Autumn is upon us now, and is there anything quite as cozy during these cooler months as snuggling up on the couch watching a good movie? If you’re looking for the best dog-centric movie to pass the time, we have you covered.
Read on to find some of the best dog movies currently available to watch on Netflix.
Top 19 Dog Movies on Netflix
1. Dog Gone
Dog Gone is one of the newest movies on our list. This 2023 film is based on a true story of a father and son who must work together after the son is separated from his beloved dog on the Appalachian Trail. Starring Rob Lowe, this heartwarming movie is not only about reuniting with the character’s lost dog, but it’s about supporting, encouraging, and loving your family.
2. Benji
Benji is a 2018 adventure drama and reboot of a 1974 film with the same title. Benji follows two school-age kids as they begin a friendship with an orphaned mutt. When the children find themselves in a heap of trouble by being kidnapped by robbers, Benji comes to the rescue.
3. A Dog’s Purpose
A Dog’s Purpose is a 2017 movie based on the bestselling novel of the same name. This adventure film follows a dog as he reincarnates as different breeds belonging to new owners. Throughout numerous lifetimes, the dog interacts with a young boy who rescued him in the 60s. This heartwarming film covers deep themes like grief and loyalty.
4. Rescued by Ruby
Rescued by Ruby is a 2022 biographical drama film following Dan, a state trooper who has aspirations of joining the K-9 search and rescue team. Working against the clock to make this dream a reality before he turns 30, Dab rescues a hyperactive and difficult-to-control Border Collie mix from euthanasia. The story then follows his attempt to train her so he could actualize his dream of joining the K-9 team.
5. Vicky and Her Mystery
Vicky and Her Mystery is a 2021 French drama about a young girl named Victoria, whose mother recently passed away. Victoria and her father relocate to a small mountain village, where she meets a special dog who may be the only thing that can help her heal after losing her mother so young.
6. White Fang
White Fang is an animated 2018 French film based on the Jack London book of the same name. It features some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, and Paul Giamatti. White Fang Is about a loyal half-breed wolf-dog that goes on the adventure of a lifetime where he encounters very different human masters, evolving under each of them.
7. Seventeen
Seventeen is a 2019 Spanish comedy-drama film revolving around a 17-year-old named Héctor who escapes the juvenile detention center he lives in to find a shelter dog that changed his life.
8. June & Kopi
June & Kopi is a 2021 Indonesian family comedy that revolves around a young couple that’s recently taken in a street dog named June and introduced her to their old faithful family pet, Kopi. This touching, family-friendly film is a classic story the whole family will like.
9. Dog Gone Trouble
Dog Gone Trouble is a 2019 animated film that follows the life of a pampered dog named Trouble. When Trouble’s beloved owner passes away, he must learn in the real world while trying to escape his former owner’s greedy children.
10. Pets United
Pets United is a 2019 animated film that follows a group of spoiled and selfish pets when a robot takeover threatens their home city. Roger, a stray dog, and Belle, an elegant cat, must work together and push their preconceptions to the wayside to survive.
11. Hotel for Dogs
Hotel for Dogs is a 2009 family-friendly comedy based on the 1971 novel of the same name. This star-studded cast features Don Cheadle and Lisa Kudrow, who work together to tell the story of two orphaned siblings who secretly take in a plethora of stray dogs at a vacant hotel.
12. Xico’s Journey
Xico’s Journey is a 2020 Mexican animated film revolving around a girl, her best friend, and a magical dog as they journey to a mountain to protect it and their town from a greedy gold-hungry corporation.
13. Puppy Star Christmas
Puppy Star Christmas is a 2018 holiday-themed movie from the same folks who brought us Air Bud. The film introduces the viewer to four new pups who stowaway on Santa’s sled and go on an adventure to the North Pole.
14. Arctic Dogs
Arctic Dogs is a 2019 animated comedy that revolves around an Arctic fox named Swifty who works in the mailroom of a package delivery service. Swifty has big dreams of taking his career out of the mailroom to become a Top Dog, one of the all-star Husky couriers. Though the film has many big names—Jeremy Renner and John Cleese, to name two—Arctic Dogs was a box-office bomb. Still, your kids will probably love it, so it’s worth a watch if you have little ones.
15. The Healing Powers of Dude
We’re bending the rules a bit with The Healing Powers of Dude as it is a TV series and not a movie, but it’s such a great show that it’s earned a spot on this list anyway. The TV show centers around an 11-year-old boy with severe social anxiety. He finds strength in his scruffy emotional support dog, Dude, who helps him manage his disorder.
16. The Secret Life of Pets
The Secret Life of Pets is a 2016 animated comedy and the first of two Secret Life films. It centers around a Jack Russell Terrier named Max who lives in New York City with his owner, Katie. Max has a seemingly perfect life, full of friends he’s made with other pets in his building. One day, Katie brings home a mongrel named Duke, and Max’s life is flipped upside down.
17. Pup Academy
Pup Academy isn’t a movie, but we had to include this cute TV show in this list. The show revolves around dogs attending a school where they learn to be man’s best friend. If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, you’ll find many similar elements as it appears the writers of Pup Academy definitely used J.K. Rowling’s magical world as inspiration for their doggy academy.
18. Dogs
Although Dogs isn’t a movie, this documentary series is worth a watch as it explores the bond between humans and their canine family members worldwide. This two-season series showcases the relationship between dogs and humans across different cultures and in very different places in the world.
19. A Dog’s Way Home
A Dog’s Way Home is a 2019 family film based on the 2017 novel of the same name. The film focuses on a dog named Bella, who goes on a 400-mile-long journey through the Colorado wilderness to find her owner.
Final Thoughts
We hope this list of dog-centric movies currently available on Netflix provides you with enough entertainment to get through the cozy, chilly months ahead. Which one do you think you will watch first?
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Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
Contents
- Top 19 Dog Movies on Netflix
- 1. Dog Gone
- 2. Benji
- 3. A Dog’s Purpose
- 4. Rescued by Ruby
- 5. Vicky and Her Mystery
- 6. White Fang
- 7. Seventeen
- 8. June & Kopi
- 9. Dog Gone Trouble
- 10. Pets United
- 11. Hotel for Dogs
- 12. Xico’s Journey
- 13. Puppy Star Christmas
- 14. Arctic Dogs
- 15. The Healing Powers of Dude
- 16. The Secret Life of Pets
- 17. Pup Academy
- 18. Dogs
- 19. A Dog’s Way Home
- Final Thoughts
