homeward bound the incredible journey (1993)

• Live-action films
• Homeward Bound
• G-rated films
• Films about animals
• Films based on books
• Português do Brasil

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

• View history

The film was released on February 3 , 1993 and went on to gross over $40 million at the box office. The film was considered a success and a sequel was produced and released in 1996 titled Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco . The sequel featured the same animals and the same actors voicing the animals, except for Shadow, who was voiced by Ralph Waite in the sequel, because Don Ameche died shortly after playing his role in the first film.

The film was shot at various locations in Oregon. Four national forests were used in filming, these included Deschutes National Forest, Mount Hood National Forest, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, and Willamette National Forest. Cities and towns in Oregon that were used for filming included Portland, Oregon, Bend, Oregon, Joseph, Oregon, and Wallowa Oregon. Two other areas used for filming were the Columbia River Gorge and Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. This film was rated G by the Motion Picture Association of America.

• 3 Reception
• 4 Deleted scenes
• 8 External links

Chance, an American Bulldog (played by Rattler and voiced by Michael J. Fox ) and narrator of the film, opens the film by explaining that he is the pet of Jamie Burnford (Kevin Chevalia), but expresses no interest in his owner or having a "home" having lost faith in the concept after having been abandoned as a puppy. He shares his home with Shadow, (played by Ben and voiced by Don Ameche), an older Golden Retriever owned by Jamie's big brother Peter Burnford (Benj Thall), and Sassy, a Himalayan cat (played by Tiki and voiced by Sally Field ), owned by their sister Hope (Veronica Lauren). Bob Seaver (Robert Hays) is marrying Laura Burnford (Kim Greist), joining the family. Shortly after the wedding, the family goes on a trip to San Francisco, leaving the pets at a ranch belonging to Kate ( Jean Smart ), a family friend. Kate later goes on a cattle drive, leaving the animals at the ranch to be looked after by one of her ranch hands.

However, by this time, the animals think they have been abandoned, and Shadow begins to worry about Peter, so he decides to head for home. Sassy and a reluctant Chance follow. They head into the rocky, mountainous wilderness, with Shadow leading by instinct. After a night spent in fear of the woodland noise, the group stops to catch breakfast at a river. Two black bears steal Chance's fish, and when Chance barks at them in protest, they suddenly leave the fish and climb a tree. Chance cockily assumes that he has scared them off, but then a huge brown bear appears, causing the group to quickly flee, also. At another river, Sassy refuses to swim across to follow the dogs, running along the river until she reaches a path of wood that seems to cross its breadth. Halfway across, it breaks apart and she falls in. Shadow jumps in to try to save her, but she goes over a waterfall. Shadow and Chance search for her along the bank, but as night falls, they mourn their loss and continue without her.

A half-drowned Sassy is rescued from the river by a man who lives in the woods, who nurses her back to health. Without Sassy, the dogs struggle to catch fish from the river. A mountain lion begins stalking them. Chance spots the mountain lion while he is fishing. He tells Shadow, but Shadow does not believe him until he sees it himself. The mountain lion follows them to the edge of a cliff. Chance, in a "just in case I don't make it, this is where my treasures are" statement, tells Shadow where he has buried everything at home. When Chance mentions that the remote control is buried under the seesaw, Shadow sees a balanced rock shaped like a seesaw, which gives him an idea. Shadow comes up with a plan to defeat the mountain lion. While Shadow acts as the bait, Chance waits until the mountain lion steps onto the end of the rock that's touching the ground, and jumps on the other end, sending the mountain lion flying over the cliff and into a river. The mountain lion retreats, filled with humiliation and irritation at its defeat. Sassy hears them barking in celebration and follows the sound to rejoin them.

The animals continue on their way, but Chance tries to befriend a porcupine, ending up with a load of quills from its tail in his muzzle when it grows irritated at him and swats him in retaliation. His friends are unable to pull them out, and as they journey on, they find a little girl named Molly (Mariah Milner), who is (for an unexplained reason) lost in the woods. Too loyal to ignore her, they stand guard over her during the night and keep her warm. In the morning, Shadow finds a rescue party, which includes Molly's parents, and leads them back to her. Molly's father thanks Shadow for saving his daughter's life.

