The 22 Best Dog Movies of All Time

A good movie has a hero you can root for. And what’s better than getting to root for a dog who saves the day? Dogs in movies can uplift the protagonists as much as they do audiences. They can bring even the toughest of critics to tears.

With everything going on in the world, it’s a refreshing break to curl up next to your viewing device of choice and have your heart strings plucked. It can be a kid meets dog tale, a journey of survival and self discovery, or a story of a kind-hearted pup breaking down the walls of a cynical man.

And while these are all movies that have canines at their center, it doesn't mean they're lacking in star power either. From comedy powerhouses like Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, and Catherine O'Hara (among others) to modern day risers like KJ Apa, to legitimate legends like Jack Nicholson, these movies have tons of faces you've seen and loved countless times over the years.

Whether you’re in the mood to break out the tissues or looking for laughs of the canine kind, these movies each have a little bit of everything. From old classics to Disney animation, here are 22 movies where a dog(s) is a central character.