed By: Chris Williams, Byron Howard
90%
Critics Consensus: A beautifully animated diversion, My Dog Tulip is as comforting and delightful as cuddling with your own canine companion.
Synopsis: Despite a lack of affinity for dogs, a confirmed bachelor (Christopher Plummer) adopts an Alsatian and forms a close bond with his new companion.
Starring: Christopher Plummer, Isabella Rossellini, Lynn Redgrave, Peter Gerety
Directed By: Paul Fierlinger, Sandra Fierlinger
87%
Critics Consensus: Frankenweenie is an energetic stop-motion horror movie spoof with lovingly crafted visuals and a heartfelt, oddball story.
Synopsis: Young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) is a science nerd and outsider at school, but he does have one good friend: his dog, Sparky. But then,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan
Directed By: Tim Burton
87%
Critics Consensus: White God isn't an easy watch, but its soaring ambition and powerful acting -- human and canine alike -- make it well worth the effort.
Synopsis: Failing in his efforts to find his beloved owner (Zsófia Psotta), an abandoned dog eventually joins a canine revolt against their human abusers.
Starring: Zsófia Psotta, Sándor Zsótér, Szabolcs Thuróczy, Lili Monori
Directed By: Kornél Mundruczó
86%
Critics Consensus: James L. Brooks and Jack Nicholson, doing what they do best, combine smart dialogue and flawless acting to squeeze fresh entertainment value out of the romantic-comedy genre.
Synopsis: Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is an obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction who's rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear), but... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Directed By: James L. Brooks
85%
Critics Consensus: Michelle Williams gives a heartbreaking performance in Wendy and Lucy, a timely portrait of loneliness and struggle.
Synopsis: Wendy (Michelle Williams), a near-penniless drifter, is traveling to Alaska in search of work, and her only companion is her dog, Lucy. Already perilously close... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michelle Williams, Will Patton, Will Oldham, John Robinson
Directed By: Kelly Reichardt
86%
Critics Consensus: Megan Leavey honors its real-life subjects with a sensitive, uplifting drama whose honest emotion more than makes up for its mild approach to the story.
Synopsis: The true life story of Megan Leavey, a young Marine corporal whose unique discipline and bond with a military combat dog saved many lives during... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kate Mara, Edie Falco, Ramón Rodríguez, Tom Felton
Directed By: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
80%
Critics Consensus: Well-acted and beautifully filmed, Alpha offers a canine-assisted epic adventure that blends rousing action with an extra helping of canine charm.
Synopsis: Young Keda tries to survive alone in the wilderness after he's left for dead during his first hunt with his Cro-Magnon tribe. He soon forms... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Marcin Kowalczyk, Jens Hultén
Directed By: Albert Hughes
74%
Critics Consensus: For filmgoers predisposed to enjoy Todd Solondz' brand of black comedy, Wiener-Dog won't disappoint -- but those put off by previous works need not apply.
Synopsis: A cute dachshund puppy finds itself shuffled from one oddball owner to the next, including two couples, a veterinary nurse (Greta Gerwig), a screenwriter (Danny... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Keaton Nigel Cooke, Tracy Letts, Julie Delpy, Greta Gerwig
Directed By: Todd Solondz
73%
Critics Consensus: Featuring a stellar cast of marooned mutts, who deftly display emotion, tenderness, loyalty and resolve, Eight Below is a heartwarming and exhilarating adventure film.
Synopsis: The frozen wasteland of Antarctica serves as the background for a tale about the bonds of friendship and loyalty. Three members of a scientific expedition,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, Jason Biggs
Directed By: Frank Marshall
70%
Critics Consensus: Fast-paced, funny, and blessed with a talented voice cast, The Secret Life of Pets offers a beautifully animated, cheerfully undemanding family-friendly diversion.
Synopsis: Max (Louis C.K.) is a spoiled terrier who enjoys a comfortable life in a New York building until his owner adopts Duke, a giant and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Ellie Kemper
Directed By: Chris Renaud
100%
Critics Consensus: Old Yeller is an exemplary coming of age tale, packing an emotional wallop through smart pacing and a keen understanding of the elemental bonding between humanity and their furry best friends.