The forest rangers with the party recognize the animals from a "missing pets" flyer they received and take them to the local animal shelter, which is dubbed by Chance as the "Pound". Because Chance has had previous experiences with being in a dog pound and a subject that Shadow never believed was an actual place, he panics and warns the others to run. Sassy gets away while he and Shadow are taken inside. As the medical staff remove the quills from Chance's muzzle, Sassy sneaks in and frees Shadow. Together they retrieve Chance, now quill-free, and escape the shelter, without realizing that their owners were on their way to get them and take them home.

Finally, after much traveling, the trio reaches the outskirts of their hometown. By this point Chance is actually looking forward to seeing Jamie again, having a change of heart. They cross through a train yard when Shadow falls through some old boards into a muddy pit, injuring his leg. With Sassy and Chance persuading him, he tries to climb out of the pit, but is unable to do so. Lying down, he says he is too old and that they should go on without him. Chance jumps into the pit to try to get him going, but Shadow refuses to move. He almost dies, much to Chance's sadness. Near dusk, the family is out in the backyard playing basketball, when Jamie claims to hear Chance barking. The others think he is imagining things, but moments later Chance comes running over a hill, happily tackling "his boy". Sassy follows to be reunited with Hope, and Peter hopefully looks for Shadow, but when he doesn't show up, Peter says he was too old and it was too far of a walk for him and turns to go back inside. As he does, Shadow, very much alive, is seen limping over the hill (how he able to get out of the muddy pit is unknown). Peter turns back around and shouts Shadow's name as the two run towards each other.

As everyone watches, Chance narrates how it was Shadow's belief that brought them home and how the years seemed to lift off of him, making him a puppy again after being reunited with his best friend. While everyone goes inside, Chance stays behind for a moment, ending his narration by saying he had a family and for the first time in his life, he was really home before happily running into the house.

• Don Ameche as the voice of Shadow
• Michael J. Fox as the voice of Chance
• Sally Field as the voice of Sassy
• Robert Hays as Bob Seaver
• Kim Greist as Laura Burnford-Seaver
• Benj Thall as Peter Burnford-Seaver
• Veronica Lauren as Hope Burnford-Seaver
• Kevin Chevalia as Jamie Burnford-Seaver
• William Edward Phipps as Quentin
• Gary Taylor as Frank
• Jean Smart as Kate
• David McDonough as Foote
• Mark L. Taylor as Kirkwood
• Frank Welker as Birdzilla and Mountain Lion
• Ed Bernard as Desk Sergeant
• Don Alder as Molly's Father
• Woody Eney as Forest Ranger 'Mark'
• Jane Jones as Molly's Mother
• Kit McDonough as Female Forest Ranger
• Nurmi Husa as The Caterer
• Mariah Milner as Molly
• Bart the Bear as Bear
• J.E. Penner as Bob's Mom
• Caroll Spinney as Dog
• Nicholas Mastandrea as Hal

Reception [ ]

The film holds an 87% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 30 reviews.

Deleted scenes [ ]

A number of scenes cut from the movie were included in TV broadcasts:

• Peter washing Chance with a hose after Chance eats the wedding cake.
• Kate taking the pets on a car ride.
• Bob being invited to a barbecue, only for the kids to remind him that the barbecue falls on the day he had promised to take them to visit their pets.
• Kate finding the note she had written Frank that he had not seen, and then calling the pound to know if the pets are found before she realizes they're heading for home (revealed to be Fresno).
• Sassy observes the man at the river playing the saxophone at night.
• The man at the river bringing his goat into his house while he leaves.
• Before crossing the tracks, the pets search for food in the dumpster but found nothing.
• The climax and ending of the film were briefly referenced in the live-action remake for 101 Dalmatians .
• During Sassy's breaking into the pound to rescue the dogs, the theme song for Mission Impossible acts as the BGM.
• Miracle, Leica, Spirit, Steggy, Adoration, Steeple, and Droopy screech for Sassy.

Gallery [ ]

External links [ ]

• 2 Inside Out 2

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Streaming in:

We checked for updates on 246 streaming services on April 27, 2024 at 9:01:00 PM. Something wrong? Let us know!

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" streaming on Disney Plus. It is also possible to buy "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand as download or rent it on Google Play Movies, YouTube, Apple TV, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video online.

Where does Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey rank today? The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Streaming charts last updated: 1:19:49 AM, 04/28/2024

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is 22908 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 26837 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Two Men in Town but less popular than Destination: Planet Negro!.

