13 Movies to Watch Over the Holiday Where the Dog Doesn’t Die

If you’re reading this website, there’s a good chance you love a good dog movie. But that means you also know the risk that comes every time a dog graces the silver screen: There’s a chance they’ll go the way of Old Yeller before the credits roll.

From Marley and Me to just about any horror movie with a dog in its cast, it’s a challenge to partake in dog cinema without dodging emotional landmines. (There’s even a website, doesthedogdie.com, to help you avoid the trauma.) Luckily, we put together a list of canine features that are safe to stream, no trigger warnings needed. This bunch below is perfect for holiday streaming, with the family or solo, from nostalgic rewatches to recent comedies, and a few introspective dramas.

Merv 

While this dog-centric rom-com doesn’t come out until December 10, it’s officially on our holiday watch list. Starring Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox, the Amazon Prime streamer tells the story of a newly broken-up couple who reunite (platonically) to cheer up their dog Merv, whom they believe is taking the break-up to heart. But is fussing over Merv’s wellbeing just a ruse to pursue their lingering feelings for each other? It’s a perfect will-they-won’t-they set up, with the bonus of being centered around a cute scruffy Terrier mix, played by a real-life dog actor named Gus. 

Good Boy

Typically, if there’s a dog in a horror movie, it means the pup is not long for the screen. As a big horror and dog fan, I loathe this trope. Thankfully, there’s Good Boy to turn it on its head: a 2025 horror release where the dog not only makes it out unscathed but stars in the film, which is told entirely from his perspective. (Horror’s first “final dog”?!) The result is an engrossing indie starring Indy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (played by film director Ben Leonberg’s actual pup), who navigates his dad’s deteriorating health and mental state while they’re cooped up together in a haunted country home. While real-life Indy wasn’t actually nominated for any best actor awards, the dog’s performance is convincing and mesmerizing and marks the film as a trailblazer for the genre. 

Beethoven

The 1992 John Hughes family comedy still has the juice. Watching the adorably mischievous Saint Bernard, Beethoven, torture the family patriarch (played by Charles Grodin, whose perfectly smarmy face contorts in distaste at the pup’s every turn), is absolutely delightful. It makes for an entertaining and nostalgic rewatch for aging millennials and a new treat to show to the next generation(s). 

Strays

If you’ve ever imagined your dog having a filthy mouth — and even ventriloquized them to curse and say amusingly unsavory things — you’ll love Strays, which brings this fantasy to life. The raunchy comedy stars a pack of stray dogs (voiced by the likes of Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, and more) who team up to teach one of their former human parents a lesson. Shenanigans ensue (like a scene where they accidentally eat magic mushrooms and hallucinate each other as animated creatures), and the whole thing is a blast.

Moonstruck

When you think of Moonstruck, the classic Italian-American love story starring Nicholas Cage and Cher, you probably don’t associate it with the canon of dog movies. But hear me out. Every time I rewatch the iconic New York City film, I’m struck (pun intended) by how the dogs steal the show. The pack of scruffy mutts who belong to the Castorini grandfather (known as “Old Man”), are shown racing down the stairs or going on moonlit walks along the Brooklyn waterfront, where they howl together at the moon. They’re merely supporting players, but they add a little sprinkle of canine magic, and the film wouldn’t be the same without them.

Isle of Dogs

A gem from the later years of the Wes Anderson canon, this stop-motion animated feature depicts a pack of iconic-looking scruffy strays who have been quarantined on Trash Island in the fictional Japanese city of Megasaki after an outbreak of dog flu. When the Japanese mayor’s nephew, Atari, comes to Trash Island in search of his missing dog Spots, the rough-and-tumble gang band together to help find him. 

Best in Show  

The laugh-out-loud cult comedy from Christopher Guest never disappoints, no matter how many times you’ve seen it (and if it's your first viewing, well, you’re in for a good time). A mockumentary about the world of Westminster-esque dog competitions, the film features plenty of elite dog contenders, but the real stars are their eccentric, dog-obsessed humans, and it skewers “dog people” like no film before it. While the depictions of wacky show-dog parents are largely caricatures, you’ll likely see hints of yourself in them.

The Secret Life of Pets

This animated feature indulges the age-old dog parent question: What do our dogs do all day while we’re at work? (Well, at least before the advent of dog cameras put that mystery to rest.) The film stars Max, a Jack Russell terrier who lives in an NYC apartment, and the building pets he hangs out with all day. When his human adopts a new dog, the two rivals spar before having to work together to make it back home after they get loose in the city. It’s a wild ride that will keep young viewers glued to the screen, while being entertaining enough for the olds.  

Air Bud

“Ain’t no rule says a dog can’t play basketball!” Another nostalgic ’90s pick of the list, the very first film in the Air Bud franchise introduces viewers to the legend of Buddy, a sneakers-wearing Golden Retriever who sure can get the ball in the basket (by bopping it with his nose, if you’re wondering). It’s a ridiculous but thoroughly entertaining tale that tugs on the heartstrings, too. Sports ingenuity aside, it’s a classic boy-and-his-dog story. If you get attached, there are 15 Air Bud sequels, including Air Bud Returns, coming in 2026. 

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

For many millennials, this may have been our very first “talking dog” movie. The sentimental tale of three buddies — a Golden Retriever, Shadow; a Boxer mix, Chance; and a cat named Sassy — who find their way home across the Oregon wilderness, makes for wholesome family viewing. Be forewarned if watching with little viewers; while the adventurers get home in one piece, they endure a few scrapes along the way. This includes Shadow rather dramatically getting stuck in a ditch, a scene one writer says they still haven’t gotten over. 

Beginners 

When Oliver’s (Ewan McGregor) father passes away, he inherits his Jack Russell terrier, Arthur. The slow-moving but thoughtful film depicts Oliver grieving and reflecting on the lives of his late parents while navigating a new romantic relationship in the present day. All the while, Arthur is there as a sounding board for Oliver’s musings. In a new take on the talking-dog genre, Arthur never audibly speaks back to Oliver, but the film subtitles his thoughts and replies.

The Friend

When the dog doesn’t die in the movie, they may instead serve the purpose of helping the human characters process their grief over other loved ones. The Friend (2025) is based on the Sigrid Nunez novel of the same name. The drama stars Naomi Watts as a writer, Iris, who’s inherited her recently-deceased friend Walter’s (played by Bill Murray) Great Dane, Apollo, played by a dog named Bing in his debut as an actor. Apollo and Iris are both grieving Walter, but then their relationship takes on a more profound role when Iris decides to commit to caring for the dog, even if he doesn’t have too many years left (if you think about it, that’s pet parenthood in a nutshell). 

Benji

When it comes to iconic dog characters, Benji is the GOAT. The short scruffy king has a whole franchise, but we recommend starting with the 1974 original. It’s so relaxing watching Benji go about his day as a charming stray that the film would satisfy as a dog slice-of-life story alone. But the plot kicks in when a kidnapping gives Benji the opportunity to play dog gumshoe, and you'll find yourself cheering for the little guy when he saves the day.