Most of us adore cozying up on the couch and watching a good series or movie on Netflix. Throughout the pandemic, this was a universal pastime. But what makes a movie even better is when the subject is one of our very favorites…animals! From domestic pets to wildlife, animal movies rank up there as one of the more popular genres. Both Disney and documentary filmmakers have much to do with that.
If you’ve wondered what you and the family should watch this weekend, here are Union Lake Veterinary Services’ long-standing favorite animal movies. They will have you laughing, crying, and entertained.
10 Favorite Animal Movies for the Family
Everyone loves a good story about animals. Whether it is an animated film or wildlife documentary with amazing cinematography, these classics are some of our favorite animal movies.
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey – An unlikely trio, Shadow (golden retriever), Chance (bulldog), and Sassy (cat) work their way across the United States. Thinking they were abandoned in San Francisco, this group of friends overcome a number of challenges, including a mountain lion, to return home!
- The Fox and the Hound – If you are looking for a movie that evokes several emotions, this Disney film is a classic for good reason. It details the friendship between Tod, a red fox, and Copper, a hound dog, who become inseparable. Sadly, these two forever friends realize that the world wants nothing more than to remind them they are natural adversaries.
- Babe – This charming film is about a pig who aspires to be a part of a family on Hoggett Farm, where he is “adopted” by a mama border collie. Babe’s kind and gentle owner, Farmer Hoggett, sees the skills and understanding of this very smart pig and enlists him in the National Sheep Dog Trials. Against all odds, Babe is a movie that celebrates the underdog (or, pig) and captures our heart.
- The Lion King – Simba, a young lion cub, earns the weight of destiny to fulfill his father’s role as king of their pride. Not everything, though, goes in his favor. This film about growing up and facing the challenges of becoming an adult is not without the heavy emotions that come with it. From betrayal, exile, and the search for one’s place in the world, this is a definite masterpiece.
- The Black Stallion – This 1979 film, based on a novel, featured a young Alec who befriends a black Arabian horse aboard a ship she and her father were traveling on. When tragedy strikes and the ship is destroyed, Alec finds herself alone on a desert island with the horse as her companion. A must-see for all ages, and it will remain a timeless film.
- Finding Nemo – Nemo, an adorable clown fish, has a defective fin. This creates a lot of worry for his dad, who warns him of going out on his own. When Nemo tries to prove himself while swimming to the surface, he is captured. Nemo befriends other seafaring life to find his way back home from a dentist’s fish tank.
- Bambi – This 1942 classic is one of the first movies that portrays the emotions of animals and their familial bonds. As a youngster, the young Prince of the Forest learns the hard lessons in life of being a prey animal and what it means to survive in the wild.
- Lassie, Come Home – There are very few films that do a better job of illustrating the human-animal bond than Lassie. Lassie’s owners were financially unable to care for her and were forced to sell her to the Duke of Rudling. Lassie, though, was determined to return to her owners and escaped. Her adventures are the charm of this wonderful film.
- 101 Dalmatians – Terrible Cruella De Vil decides that dalmatian puppies would make the perfect coat, It’s up to their parents, Pongo and Perdy, to save the day (and the skins) of their sweet pups.
- The Call of the Wild – A remake of the beloved novel by Jack London, speaks of the need to find solitude in the Alaskan wild. The story focused on Buck, a dog who was mistakenly uprooted from his home in California during the great Gold Rush. London illustrated what it means to be wild, to feel the call of one’s true nature, through this gorgeous film.
Did we cover some of your favorite animal movies? If not, what films have you laughing, crying, or relating to our animal friends? Give us a call to schedule an appointment for your star-of-the-show pet, or book online.