Before the Seavers leave for a family vacation to San Francisco, they drop off their pets -- Chance, an adventurous American bulldog; Shadow, a wise golden retriever; and Sassy, a cautious cat -- at a friend's ranch. But when the animals start to worry that they've been left for good, the three embark together on a treacherous and thrilling journey to find their way back home through the California wilderness.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Production country

Bundle offers, people who liked homeward bound: the incredible journey also liked.

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Comedy movies

Similar Movies you can watch for free

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Challengers Link to Challengers
• I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
• Música Link to Música

New TV Tonight

• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• The Jinx: Season 2
• The Big Door Prize: Season 2
• Them: Season 2
• Knuckles: Season 1
• Velma: Season 2
• Secrets of the Octopus: Season 1
• Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story: Season 1
• We're Here: Season 4

Most Popular TV on RT

• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• Under the Bridge: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1 Link to Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All Zendaya Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Video Game TV Shows Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

Poll: Most Anticipated Movies of May 2024

• Trending on RT
• Marvel Movies In Order
• Seen on Screen
• Most Anticipated Movies of May
• Play Movie Trivia

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Where to watch.

Watch Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey with a subscription on Disney+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Disney's remake of The Incredible Journey successfully replicates, and in some ways improves upon, the simple charms of the original, with its cross-country animal odyssey sure to delight kids.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Duwayne Dunham

Michael J. Fox

Sally Field

Molly's Father

Desk Sergeant

More Like This

Movie news & guides, this movie is featured in the following articles., critics reviews.

• Account Settings
• The Disney Bundle
• Parks & Travel
• Walt Disney World
• Disney Cruise Line
• All Parks & Travel
• Movies Anywhere
• Disney Movie Insiders
• 20th Century Studios
• Accessories
• Disney News
• Disney on Broadway
• Disney on Ice
• Disney Live!
• Walt Disney World Resort
• Disneyland Resort
• Aulani - A Disney Resort and Spa
• Adventures by Disney
• Disney Vacation Club
• D23: The Official Disney Fan Club

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

February 3, 1993

Action-Adventure, Animals/Nature, Family

The adventure begins when the loving owners of Chance, Sassy and Shadow are forced to leave them in the temporary care of a friend who lives hundreds of miles away. But after several days, the worried animals begin to think their family must be in trouble, so they decide to head for home. On their incredible journey across the ruggedly beautiful Sierras, they encounter unexpected surprises from man, beast, and nature alike.

Rated: G Release Date: February 3, 1993

Directed By

• motionpictures.org
• filmratings.com

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey Trailer

Recommended movies.

Inside Out 2

Haunted Mansion

Strange World

Raya and the Last Dragon

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

The Lion King

Yellowstone Cubs

Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana

Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie

Wish Gone Amiss

White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf

Where The Red Fern Grows

Westward Ho, The Wagons!

Walt & El Grupo

Sorry, Disney+ is not available in your region.

• Now Playing
• Airing Today
• Popular People
• Discussions
• Leaderboard
• Alternative Titles
• Cast & Crew
• Release Dates
• Translations
• Backdrops 16
• Content Issues 0

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Login to use TMDB's new rating system.

Welcome to Vibes, TMDB's new rating system! For more information, visit the contribution bible .

• Play Trailer

In the classic tradition of Walt Disney Pictures comes a story about courage, adventure and friendship.

Before the Seavers leave for a family vacation to San Francisco, they drop off their pets -- Chance, an adventurous American bulldog; Shadow, a wise golden retriever; and Sassy, a cautious cat -- at a friend's ranch. But when the animals start to worry that they've been left for good, the three embark together on a treacherous and thrilling journey to find their way back home through the California wilderness.

Duwayne Dunham

Sheila Burnford

Linda Woolverton

Caroline Thompson

Top Billed Cast

Michael J. Fox

Chance (voice)

Sally Field

Sassy (voice)

Shadow (voice)

Kevin Chevalia

Jamie Seaver

Peter Burnford

Veronica Lauren

Hope Burnford

Laura Burnford-Seaver

Robert Hays

Full Cast & Crew

• Discussions 0

A review by r96sk

Written by r96sk on september 25, 2020.

It improves on the original, that's all you want from a remake.

I just about, marginally, liked the 1963 film, whereas I actually did comfortably enjoy 'Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey'. The animals are as adorable in this as they are in the first film, with more definitive care taken for them - that's not, arguably, the case in the '63 production.

