The 20 most beloved movie dogs

Ah, the eternal question. Who is more culturally relevant: Beethoven the composer or Beethoven the dog? Wrong answers only here. Obviously, it’s Beethoven, the dog. No, he didn’t write symphonies, but he co-starred with Bonnie Hunt and Stanley Tucci, and that’s something Beethoven the composer couldn’t have done nearly as well. 

Pongo and Perdita are two of the most famous dogs in cinema history and might be the fanciest dogs in cinema history. They’re also responsible for 99 of the other most famous dogs in cinema history. These two are nothing if not famous. 

Many dogs have been the eponymous character in a movie, but Bolt from Bolt has a certain panache. He’s darling and loyal, and nothing is more important to him than getting home to his owner. Isn’t that what everyone wants in a dog?

How could anyone not love Max from How the Grinch Stole Christmas? The sidekick of Whoville’s most notorious resident is one of the best parts of the story, and he’s inspired dog owners everywhere to affix a pair of reindeer antlers on their dog at Christmastime. 

In case you didn’t know, Babe is an Oscar-winning film. Its visual effects were apparently so good that the film had us all convinced a pig was doing the work of a sheepdog. Fly the Border Collie is about as beautiful of a sheepdog as you’ll find, and she deserves all the respect in the world for putting up with the rest of the animals. 

Everyone who’s seen Lady and the Tramp has the famous spaghetti scene forever burned into their brain. These dogs are so famous that they’ve gotten sequels, remakes, and a spot on this list of the most famous dogs in cinema history. 

Before animated Disney movies taught us about death via nearly every main character’s parents, the production company delivered that important life lesson through Old Yeller. The film was adapted from the book of the same name, and both will absolutely crush you by the end. 

Some films about dogs are happy, like Air Bud … and its many, many sequels. Who could’ve predicted that a film about an athletically gifted dog would spawn many more films? We hate to be the ones to tell you this, but the original Buddy died after the first film. Every other Buddy after was a different Golden Retriever. 

Two dogs are known in pop culture for having a circle around their eye: Bullseye, the Target mascot, and Petey from The Little Rascals. Only one of those dogs was in a film featuring a song about pickles, though, and it’s not Bullseye. 

Slinky is less famous for being a dog and more famous for being a slinky. Nevertheless, he’s an iconic dog in film history. He wasn’t even supposed to be a popular toy in Andy’s collection, but an early viewing of the film resulted in some rewrites, giving Slinky the justice he deserved. 

Is there any dog more fashionable than Bruiser from Legally Blonde ? Bruiser is probably the most high-maintenance dog of all time, but he’s worthy of it. Moonie, the canine actor who played Bruiser, died in 2016, and the dog received a sweet tribute from Reese Witherspoon herself. 

Dug from Up is the quintessential dog. He has classic dog energy, says whatever is on his mind, and is obscenely lovable. Dug could make even the most ardent dog hater want to get a canine of their own. He’s that adorable. 

We’re glad that Hercules became part of the team by the end of The Sandlot. Otherwise, we’d be demanding justice for The Beast. He’s not a beast at all. He’s a sweet dog who just wants to be loved. And you can’t blame a dog for wanting to hoard baseballs. 

Few movies have sadder endings than Marley & Me. Every family who’s ever had a dog can relate to the beautiful and heartbreaking tale of Marley. Watching Marley & Me will make you hug your dog a little tighter at night. 

Toto is a straight-up hero. Without him, the Wizard might still be hoaxing poor suckers in Oz. Toto was so essential to the story that the canine actor who played him actually got paid more than some of the human actors in the film. 

Cujo is famous for a much different reason than the other dogs on this list. Yes, he’s iconic, but he’s also terrifying. Sadly, Cujo was a victim of unfortunate circumstances, but he’s been the source of nightmares for many over the years. 

We could all learn a thing or two from Copper from The Fox and the Hound. No matter what’s happened in life, we can still reconnect with our old friends, and we don’t need to look the same to find something in common. 

Goofy has transcended time and media. The friend of Mickey Mouse is so recognizable as a standalone character that some people don’t even know he’s a dog. Very friendly and always living up to his name, Goofy is hard not to love, especially when he’s seen as a father. 

Snoopy is so popular he moved from comic strip to film. No matter what you need from Snoopy, he’s got your back. He’s a friend to all he’s earned his place in cinema history. If there’s a dog we trust to fly a plane, it’s Snoopy. 

Nana didn’t quite get the air time she deserved in Peter Pan, and she was almost always being slightly abused by the youngest of her owners. But she’s a well-loved dog who cares for Wendy, John, and Michael, and she makes the most of every bit of screen time she’s given.