Today is National Dog Day so here are some movies to watch with your favorite canine.
101 Dalmatians (1961)
Disney’s animated classic about a litter of dalmatian puppies who are captured by Cruella De Vil and intended to be turned into fur coats. A live action version was released in 1996.
Benji (1974)
The first in a series of movies about a heroic stray dog. In this first installment Benji rescues a pair of kidnapped children.
Best in Show (2000)
Christopher Guest’s mockumentary about the peculiar participants in a dog show. It was cited by Premiere magazine as one of the greatest comedies of all time.
Hatchi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
This particular title flew under the radar but earned very good notices. Richard Gere plays a college professor who takes a stray dog into his home.
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
The early 1990s had a trend of movies in which live animal performers were given voice over narration. This movie is kind of dumb but the kids will love it.
Lady & the Tramp (1955)
Another Disney animated feature film centered on dogs. The spaghetti eating scene is one of the most iconic moments in the entire Disney canon.
Man’s Best Friend (1993)
This movie is generally categorized as horror but it’s more than that. This is a sci-fi thriller about a genetically modified guard dog that escapes its laboratory and becomes attached to a television reporter.
Old Yeller (1957)
The quintessential dog movie. Most everybody knows how this movie ends and it’s heartbreaking but the film is a good example of how a family movie can deal with heavy issues.
Turner and Hooch (1989)
A buddy cop movie in which the straight man is played by Tom Hanks and the sloppy partner is played by a dog.