The premise is changed up in some areas, there's a scene that proceeds the conclusion which is rather nice and isn't in the other. The whole feel of this is more engaging, helped by the fact that it gives the animals a voice whi... read the rest.

Read All Reviews

• Most Popular

Status Released

Original Language English

• based on novel or book

Content Score 

Yes! Looking good!

Looks like we're missing the following data in en-US or en-US ...

Top Contributors

34 RainingBullets

30 TMDB-Bot

View Edit History

Popularity Trend

Login to edit

Keyboard Shortcuts

Login to report an issue

You need to be logged in to continue. Click here to login or here to sign up.

Can't find a movie or TV show? Login to create it.

On media pages

On tv season pages, on tv episode pages, on all image pages, on all edit pages, on discussion pages.

Want to rate or add this item to a list?

Not a member?

Sign up and join the community

• Rent or buy
• Categories Categories
• Getting Started

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Customers also watched.

Cast and Crew

Other formats

6978 global ratings

How are ratings calculated? Toggle Expand Toggle Expand

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Cast & crew.

Molly's Father

Desk Sergeant

Kevin Chevalia

Anne Christianson

Research Assistant

• KIDS & FAMILY

Adventurous animal tale will have kids riveted.

Information

© 1993 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Accessibility

Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

Internet Service Terms Apple TV & Privacy Cookie Policy Support

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, homeward bound: the incredible journey.

Now streaming on:

So there I was, sitting in a theater with a lot of kids, watching an animal picture. Worse, an animal picture where the animals talked. And even worse, not an animated movie, but a live-action film where the animal's lips don't even move when they talk. How do they do it? Ventriloquism, or telepathy? The movie was about a wise old dog and an impetuous young pup and a snotty cat. Their human owners are about to go to San Francisco on business, and leave the animals with a friend who lives on a ranch on the other side of the mountains. But will the animals understand that they are not being abandoned? Or will they think they're trapped in a nightmarish four-footed remake of " Home Alone "?  I started to think of possible titles. "Bone Alone"? I asked myself what I was doing watching this movie. And then a funny thing happened. I got hooked by the story. I started to like the thing. The pets decide to return home, by crossing a mountain range. Along the way they have a lot of amazing adventures, few of them possible, most of them fun.

"Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" is a movie frankly designed for kids, and yet it has a certain craftsmanship and an undeniable charm, and if you find yourself watching it with a child you may end up liking it almost as much. You will almost certainly not be as disturbed when the cat, named Sassy, gets swept over a waterfall and is given up for drowned, because you know the unwritten rule in this genre is that kitty will turn up, wet and mad, a little farther downstream.

The animal actors - Ben the wise one, Rattler the brash one, and Tiki, the spoiled feline - are given voices by Don Ameche , Michael J. Fox and Sally Field . Sometimes the voices are just a little too smooth, but some of the lines are good, especially Sassy's.*

And the adventures are exciting almost precisely in proportion to their impossibility. By the time one dog lures a mountain lion onto the end of a log and the other dog jumps on the other end to catapult the dangerous beast into the river, we have given up looking for credibility, and are waiting for the animals to start solving mathematical equations and picking out simple tunes on the piano.

The director, Duwayne Dunham , and his cinematographer, Reed Smoot , must have had considerable patience to put together all of the complicated stunts in this movie. The animals must have, too. The movie is based on a 1963 Disney picture named "The Incredible Journey," unseen by me. In that one, I gather, the animals did not speak. I'm not sure if they did tricks with mountain lions.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Now playing

You Can Call Me Bill

Clint worthington.

We Grown Now

Peyton robinson.

Chicken for Linda!

Robert daniels.

Monica Castillo

We Were the Lucky Ones

Lousy Carter

Film credits.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Sally Field as Sassy

Michael J. Fox as Chance

Don Ameche as Shadow

Directed by

• Duwayne Dunham

Latest blog posts

Speed Kills: On the 25th Anniversary of Go

Joanna Arnow Made Her BDSM Comedy for You

The Movies That Underwent Major Changes After Their Festival Premiere

Netflix's Dead Boy Detectives Is A Spinoff Stuck In Limbo

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Stream & Watch 'Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey' Full Movie Online

Trailers & Clips

Cast & Crew

Movie details, homeward bound collection.

Featured News

Movie Recommendations

Movie reviews.