Synopsis: While Jim Coates (Fess Parker) is off on a cattle drive, his wife, Katie (Dorothy McGuire), and sons, Travis (Tommy Kirk) and Arliss (Kevin Corcoran),... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran
Directed By: Robert Stevenson
100%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: An 11-year-old boy strikes up a friendship with a scrappy dog which will one day become an Australian legend.
Starring: Jason Isaacs, Thomas Cocquerel, Levi Miller, Bryan Brown
Directed By: Kriv Stenders
94%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: An animal-trainer (Paul Winfield) tries to deprogram an actress's (Kristy McNichol) found dog, trained for racial attacks.
Starring: Kristy McNichol, Paul Winfield, Burl Ives
Directed By: Samuel Fuller
94%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In a small Yorkshire village during the Great Depression, financial pressures cause the parents of young Joe Carraclough to sell his beloved dog, Lassie, to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Roddy McDowall, Donald Crisp, Dame May Whitty, Edmund Gwenn
Directed By: Fred M. Wilcox
93%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Charlie Brown's (Chad Webber) beloved dog Snoopy (Bill Melendez) receives a letter from his original owner, Lila (Johanna Baer), who has been sick in the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Chad Webber, Robin Kohn, Stephen Shea, David Carey
Directed By: Bill Melendez
91%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The Morgans, a family of poor black sharecroppers in the Depression-plagued South, struggle to find enough to eat despite the help their hunting dog, Sounder.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Carmen Mathews
Directed By: Martin Ritt
90%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A bull terrier observes the behavior of an old lady, a young couple and a troubled boy and adapts his own behavior to suit each... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lise Delamare, Jean Mercure, Jacques Spiesser, Catherine Ferran
Directed By: Jérôme Boivin
89%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: An unlikely trio of pets -- aging bull terrier Bodger, spry Labrador retriever Luath, and Siamese cat Tao -- begin missing their owners after being... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emile Genest, John Drainie, Tommy Tweed, Sandra Scott
Directed By: Fletcher Markle
89%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: On their way to start a new life at a sheep farm in rural Virginia, the Turner family are halted by a wreck on the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Guiry, Helen Slater, Jon Tenney, Brittany Boyd
Directed By: Daniel Petrie
89%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Scooby (Scott Innes) and the rest of the Mystery, Inc., crew encounter creepy characters at a haunted house on a Louisiana bayou.
Starring: Scott Innes, Billy West, Mary Kay Bergman, Frank Welker
Directed By: Jim Stenstrum
87%
Critics Consensus: Disney's remake of The Incredible Journey successfully replicates, and in some ways improves upon, the simple charms of the original, with its cross-country animal odyssey sure to delight kids.
Synopsis: Before the Seavers leave for a family vacation to San Francisco, they drop off their pets -- Chance (Michael J. Fox), an adventurous American bulldog;... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Don Ameche, Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, Don Adler
Directed By: Duwayne Dunham
87%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A chicken farmer and his granddaughter train a dog to protect a penguin sanctuary from foxes.
Starring: Alan Tudyk, Sarah Snook, Coco Jack Gillies, Deborah Mailman
Directed By: Stuart McDonald
86%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Stray dog Benji doesn't need an owner, preferring to roam freely all over his friendly Texas town. He delights in hectoring the cat of a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Peter Breck, Cynthia Smith, Christopher Connelly, Patsy Garrett
Directed By: Joe Camp
84%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A dog unites a fractured community while searching for its master.
Starring: Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Noah Taylor
Directed By: Kriv Stenders
80%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A young boy befriends a half-breed wolf as he searches for his father, who has mysteriously gone missing during the gold rush.
Starring: Virginie Efira, Raphaël Personnaz, Dominique Pinon, Florian Wormser
Directed By: Alexandre Espigares
80%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A cat and a dog find perils and mates after straying from their farm in Japan. Narrated by Dudley Moore.
Starring: Dudley Moore, Kyôko Koizumi
Directed By: Masanori Hata
80%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When their van breaks down in a remote desert town, Scooby and the gang find themselves surrounded by aliens.
Starring: Jeff Bennett, Mary Kay Bergman, Mark Hamill, Jennifer Hale
Directed By: Jim Stenstrum
78%
Critics Consensus: An offbeat, eccentric black comedy, A Boy and His Dog features strong dialogue and an oddball vision of the future.
