Every year, August 26 is celebrated as International Dog Day, and it is a very special occasion that brings together dog lovers from all over the world. Founded in 2004 by pet expert and animal advocate Colleen Paige, International Dog Day pays tribute to the love, loyalty and companionship that dogs bring to our lives.
When we think of all the roles our furry friends play in our communities, we have to admit that they are truly amazing! Not only are they adorable within the bosom of a family, but they are also very useful in society. Their work ranges from serving in law enforcement and the military, to supporting those who may need extra help.
Dogs are truly “man’s best friend,” and what better way to celebrate International Dog Day than with a movie marathon where our furry friends are the real stars? Whether you’re looking for animated or live-action films, old or new, we’ve put together a varied selection that has something for everyone.
Warning: if you are an animal lover, you will be tested!
Lassie (1943)
Genre: Animal Adventure, Coming-of-Age, Drama, Family
With: Pal (credited as “Lassie”), Roddy McDowall, Donald Crisp, May Whitty, Edmund Gwenn
The world first met Lassie in 1938, with the Christmas story Lassie Come Home, written by Eric Knight for the pages of the Saturday Evening Post. Knight later expanded the work into a heartwarming novel, which soon became a bestseller and inspired the classic 1943 film.
Hailed as “one of the best family films of all time” by Turner Classic Movie, Lassie Come Home is an endearing production directed by Fred M. Wilcox (The Secret Garden, Forbidden Planet), and starring Roddy McDowall. The original film was followed by six decades of sequels on the big and small screen, transporting Lassie from the Yorkshire moors to the California hills.
Set on the eve of World War II in a Yorkshire mining town, it tells the story of the Carraclough family and their beloved Rough Collie, Lassie.
When the father of the family loses his job, he has no choice but to sell his precious dog to the Duke of Rudling, who takes her to live in a remote castle on the north coast of Scotland. Lassie, however, escapes from her new owner and embarks on a long and dangerous journey to return to the home she misses so much.
After the film’s release, the loyal collie would become one of the most beloved animals on the planet.
The feature film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color and later Lassie’s character received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is worth adding that during 2005, a new British version of Lassie hit the screens to continue to warm the hearts of millions of fans.
101 Dalmatians (1961)
Genre: Animal Adventure, Hand- Drawn Animation, Comedy, Family
With: Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, J. Pat O’Malley
More than 60 years have passed since 101 Dalmatians debuted in January 1961, and it still remains one of Walt Disney’s great classics. Based on Dodie Smith’s children’s novel about the kidnapping of a family of puppies, the animated film was a resounding box office success, grossing around $14 million.
101 Dalmatians tells the story of two London Dalmatians, their human owners and the iconic fashionista villain Cruella De Vil, who is obsessed with buying up every Dalmatian puppy in her path and turning them into a diabolical fashion collection. In this animated classic, the dogs of England rally around Pongo and Perdita to help them rescue their kidnapped puppies and bring them back to their true home.
101 Dalmatians was re-released in theaters four times, in 1969, 1979, 1985 and 1991. The story was later remade into a live-action film in 1996, titled 101 Dalmatians. If you’re left wanting to see more Dalmatians in action, don’t miss this entertaining adaptation, starring Glenn Close as a terrifying Cruella de Vil.
Benji (1974)
Genre: Animal Adventure, Family, Romance
With: Higgins (credited as “Benji”), Peter Breck, Deborah Walley, Patsy Garrett
Written, produced and directed by Joe Camp, Benji is an 85-minute family feature film that follows a stray dog like no other. This is the first in a series of five films about the golden-haired mixed-breed dog named Benji.
Our protagonist is a tenacious little stray dog who has worked his way into the heart of his community, and the locals never miss a chance to give him food and attention whenever they see him prowling the streets. Soon, Benji befriends Cindy and Paul, two neighborhood children who play with him against their parents’ wishes.
But everything gets complicated when the children are kidnapped by sinister criminals and the canine hero must come to the rescue.
At the time, Benji was the record-breaking indie hit of both the summer of 1974 and 1975. The production grossed over $40 million on a budget of $500,000. In turn, the film’s theme song, I Feel Love, recorded by country musician Charlie Rich, won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
In 2018, a new version of Benji was released on Netflix. Written and directed by Brandon Camp, the production is a reboot of the original saga.
Turner & Hooch (1989)
Genre: Animal Adventure, Buddy Cop, Comedy, Crime, Drama
With: Beasley (credited as “Hooch”), Tom Hanks, Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode and co-written by Daniel Petrie Jr, Turner & Hooch is one of the best dog comedies of all time. In it, a young Tom Hanks shares the lead role with a hilarious and powerful French Mastiff.