Follow Moviefone

Movie trailers.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey - Disney+

Disney+ hotstar home.

Two dogs and a cat embark on a great American journey to find their owners.

• Show Spoilers
• Night Vision
• Sticky Header
• Highlight Links

Follow TV Tropes

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/HomewardBoundTheIncredibleJourney

Film / Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Edit locked.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a 1993 film produced by Disney . It is live-action with voiceover narration and loosely based on an earlier film called The Incredible Journey , itself based on a 1961 book of the same name by Sheila Burnford. The film was the first one directed by Duwayne Dunham, who would go on to direct such films as Little Giants (1994) and Halloweentown (1998).

It follows a golden retriever (Shadow), an American bulldog (Chance), and a Himalayan cat (Sassy) as they trek through the wilderness of the American northwest to be reunited with their owners. Shadow was voiced by Don Ameche , Chance by Michael J. Fox , and Sassy by Sally Field .

There was a sequel released in 1996, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco . Ameche had died back in 1993, and Ralph Waite replaced him in the role of Shadow, while Fox and Field returned to their previous roles.

This movie contains examples of the following tropes:

• Adaptational Location Change : The original book and movie took place in Northwest Ontario; this movie is in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
• Adaptation Species Change : Happened in the transition from the book The Incredible Journey to the film. They're all the same breed types as the original, although the dogs have age and personality swapped: Shadow is Luath's breed type (retriever, though Shadow is a Golden and Luath a Labrador) and stone-cold determined personality with Bodger's age, Chance is Bodger's breed type (bully breeds; Chance is an American Bulldog and Bodger an English Bull Terrier) and devil-may-care personality with Luath's young age, and Tao the male Siamese is changed into Sassy the female Himalayan (a Persian/Siamese cross). In both versions, it's the young dog who has a bad run-in with a porcupine and the old dog who almost doesn't make it home at the end.
• Amplified Animal Aptitude : Two dogs and a cat are able to communicate, even having a rather eloquent conversation about the nature of their relationship with humans towards the middle of the film.
• Animal Talk : Between dogs and cats, at least.
• Chance has porcupine spines removed from his face while he's still conscious, even having several doctors hold him down. A vet in real life would have anesthetized Chance before going anywhere near the spines.
• Averted when the birdwatcher feeds Sassy goat milk, which is perfectly safe for cats.
• Artistic License – Physics : In dealing with the mountain lion, the see-saw plan would not have worked in real life. Chance jumps on the end of a rock to launch the mountain lion from the other side into a river. Trouble is, Chance likely doesn't weigh anywhere near enough as the mountain lion for this to work. And even if he did, the mountain lion goes flying , launched several feet into the air.
• Ass Kicks You : Chance's encounter with a porcupine ends with Chance getting a face full of porcupine quills when it whacks him with its tail. Chance: (whining in pain) He bit me with his butt!
• Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny! : Chance. He even ends up with a face full of quills for it because of his interest in a porcupine.
• Bait-and-Switch : At the end of the movie, Chance pauses outside the house to contemplatively narrate how he really, truly feels like he has a home and a family now. And then: Chance : TURKEY!!
• Bait-and-Switch Compassion : Invoked by Sassy. After an encounter with a bear, Sassy tells Chance the bear could have eaten him and asks him if he realizes how painful that would have been... for the bear.
• Bears Are Bad News : Chance learns this the hard way by scaring a couple of bear cubs who were trying to steal his fish. Their mother is none too pleased with him. Fortunately, the pets get away.
• Big Damn Reunion : The animals all make it back home just after the family thinks they're lost. "Peter..."
• Big Eater : Chance. A notable example is at the beginning of the film, where Chance manages to eat the entire wedding cake before the newlywed Seavers got a chance to cut it, much to the attendees' shock (and one old man's amusement). Chance later ends up regretting eating the cake when he is forced to vomit it out, apparently due to it disagreeing with his system. Chance : I learned an important lesson that day. Cake and polyester don't mix.