Synopsis: Vic is a libidinous 18-year-old traversing the post-apocalyptic desert of 2024, in the company of his telepathic dog, Blood. When the pair encounter an underground... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Don Johnson, Susanne Benton, Jason Robards, Alvy Moore
Directed By: L.Q. Jones
75%
Critics Consensus: The Fox and the Hound is a likeable, charming, unassuming effort that manages to transcend its thin, predictable plot.
Synopsis: After his mother is killed, Tod the fox (Mickey Rooney) is taken in by the kindly Widow Tweed (Jeanette Nolan). He soon befriends the neighbor's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Pearl Bailey, Jack Albertson
Directed By: Ted Berman, Richard Rich, Art Stevens
73%
Critics Consensus: Critics say My Dog Skip is cute, wholesome entertainment for the family. It's especially designed to appeal to your sentiment, but you might find yourself choking up just the same.
Synopsis: Who says best friends have to be human? Not Willie Morris (Frankie Muniz), who receives a talented terrier named Skip for his birthday. With Skip's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane, Luke Wilson, Kevin Bacon
Directed By: Jay Russell
73%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Young Marty Preston (Blake Heron) wants to keep a beagle dog that followed him home. He even names him Shiloh. Unfortunately, his father, Ray (Michael... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Moriarty, Rod Steiger, Blake Heron, Scott Wilson
Directed By: Dale Rosenbloom
72%
Critics Consensus: Although it never quite soars, DC League of Super-Pets is a more than satisfactory diversion for families in search of four-legged fun.
Synopsis: In "DC League of Super-Pets," Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis side by... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, Vanessa Bayer
Directed By: Jared Stern
71%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In this sequel, the hero of the first film, Jack Conroy, passes the torch to adventure-seeker Henry Casey (Scott Bairstow) -- along with his trustworthy... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Scott Bairstow, Charmaine Craig, Al Harrington, Anthony Ruivivar
Directed By: Ken Olin
70%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Young Marty (Zachary Browne) adopts Shiloh, a beagle mistreated by its former owner, local hunter and town drunk Judd (Scott Wilson). When Judd, on a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Moriarty, Scott Wilson, Zachary Browne, Ann Dowd
Directed By: Sandy Tung
68%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The son of dog-hating former mailman Wilson Daniels (Fred MacMurray), young Wilby (Tommy Kirk) accidentally becomes a canine himself when he stumbles upon an ancient... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Fred MacMurray, Jean Hagen, Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello
Directed By: Charles Barton
70%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A 12-year-old boy develops a telepathic connection with his dog after a middle-school science experiment goes awry.
Starring: Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox, Gabriel Bateman, Kunal Nayyar
Directed By: Gil Junger
68%
Critics Consensus: I Am Legend overcomes questionable special effects and succeeds largely on the strength of Will Smith's mesmerizing performance.
Synopsis: Robert Neville, a scientist, is a survivor of a man-made plague that transforms humans into mutants. He wanders alone through New York City, calling out... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok, Charlie Tahan
67%
Critics Consensus: Lady and the Tramp's cute dogs and likable cast work well enough, but the live-action update lacks some of the magic that made the original 1955 film such a delight.
Synopsis: In this heartwarming romantic adventure, a timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic, Lady, an overachieving, pampered American Cocker Spaniel house dog and Tramp, a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tessa Thompson, Sam Elliott, Justin Theroux, Janelle Monáe
Directed By: Charlie Bean
68%
Critics Consensus: This glossy edition of White Fang shaves off the rough-hewn edges that made Jack London's epic story so distinct, but gorgeous photography and heartfelt performances make this an appealing adventure.
Synopsis: This adaptation of Jack London's wilderness tale focuses on young Jack Conroy (Ethan Hawke), who has arrived in Alaska to search for a gold mine.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Klaus Maria Brandauer, Ethan Hawke, Seymour Cassel, Susan Hogan
Directed By: Randal Kleiser
67%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: His father's demise leaves young Will Stoneman (Mackenzie Astin) and his mother struggling to save their farm from financial ruin. When options run out, Will... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mackenzie Astin, Kevin Spacey, David Ogden Stiers, August Schellenberg
Directed By: Charlie Haid
70%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In this animation, Snitter (John Hurt) and Rowf (Christopher Benjamin) are two dogs trapped in a lab where they are repeatedly abused for testing purposes.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Hurt, Christopher Benjamin, James Bolam, Nigel Hawthorne
Directed By: Martin Rosen
67%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A scrappy puppy tries to rescue his siblings after evil Cruella kidnaps them.