In this 1980s buddy movie, Scott Turner (Hanks) is a meticulous, uptight detective hoping to leave the seaside community of Cypress Beach for a job in the big city. But when his old friend Amos Reed (John McIntire) turns up murdered, Turner’s life takes a wildly unexpected turn.
Since Hooch, Amos’ giant dog, is the only witness to the crime, the detective realizes he will have to take care of him while solving the murder case.
Like Belushi in K-9, Hanks in Turner & Hooch is a cop who reluctantly teams up with a dog and develops a touching relationship with the animal. Obviously, it won’t be a bed of roses; Hooch’s loud and destructive nature will immediately clash with Scott’s meticulous lifestyle.
Beethoven (1992)
Genre: Animal Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
With: Chris (credited as “Beethoven”), Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones
The first Beethoven film, directed by Brian Levant and starring Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt, led to seven more films centered on the lovable St. Bernard dog whose name gives the franchise its title.
And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a giant, cuddly, slobbery St. Bernard?
This 1992 family comedy begins just as several St. Bernard puppies are stolen from a pet store. However, our four-legged hero and protagonist manages to escape the thieves and unexpectedly ends up at the Newton family home.
At first, the father of the family, George Newton, is hesitant about the idea of adding a furry member to the family. However, the affection and insistence of his children, Alice, Ryce, Ted, and the lovely Emily, convince him that the puppy has a special place in their lives. Soon, Beethoven tests Grodin’s patience by digging up plants, accumulating pools of slime, and leaving muddy paw prints everywhere.
The original film takes us through Beethoven’s antics as he adjusts to his new home and wins the hearts of every member of the family. The eight installments of the Beethoven saga, “the most famous St. Bernard of all time,” are comedies aimed at a family or children’s audience.
Marley & Me (2008)
Genre: Animal Adventure, Romance, Drama, Family
With: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane. Marley was played by 22 yellow Labradors.
Directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada), and based on the bestseller of the same title by journalist John Grogan, Marley & Me reunites Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston in a captivating canine drama.
It all begins with John (Wilson) and Jenny Grogan (Anniston), talented newlywed reporters. After a few years, the couple seriously discuss the idea of becoming parents. The issue is that John is on the fence about his parenting ability, so he convinces Jenny that it would be a better idea to adopt a puppy first.
It’s fair to say that Marley enters the Grogan household as a sort of test run for actual parenthood.
Our protagonist is a large, hyperactive, and endearing Labrador Retriever. The conflict begins when Marley grows up and reveals himself to be an incorrigible rebel. Marley chews everything, howls during thunderstorms, knocks people over and destroys things.
Truth be told, he can sometimes become “the worst dog in the world,” but his indomitable spirit always cheers the Grogans on. He’s there for the birth of their children, survives the move from Florida to Philadelphia and brings a sense of security to the whole family.
Marley & Me traces the fourteen years the mascot spends with John and Jenny Grogan. While Marley’s rambunctious antics bring great fun to the plot, there is emotionally challenging material here, and serious themes such as loss and grief.
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
Genre: Animal Adventure, Biography, Drama, Family
With: Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Hachi was played by three Akita dogs named Chico, Layla and Forest.
Written by Stephen P. Lindsey and directed by Lasse Hallström, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale is a remake of the Japanese film Hachikō Monogatari (1987), directed by Seijirō Kōyama.
Richard Gere plays Professor Parker Wilson, a distinguished scholar who takes in a lost puppy. Despite the initial objections of his wife, Hachi, the Japanese Akita becomes Parker’s most loyal companion. As their bond deepens, a beautiful relationship develops that embodies the true spirit of family and loyalty, while inspiring the hearts of an entire village.
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale is based on the true story of Hachikō, the faithful dog who continued to wait for his master at a train station in Japan long after the man’s death. This 93-minute film is a delightful break from fast-paced, action-packed modern movies and is a tender story of friendship, and loyalty.
Arthur the King (2024)
Genre: Extreme Sport, Animal Adventure, Drama, Family
With: Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman
The film Arthur the King is based on Swedish Mikael Lindford’s 2016 memoir, Arthur – The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home, in which the author chronicles his journey through Ecuador during one of the world’s most extreme and demanding adventure races.
This family adventure changes the original name of Mikael Lindnord to Michael Light (played by Mark Wahlberg), the captain of an adventure racing team who befriends a feisty stray dog named Arthur. Against all odds, the canine accompanies the team on a grueling 700-kilometer (435-mile) endurance race through the Dominican Republic.
Arthur and Michael start the film as loners, but over the course of the race – crossing rivers, battling illness and injury, and making their way through some of the toughest terrain on the planet – we see them become a team and then a family. Arthur the King is “the epic true story of a man, his dog, and how they found each other.”
Image: Andres Ayrton