• After the pets are found, a whole string of these happen. Bob yells one after receiving a phone call about the pets being found. Then Peter delivers a string of quieter ones as he runs to join the rest of the family after school. Bob, Laura, Peter, and Hope walk into and disrupt Jamie's play rehearsal. Upon hearing the good news, Jamie cheers and drops a pumpkin he's holding , after which Bob hastily assures Jamie's teacher that the family will replace it. Laura : Jamie? Jamie : Mom? Laura, Bob, Peter, and Hope : We found 'em! Jamie : YEAH! *Drops a pumpkin, jumps off a block he standing on, and runs to his mother*
• Chance lets one out when he and Shadow manage to fend off the mountain lion, throwing it into a river.
• Bratty Half-Pint : Sassy. The smallest of the three pets, but the one with the most lip.
• Early in the film, Chance launches Sassy in the air with a seesaw. Shadow and Chance use this exact same trick on the mountain lion.
• The Call Knows Where You Live : Chance initially stays behind at the ranch while Shadow and Sassy run off towards the mountains. The turkey scares him off the ranch anyway.
• Calling Me a Logarithm : When Chance unintentionally gives Shadow a "Eureka!" Moment . Shadow : Chance, you're a genius! Chance : I am not! What's a genius? Shadow : Never mind!
• Canine Companion : Shadow tells Chance about the origins of the bond between man and dog, from the dog's point of view. Chance : But we didn't ask for this job. Shadow : We didn't have to. It's built in. Has been ever since the dawn of time, when a few wild dogs took it upon themselves to watch over man. To bark when he's in danger, to run and play with him when he's happy, to nuzzle him when he's lonely. That's why they call us "man's best friend."
• Can't Refuse the Call Anymore : The pets reach this point once they summit the hill beyond the ranch, looking down on the intimidating Sierras. At this point, the three are debating whether or not to continue, in which they agree to go with Shadow and make the trek home.
• Cassandra Truth : Shadow and Sassy don't believe Chance when he warns them about the pound , not realizing he's speaking from experience. The two find out the hard way he's right... from the animals' perspective, that is . Chance: The pound is where humans lock you up when they don't want you anymore! Sassy: Not want me ? Impossible!
• A Cat in a Gang of Dogs : Sassy in both movies is the only cat among dogs.
• Cats Are Mean : The mountain lion is treated as a vicious predator to the domesticated animals.
• Cats Are Snarkers : Sassy lives up to her name. She's far more snarky than Chance or Shadow. While the dogs do get a few barbs in, and Sassy can show genuine concern from time to time, she defaults to being snarky as her default behavior.
• This bites her in the ass when she ignores Shadow's warnings and attempts to cross the dangerous part of a river , all the while chanting "Cats rule and dogs drool!" This leads to her going over a waterfall and almost dying . This experience makes her more humble and grateful for her canine companions ( but no less pampered than before ).
• Cats Hate Water : Sassy goes out of her way to find a way to cross a river without getting wet. Unfortunately for her, one part of it wasn't quite stable and it collapsed, dumping her into the river and sending her over the Inevitable Waterfall . Shadow: It's fun to swim, you'll love it. Sassy: Except for the water part!
• Cats Have Nine Lives : After being rescued by the old man, Sassy wonders to herself which one of her lives she lost going over the waterfall. She figures it was her sixth, but decides to lie and say it was her fourth.
• As a prank in the beginning of the film, Chance pounces on a seesaw with Sassy on the lower end and catapults her onto the sandbox. Chance later does something very similar with a rock version, this time against a monstrous Mountain Lion that is very hungry, and in order to get rid of it for good.
• When Kate is leaving, she writes a note, but after closing the barn door, it then focuses on the note landing on a nearby haystack, indicating that it would become important later on. That's because the male rancher who is housesitting finds an outdated penned note in its place and thus mistakenly believed that she was taking Shadow, Chance, and Sassy to the vet. A scene only available on televised airings of the movie also has her discovering the note on the haystack while she was going to the barn with the male rancher to find out what was going on.
• Comical Overreacting : Sassy after Chance pushes her off of the seesaw and into the sandbox, landing on her feet. Sassy : He threw me in the big litter box! Call the vet now! I've never in my life! I think my fur is falling out! I'm losing my fur!
• Composite Character : Used oddly with the dogs as compared to the book — the two characters essentially switch ages and breed types, with personality following breed type. Shadow is Luath's breed type (retriever) and stone-cold determined personality with Bodger's age, and Chance is Bodger's breed type (bully breed, though Bodger's an English bull terrier and Chance is an American bulldog) and goofy personality with Luath's age. In both versions, the younger dog gets the porcupine quills to the face and it's the older dog who almost seems like he hasn't made it home at the end.