Starring: Barry Bostwick, Jason Alexander, Martin Short, Bobby Lockwood
Directed By: Jim Kammerud, Brian Smith
70%
Critics Consensus: It's hard to deny Arthur the King's ability to tug at the heartstrings, although it may have been more effective if it had taken a subtler approach.
Synopsis: Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light (Mark Wahlberg) and a scrappy... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel, Simu Liu, Paul Guilfoyle
Directed By: Simon Cellan Jones
64%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A college professor forms a deep, lasting bond with a dog he unexpectedly discovers abandoned on a lonely train platform, transforming both their lives.
Starring: Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Jason Alexander
Directed By: Lasse Hallström
63%
Critics Consensus: It's undermined by distracting and unnecessary CGI, but this heartwarming Call of the Wild remains a classic story, affectionately retold.
Synopsis: Buck is a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life gets turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Cara Gee, Karen Gillan
Directed By: Christopher Sanders
63%
Critics Consensus: Pet owners should love it, but Marley and Me is only sporadically successful in wringing drama and laughs from its scenario.
Synopsis: Newlyweds John and Jenny Grogan leave behind snowy Michigan and move to Florida, where they buy their first home and find jobs at competing newspapers.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner
Directed By: David Frankel
63%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: While sailing off the shore of British Columbia, John McCormick (Bruce Davison), his son, Angus (Jesse Bradford), and the boy's Labrador retriever, Yellow, encounter severe... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jesse Bradford, Mimi Rogers, Bruce Davison, Tom Bower
Directed By: Phillip Borsos
63%
Critics Consensus: Dog Days is frivolous but frothy, sporting a forgettable cast of human characters but a lovable troupe of pooches that ought to delight viewers looking for a gentle affirmation of humanity's bond with their furry friends.
Synopsis: Elizabeth is a charming anchorwoman who seeks advice from her dog's therapist. Tara is a spunky barista who dreams of a life beyond the coffee... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria
Directed By: Ken Marino
60%
Critics Consensus: The Secret Life of Pets 2 doesn't teach its animated stars any new narrative tricks -- but for fans of the original, this funny, energetic sequel should still satisfy.
Synopsis: Explore the emotional lives of pets and the deep bond between them and the families that love them as Max, Gidget, Snowball and the rest... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, Harrison Ford, Eric Stonestreet
Directed By: Chris Renaud
56%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A dog comes to the rescue and helps heal a broken family when a boy and his sister stumble into serious danger.
Starring: Gabriel Bateman, Darby Camp, Jerod Haynes, Gralen Bryant Banks
Directed By: Brandon Camp
60%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Transported into a video game, the gang must survive different levels of difficulty to solve a mystery.
Starring: Joe Alaskey, Bob Bergen, Grey DeLisle, Scott Innes
Directed By: Jim Stenstrum
59%
Critics Consensus: A Dog's Way Home may not quite be a family-friendly animal drama fan's best friend, but this canine adventure is no less heartwarming for its familiarity.
Synopsis: As a puppy, Bella finds her way into the arms of Lucas, a young man who gives her a good home. When Bella becomes separated... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ashley Judd, Jonah Hauer-King, Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp
Directed By: Charles Martin Smith
60%
Critics Consensus: Cujo is artless work punctuated with moments of high canine gore and one wild Dee Wallace performance.
Synopsis: In this tale of a killer canine, man's best friend turns into his worst enemy. When sweet St. Bernard Cujo is bitten by a bat,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dee Wallace, Danny Pintauro, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Christopher Stone
Directed By: Lewis Teague
54%
Critics Consensus: Balto is a well-meaning adventure with spirited animation, but mushy sentimentality and bland characterization keeps it at paw's length from more sophisticated family fare.
