The Movies' Top Dogs

How far would you travel to reunite with your best friend? ‘A Dog’s Way Home’ follows the story of a dog that gets separated from its loving owner and subsequently goes on an epic adventure to get back home. Traveling 400 miles while inserting herself into the lives of others just when they need her the most, this is a film that reminds us that the bond between dog and human is impenetrable and super adorable, too!

Let's celebrate other dogs in the movies who have proved themselves more heroic than the people around them.

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The archetype for all Hollywood dogs, this handsome collie with the household name (real name: Pal) captivated the heart of little Timmy and moviegoers everywhere in 1943's 'Lassie Come Home,' and went on to star in dozens of movies and TV shows. The last 'Lassie' movie came out in 2006.

Has there been a dog movie so devastatingly heartbreaking? Even 40 years later, this tale about a boy and his faithful mutt remains one of Disney's best-loved coming-of-age tales about tragedy, loss and growing up. Just try watching this one without shedding a tear.

Voiced by John Travolta, Bolt is a TV dog superstar who accidentally gets shipped from Hollywood to New York, and with dogged determination finds his way home. Even though he's animated, he's no less endearing.

We pretty much all know how this puppy tale turns out -- sadly, the reality is most of the time we will outlive our faithful friends. But for two hours, we get to see this pup bring a lifetime of joy, delight (and frustration!) to his family in 'Marley and Me,' based on a true story.

Bullying, though not the pit or Old English kind, is the theme of this doggy tale that has the titular gentle giant up against a mean and controlling pedigree whose collie girlfriend Marmaduke likes. 

Tom Hanks teamed with Beasley the giant, slobbery French Mastiff for the improbably effective and moving man-boy and his dog comedy 'Turner & Hooch.' In it, Hanks plays a cop stuck with Hooch after the dog witnesses a crime and is the only one who can ID the perp. He's ugly, but lovable.

This terrier set in motion the plot of one of Hollywood's greatest films. First he bites the mean neighbor, sending Dorothy on the run. Then he rescues her from the witch's castle. Then he exposes the wizard as a fraud. Finally, he helps her learn how to get home. Pretty big role for a little guy.

This adorable Jack Russell Terrier was destined for the pound but found a home with trainer Omar Von Muller, and subsequent scene-stealing fame with 'The Artist.' We'd totally have voted for him in that "Consider Uggie" Oscar campaign.

What's not to love about this scrappy little pup who tracks down kidnapped children, sniffs out traitors, and can survive alone in the wild while rescuing cougar cubs? Benji returned to the screen for Netflix in 2018.

One of Hollywood's all-time favorite pooch pictures, this tracked the perils of Pongo and Perdita's purloined puppies at the hands of evil Cruella DeVille. Who could even imagine making a fur coat out of these cuties? Nobody who wants to meet US in a dark alley....

Aww, who doesn't love a dog rockin' some Air Jordans? When Buddy becomes famous for shooting hoops, his abusive former owner steals the golden retriever from his new home--and it's game on. In real life, Buddy was found as a stray in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Ron Burgundy just loves his scotchy scotch and his dog, Baxter, who is mostly MIA in the first 'Anchorman' movie until he saves Ron from a bear attack at the zoo. Watch this interview for more on Baxter in the sequel, which starred a different shelter dog in the role.

Critics dismissed 'Beethoven,' but the movie starring this enormous, furry St. Bernard who barely escapes death's door at the hands of a crooked vet was such a hit with the kiddies, it sired a litter of sequels.

For a sled dog who lives to serve his master, being left behind by said master is the worst thing imaginable--yet that's exactly what happened in this tragic true story. The tale doesn't humanize the animals as much as it elevates their amazing story of dogged survival. Still, we'd never leave these guys behind.

This "tail" of living the American Dream happened when a U.S. soldier saved a German shepherd from a bombed-out French kennel and brought him to California at the end of WWI. The original Hollywood dog, Rin Tin Tin went on to act in 26 films, signing his contracts with a pawprint.

To think 'Hachi: A Dog's Tale' with Richard Gere was based on a real-life story of an Akita who always met his owner at the train station. Not knowing his owner died suddenly, Hachiko still showed up every day for NINE years at the station. If that's not a dog you'd die for, well, you must be a cat owner. (Kidding, kidding.)

Accompanied by the cat Sassy, Chance and Shadow set out on a mission to find their missing family across rivers, through forests and over mountains. What the animals don't know is that the family had just gone on vacation, and are looking frantically for their furry friends.

How anyone could harm this little beagle is beyond us. In the first movie of the Shiloh trilogy, Marty takes Shiloh away from his abusive owner, Judd. Over three movies, Judd, Marty and Shiloh would settle their differences. We, however, might not be so easy on old hunter Judd.

Skip's there for all the good and bad moments of little Willie's life in 2000's 'My Dog Skip' -- dealing with school bullies, meeting girls, his father going off to war. When one of the bullies almost kills Skip, it's a wonder the entire town didn't set out for revenge.

Inspired by classic Japanese films, Wes Anderson's 'Isle of Dogs' tells the heroic story of a boy named Atari and his quest to rescue his beloved canine companion Spots from exile on a poisonous island. The dogs demonstrate their bravery over the course of the film, each in their own way