15 Best Movies for Animal Lovers

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The best movies for animal lovers are usually those that leave a lasting memory. Of course, that could go either way. With every laugh and good feeling that comes, you know karma ready and willing to pluck those heartstrings.

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Marley and Me

The best movies for animal lovers have to include at least a few movies with dogs. Why? Because if you can live with a puppy and stay sane after a few misadventures, you’ll understand this movie completely.

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Free Willy 

A movie about two orphans, Willy the orca and Jesse the young boy is touching and stands out as one of the best movies for animal lovers. The fact that it’s set in the Pacific Northwest is fun since Puget Sound is a great area for whale watching. Hint, hint.

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Turner and Hooch

Dog movies are great since they’re a testament to how canines make great friends. They’re also funny because anyone who’s ever had a dog knows what it’s like to find the occasional chewed item lying around.

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Babe 

Babe is a great family film since it’s a little campy, but at the same time, it’s a lot of fun. It’s not the first family story featuring a pig, but it’s one of the most memorable.

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Iron Will

Imagine racing across the frozen landscape and having to bond with your canine companions simply to survive. As one of the best movies for animal lovers, this movie stands out since it is based on a true story, with a few embellishments here and there.

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Homeward Bound

If you were a kid and remember this movie, then you had a memorable childhood. The Incredible Journey is the earlier version of this, but the celebrity voices and the same story that was played out helped to make this a great movie.

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The Secret Life of Pets

Seriously, what do pets do all day when you’re gone? While it’s a little goofy, this is a great family movie with a few interesting twists.

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Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

Several of the movies on this list do hearken back to a time when life wasn’t necessarily simpler, but it was a lot harder in a lot of ways. Plenty of movies play up the stereotypes that are handed down throughout history, but sometimes, it feels right to do so.

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Balto

The story of Balto is, like several others, based on a true story. But whether you enjoy the animated version or cling to the saddening tale that really happened is kind of up to you. Most enjoy the story that resulted from the facts.

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Hidalgo

Sometimes reality needs to get kicked to the side to let fantasy take hold and inspire people. That’s the case of Hidalgo since the records of the real Frank T. Hopkins are less than accurate. The movie is amazing, even if the reality isn’t.

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Zootopia

If ever an animated movie was made with diversity and the need for tolerance in mind, it was Zootopia. In a city where predators and prey need to live together to make it work, this movie had a lot to live up to. Thankfully, it works on a lot of levels.

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Old Yeller

Admit it, you cried when you watched this. In truth, Old Yeller was the story of a rascal dog that got into a lot of trouble. But then again, he did protect his family and went out fighting for them.

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The Sandlot

Truthfully, this wasn’t really an animal-based movie, but Hercules still dominated a good portion of the narrative. Once ‘The Beast’ entered the scene, it was nothing short of hilarity since it became the driving force behind the movie.

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The Lion King

Have you ever noticed how so many animal movies are tearjerkers? The Lion King is a powerful story, but it’s also one that ended up scarring a lot of kids for a while. No pun intended, maybe.

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Bambi

Speaking of scarring people for years to come, Bambi is one of those movies that starts with a violent act and moves on in a daze for a while. Worse, a lot of kids had to watch this during hunting season.