Synopsis: In this animated feature, a deadly diphtheria epidemic strikes the remote town of Nome, Alaska. With the life-saving medicine located hundreds of miles away, the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Miriam Margolyes, Lola Bates-Campbell, Kevin Bacon, Bob Hoskins
Directed By: Simon Wells
56%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The Seaver family arrives at San Francisco International Airport to catch a flight to Canada. They check in their pets: Chance (Michael J. Fox), an... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robert Hays, Kim Greist, Veronica Lauren, Kevin Chevalia
Directed By: David R. Ellis
55%
Critics Consensus: An old-fashioned, if bland, adaptation of Kate DiCamillo's novel.
Synopsis: Abandoned by her mother years ago, Opal (AnnaSophia Robb), a 10-year-old girl, moves with her preacher father (Jeff Daniels) to a small town in Florida.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: AnnaSophia Robb, Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Eva Marie Saint
Directed By: Wayne Wang
57%
Critics Consensus: While a dull affair for parents, Clifford's Really Big Movie should charm its intended preschool audience.
Synopsis: A gigantic red dog (John Ritter) leaves home and becomes the main attraction at a traveling circus.
Starring: John Ritter, Wayne Brady, Jenna Elfman, John Goodman
Directed By: Robert Ramirez
55%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When a shipwreck separates the courageous dog Benji from his trainer (Frank Inn), the crafty canine must brave the dangers of an island wilderness alone.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Red Steagall, Nancy Francis, Mike Francis, Frank Inn
Directed By: Joe Camp
54%
Critics Consensus: Crudely effective and effectively crude, Strays is more amusing than hilarious, but this comedy's scattershot humor is partly offset by its surprisingly big heart.
Synopsis: They say a dog is a man's best friend, but what if the man is a total dirtbag? In that case, it might be time... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Will Forte, Isla Fisher
Directed By: Josh Greenbaum
52%
Critics Consensus: A great concept, but the movie fails to develop the characters and some of the jokes are hit-or-miss.
Synopsis: "Cats & Dogs" uncovers the truth about the high-tech, secret war being waged in neighborhoods everywhere that humans aren't even aware of: an eternal struggle... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Elizabeth Perkins, Miriam Margolyes, Alexander Pollock
Directed By: Lawrence Guterman
52%
Critics Consensus: Predictable and stodgy, Oliver & Company isn't one of Disney's best, though its colorful cast of characters may be enough to entertain young viewers looking for a little adventure.
Synopsis: In this animated update of the classic Oliver Twist tale, Oliver (Joey Lawrence) is an orphaned kitten taken in by a gang of thieving dogs,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joey Lawrence, Bette Midler, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin
Directed By: George Scribner
53%
Critics Consensus: A Dog's Journey is as sentimental as one might expect, but even cynical viewers may find their ability to resist shedding a tear stretched to the puppermost limit.
Synopsis: Bailey is living the good life on the Michigan farm of his boy, Ethan and Ethan's wife Hannah. He even has a new playmate: Ethan... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Josh Gad, Kathryn Prescott, Betty Gilpin, Dennis Quaid
Directed By: Gail Mancuso
50%
Critics Consensus: Tom Hanks makes Turner and Hooch more entertaining than it might look on paper, but ultimately, this is still a deeply silly comedy about a cop and a canine.
Synopsis: Det. Scott Turner (Tom Hanks) is an uptight, by-the-book police officer who hopes to leave his sleepy California town and work in the big city.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson, Reginald VelJohnson
Directed By: Roger Spottiswoode
50%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When successful lawyer Wilby Daniels (Dean Jones) returns from vacation to find his home has been burglarized, he decides to clean up the town by... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette, Tim Conway, Keenan Wynn
Directed By: Robert Stevenson
50%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Scooby and friends investigate creepy goings-on and a mystery involving a famous horror writer in a small Massachusetts town.
Starring: Mary Kay Bergman, Kimberly Brooks, Jennifer Hale, Scott Innes
Directed By: Jim Stenstrum
50%
Critics Consensus: Air Bud's wacky concept isn't entirely enough to fill a feature-length film, but this rather silly family-friendly outing is partly redeemed by its extremely charming title character.
Synopsis: Diffident in the wake of his father's death, high schooler Josh (Kevin Zegers) struggles to adapt to his new home in Washington state. That all... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Jeter, Kevin Zegers, Wendy Makkena, Bill Cobbs
Directed By: Charles Martin Smith
47%
Critics Consensus: Hotel for Dogs may appeal to children and dog lovers, but it's ultimately contrived, predictable, and simplistic.