• Covers Always Lie : One cover shows both Shadow and Chance attempting to save Sassy from a river by pulling her onto a piece of timber. In the movie, only Shadow jumps in to try and save her, and no timber is involved.
• Cub Cues Protective Parent : Bear cubs, in this case, whose whines (courtesy of Chance trying to keep them from taking his fish) cause their mother to come to their aid.
• Dark Reprise : The main theme begins to play as Shadow jumps into the rapids to rescue Sassy, the implications being that he'll save her life . The tune sinks into a minor key as it becomes clear that this isn’t the case.
• Decomposite Character : The Seaver family have three children instead of two, and Jamie is the same age as Peter in the original film.
• Deadpan Snarker : Sassy, naturally.
• At the end of the movie, Shadow is injured and trapped, and tells Chance to go on without him. He somehow manages to get home anyway .
• At the end of the first act, Sassy goes over a waterfall. She survives thanks to a nature photographer finding her .
• In the climax of the movie, Shadow becomes trapped after falling through the floor of an old shack. Initially we're led to believe he doesn't make it home with Sassy and Chance, but he comes over the hill just as Peter turns away .
• Chance. Sassy is a big believer of this largely because of him.
• Shadow downplays this. He's far from stupid, but he can't seem to understand that Peter and the other humans aren't leaving them for good when the family leaves.
• The Door Slams You : Shadow "rescues" Chance from the pound this way by pouncing the fence right in front of the pound personnel.
• The plot kicks off because the animals get left on a farm. Though it's only for a few days, the animals think they've been abandoned.
• When the animals get taken to a pound later on, it's only until their family comes to pick them up. The pets, especially Chance, think they're never coming back out, and escape.
• Establishing Shot : When Shadow, Chance, and Sassy make it to the top of the first mountain, they (and the audience) get a good look at just what lies ahead for them. Chance: Whoa, you can see everything from here! Except the house, I don't see the house. Where's the house?
• Fat Bastard : Foote, the only staff member of the pound who genuinely antagonizes the animals. Sassy: Oh yeah, chow down, chubby.
• Female Feline, Male Mutt : Sassy being the feline with Chance and Shadow being the dogs.
• The Film of the Book : There's a few key differences between the book of the same name and this movie. For one, Sassy is male in the book, but female here.
• Flapping Cheeks : Chance seems to enjoy this during a car ride. "Batdog!"
• Friend to All Living Things : The birdwatcher who eventually rescues Sassy after she goes over the waterfall . In a scene shown only on television, he plays the saxophone, which the animals listen to.
• Funny Background Event : An accidental one at that: if you pay attention when Chance is jumping out of the car when they arrive at the ranch, he bumps the actor playing Jamie pretty hard against the door, causing the camera to quickly turn away when this happens as to avert the focus.
• Gender Flip : The character Sassy is based on is a male cat in the original novel.
• Good Samaritan : A bird watcher. He nurses Sassy back to health after she goes over a waterfall, finding her in the river.
• Hero Antagonist : The workers at the pound. They have nothing but the best interests of the animals at heart, and are only holding them there until their owners come get them. Also, doctors pull the porcupine spines out of Chance's face because he needs them removed, even if it hurts. Unfortunately, the animals grossly misinterpret what's happening, and cause even more trouble for themselves as a result.
• Heroic BSoD : Shadow and Chance, at the same time, after they fail to stop Sassy from plummeting over the waterfall, thinking she's dead .
• Both Shadow and Chance have their moments, but a big subversion comes about halfway through the movie when Shadow fails to save Sassy when she falls in the river , not that he didn't do everything he could.
• Sassy also gets a heroic cat moment when she engineers a plan to get everyone out of the animal shelter.
• Hoist by His Own Petard : Sassy refuses to cross the river where it was shallow, out of a stubborn desire to not get wet at all. The "bridge" she uses to cross the river breaks, sending her into the rapids... and over a waterfall.
• The Homeward Journey : An incredible one, at that. It's also the trope namer. The animals travel from a ranch all the way back to their home, to the east of the Sierra Nevadas.
• Earlier, Sassy tells Chance cats are smarter than dogs, but a moment later we see she doesn't understand the meaning of "stay" like dogs do. (Or, she does understand, but she doesn't care to actually obey — she is a cat, after all.)
