The Best Dog Movies: ‘101 Dalmatians,’ ‘Old Yeller,’ ‘Best in Show,’ and More

Dog. Man’s best friend, and also his greatest muse.

Since the beginning of film history, humans have found a way to put a puppies and canines on screen. One of the very first British movies was the 1905 silent short “Rescued by Rover,” about a Collie leading her master to their kidnapped baby. That film launched the career of Blair, the first canine onscreen actor, and defined how dogs would be depicted in cinema for centuries: loyal, smart, resourceful, and lovable.

More from IndieWire

• Netflix's Paris Theater Is Now the Biggest Dolby Atmos Cinema in Manhattan

• Charlize Theron Says She'll Never 'Gain 40 Pounds' for a Role Again: 'You Can't Take It Off'

• 'Rebel Moon' Teaser: Zack Snyder's Almost-'Star Wars' Saga Begins with a Civil War

From there, canine actors began appearing at a steady clip throughout film history. They appeared in comedies like Charlie Chaplin’s “A Dog’s Life” and teary dramas like “Old Yeller.” And kid-friendly companies like Disney churned out film after film centering dogs, like “Homeward Bound” and the “Air Bud” franchise. The dog movie is maybe not the most well-respected genre in the history of film, but it’s hard to deny how strong a reaction it provokes from audiences: anyone who didn’t cry watching “Marley and Me” or other sad dog classics is made of pure stone.

The appeal of the dog movie goes further than cute and fluffy puppies — although that’s certainly a bonus. The pure, uncomplicated love people have for their pet pooches makes them perfect vessels to explore human foibles and struggles. At their best, dog movies aren’t entirely about dogs at all; instead, they’re saying something about humans, and our relationships with the world around us.

In honor of “Strays,” the new raunchy twist on the lost dog movie formula featuring the voices of Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx, IndieWire gathered together the best dog-themed movies in cinematic history. Read on for our list of the 10 greatest dog films of all time. Entries are unranked and listed in alphabetical order.

Best of IndieWire

• Where to Watch This Week's New Movies, from 'Blue Beetle' to 'The Adults'

• The 50 Best Sexy Movies of the 21st Century, from 'Spring Breakers' to 'X'

• The 40 Best Movie Scores of the 21st Century

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.