Synopsis: After moving into a foster home that forbids pets, siblings Andi and Bruce must quickly find a home for their dog, Friday. The resourceful pair... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon
Directed By: Thor Freudenthal
47%
Critics Consensus: Rock Dog is amiable enough, but its second-tier animation and uninspired story add up to a movie whose meager charms are likely to escape all but the youngest and least demanding viewers.
Synopsis: For the Tibetan mastiffs on Snow Mountain, a dog's life has a simple riff -- guard a peaceful village of sheep from the thuggish wolf... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Luke Wilson, Suzy Eddie Izzard, J.K. Simmons, Lewis Black
Directed By: Ash Brannon
44%
Critics Consensus: Its heartstring-tugging overtures may be difficult for dog lovers to resist, but The Art of Racing in the Rain is sentimental and contrived.
Synopsis: Denny Swift is a Formula One race car driver who understands that the techniques needed on the racetrack can also be used to successfully navigate... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried, Kathy Baker, Martin Donovan
Directed By: Simon Curtis
45%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A mischievous puppy (Scott Wolf) joins a pack of strays when he leaves home to pursue a more exciting life.
Starring: Scott Wolf, Alyssa Milano, Chazz Palminteri, Jeff Bennett
Directed By: Darrell Rooney
46%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In this animated feature, canine casino owner Charlie (Burt Reynolds) is killed by gambler Carface (Vic Tayback), but returns to Earth from heaven thanks to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dom DeLuise, Burt Reynolds, Daryl Gilley, Candy Devine
Directed By: Don Bluth
43%
Critics Consensus: Not necessarily mangy but far from fetching, Dog Gone is a treacly melodrama that aims for Very Good Boy only to settle for simply tolerable.
Synopsis: After a young man and his beloved dog are separated on the Appalachian Trail, he and his father must begin a desperate search to find... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Johnny Berchtold, Rob Lowe, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Susan Gallagher
Directed By: Stephen Herek
41%
Critics Consensus: The aggressively wholesome Saving Shiloh has honorable intentions, but this simple story of a boy and his dog is overwhelmed by its heavy-handed approach.
Synopsis: Following a devastating accident, a youth (Jason Dolley) tries to help the former owner (Scott Wilson) of his beloved dog to mend his wicked ways.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jason Dolley, Ann Dowd, Scott Wilson, Gerald McRaney
Directed By: Sandy Tung
41%
Critics Consensus: Despite hitting some sweet notes, Beverly Hills Chihuahua is little more than disposable family entertainment.
Synopsis: Chloe, a pampered Chihuahua from Beverly Hills, gets an unwelcome taste of the real world when she gets lost in a tough part of Mexico.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Piper Perabo, Jamie Lee Curtis, Drew Barrymore, George Lopez
Directed By: Raja Gosnell
33%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Children engineer a romance between their single parents (Steve Guttenberg, Kathleen Quinlan), while his dog and her dolphin bond.
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Kathleen Quinlan, Arnold Vosloo, Dawn McMillan
Directed By: George Miller
44%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Young Christian Davis finds a stray dog named Pluto and decides to bring it home to his parents and two siblings. Christian's father, Mitch, works... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Cassidy, Sarah Lancaster, Connor Corum, Enoch Ellis
Directed By: Mitch Davis
40%
Critics Consensus: Neat performance from Glenn Close aside, 101 Dalmatians is a bland, pointless remake.
Synopsis: Fashion designer Anita and computer-game writer Roger meet, fall in love and marry along with their dalmatians Perdita and Pongo. The dogs' puppies are kidnapped... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson, Joan Plowright
Directed By: Stephen Herek
37%
Critics Consensus: Despite good work from its likable leads, the romantic comedy Must Love Dogs is too predictable.
Synopsis: Sarah (Diane Lane), is 40 and recently divorced. Believing Sarah needs to date more, her sister, Carol (Elizabeth Perkins), creates an online dating profile for... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins, Dermot Mulroney
Directed By: Gary David Goldberg
37%
Critics Consensus: Max has good intentions and tries to hearken back to classic family-friendly features, but its disjointed, manipulative plot overwhelms the efforts of its talented human and canine stars.
Synopsis: After U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott is killed in Afghanistan, Max, his highly trained service dog, is too traumatized to remain in service. Back in the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Josh Wiggins, Lauren Graham, Thomas Haden Church, Robbie Amell
Directed By: Boaz Yakin
36%
Critics Consensus: Firehouse Dog's cute premise is ruined with endless fart and poop jokes, and an overlong run time.
Synopsis: When a commercial shoot goes terribly wrong, Rex, Hollywood's biggest canine star, goes missing and is presumed dead by his handlers. Rex takes refuge in... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Bruce Greenwood, Dash Mihok, Steven Culp
Directed By: Todd Holland
38%
Critics Consensus: Its pugnacious protagonist is certainly adorable, but the thoroughly formulaic Patrick will only give paws to the most pup-obsessed film fans.
Synopsis: A teacher's life gets turned upside down when she inherits her grandmother's cute but mischievous pug.
Starring: Beattie Edmondson, Jennifer Saunders, Ed Skrein, Tom Bennett
Directed By: Mandie Fletcher
35%
Critics Consensus: This blonde joke is less funny the second time around.
Synopsis: Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) journeys to Washington, D.C., to have her say about animal rights, but is ignored by every politician she encounters and quickly... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Sally Field, Regina King, Jennifer Coolidge
Directed By: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
35%
Critics Consensus: A Dog's Purpose offers an awkward blend of sugary sentiment and canine suffering that tugs at animal-loving audiences' heartstrings with shameless abandon.
Synopsis: A devoted dog discovers the meaning of its own existence through the lives of the humans it teaches to laugh and love. Reincarnated as multiple... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Bryce Gheisar
Directed By: Lasse Hallström
34%
Critics Consensus: Benji: Off the Leash! features an adorable dog and a solid message about how to treat animals, but is too dull and amateurish a viewing experience to recommend for all but the youngest viewers.
Synopsis: Young Colby (Nick Whitaker) rescues a puppy from his abusive dog-breeding stepfather, Hatchett (Chris Kendrick). Under Colby's care, the canine grows up to be handsome... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nick Whitaker, Nate Bynum, Chris Kendrick, Randall Newsome
Directed By: Joe Camp
32%
Critics Consensus: Though Lillard is uncannily spot-on as Shaggy, Scooby Doo is a tired live-action update, filled with lame jokes.
Synopsis: Zoinks! Two years after a clash of egos forced Mystery Inc. to close its doors, Scooby-Doo and his clever crime-solving cohorts Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.),... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini
Directed By: Raja Gosnell
31%
Critics Consensus: Fluffy and incorrigible, Beethoven is a good boy who deserves a better movie.
Synopsis: When the family of George Newton (Charles Grodin) decides to adopt a cute St. Bernard puppy, the patriarch soon feels displaced by the dog. Before... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones, Nicholle Tom
Directed By: Brian Levant
31%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Workaholic Thomas P. Johnson (Matthew Modine) has achieved professional success at the expense of his family life, having neglected his wife, Carol (Nancy Travis), and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matthew Modine, Nancy Travis, Eric Stoltz, Max Pomeranc
Directed By: Carlo Carlei
36%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Michael Dooley (James Belushi) is a cop who likes to work alone. But while working a case to bust Lyman (Kevin Tighe), a notorious international... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Belushi, Mel Harris, Kevin Tighe, Ed O'Neill
Directed By: Rod Daniel
25%
Critics Consensus: This Disney retread has neither inspiration nor originality, but may please moviegoers under the age of ten.
Synopsis: Deputy District Attorney Dave Douglas (Tim Allen) is a workaholic and frequently puts his job before his family. After taking on a case involving an... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tim Allen, Robert Downey Jr., Danny Glover, Kristin Davis
Directed By: Brian Robbins
26%
Critics Consensus: A mediocre live-action children's movie, Snow Dogs is filled with cliched dialogue, tiresome pratfalls, and stale fish-out-of-water jokes.
Synopsis: When Miami dentist Ted Brooks (Cuba Gooding Jr.) finds out that he's been named in a will, he travels to Alaska to claim his inheritance.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., James Coburn, Sisqó, Nichelle Nichols
Directed By: Brian Levant
[movie_countdown index=100 id=c35e2144-e772-32d5-bb4a-400401d905fa