• I Can See My House from Here : Played with during the film's Establishing Shot , when Chance remarks that he can see everything except their house.
• I Meant to Do That : Chance runs into a small tree after calling Sassy fat.
• Peter was worried Shadow will think he'll abandon him. After hearing about the pets running away:
• Chance warned Shadow and Sassy on several occasions about the pound, or the "bad place" (as he calls it in the sequel). When they end up there, Shadow admits that Chance knew it all along, although they don't realize they're only being kept there until their family arrives to pick them up.
• I Will Find You : Shadow to Peter. Trouble is, Shadow grossly misinterprets what's going on when Peter and the rest of the family leave.
• I Will Only Slow You Down : When the animals finally reach their hometown, they cross through a train yard, where Shadow falls into a muddy pit and injures his leg. Despondent, he tells Chance and Sassy to go on without him, and when Chance argues passionately, tells the younger dog he's learned all he needs; "Now all you have to learn is how to say goodbye."
• Inevitable Waterfall : Sassy goes over one, despite Shadow's efforts to save her. She survives thanks to being found by a nature watcher, but Chance and Shadow legitimately think that she's dead .
• It's All My Fault : Shadow blames himself for Sassy's Disney Death , saying that he shouldn't have made her come along. Chance tells him it wasn't his fault and that Sassy made that choice on her own, but Shadow tells him that he had a responsibility to protect Sassy — the same responsibility that he has to protect Chance and Peter.
• Jaw Drop : The Seavers do this when the animals come home. They'd basically been told at that point that their animals were all but gone, so seeing them make it back unhurt is astounding. Hope and Peter get the biggest ones when Sassy and Shadow come back.
• Kindhearted Cat Lover : The birdwatcher in the first movie. He finds the washed-up Sassy by a river, cleans her up, and is able to nurse her back to health. Based off her brief time with him, Sassy seems to have been grateful for him taking care of her.
• Later, Peter tells Shadow they won't come visit them for another two weeks. Shadow partially understood him, but rather annoyed. However, in a scene from the televised airing, they couldn't make it on that day either (due to another commitment), which is the reason why the pets (except Chance) don't understand why they haven't come yet.
• And Kate picks a quite unfortunate place to break off her note about the animals, so that when one of the papers goes astray, the first half implies she's taken them with her on a cattle drive. This results in a heavy delay in the search for them.
• Earlier, when seeing the scale of the mountains, Sassy goes, " Oh, Shhh -Shadow."
• Mama Bear : A rather literal example: Chance scares away two bear cubs who were stealing his fish. He later regrets this decision and barely escapes with his life when their mom arrives.
• Match Cut : Right after the porcupine incident, the scene dissolves, and we see a punk rocker-type with wild hair being brought into a San Fransisco police station for booking.
• Meadow Run : Two adorable examples, one when Shadow and Chance reunite with Sassy and once when the pets reunite with their humans.
• Meaningful Echo : Near the beginning, Shadow tells Peter "You're my favorite boy in the world. I love you." Chance thinks that it's just mushy stuff. In the end, however, he comes to embrace both his family and Jaime's role as his owner. "Jaime, you smell like a million bones! You're my favorite boy in the world! I love you, Jamie!"
• Men Like Dogs, Women Like Cats : Officially, Shadow and Chance belong to Peter and Jamie, respectively, while Sassy belongs to Hope. At the beginning of the movie, the kids generally accept each other's pets, but Chance is relatively new to the family, and he doesn't exactly score points with Hope for launching Sassy into the sandbox. The kids get along well with each other too, but when the pets go missing, each is concerned about them as a group, but chiefly worried about his or her own pet.
• Mentor Occupational Hazard : Subverted. It looks as though Shadow won't make it during the climax after falling through a hole and getting his leg injured — he even gives Chance a "you have to go on without me" speech — but he gets home.
• Missed Him by That Much : The animal trio escapes from the pound just as the family is pulling up to get them. In one shot, the family passes the pets on the road. Shadow gets the feeling that they ought to turn back, but shrugs it off and keeps going.
• The pets and the little girl in the woods are found by rescue workers. We get a heartwarming montage but suddenly: ( Scare Chord ) Chance: THEY TOOK US TO THE POUND!
• Mystery Meat : There's a short scene where Shadow and Chance discuss what they think hot dogs are made of. Chance doubts that they're made of dog, while Shadow doubts that they're even made of meat. Then agree that they taste the best when they fall in the dirt.
• Mythology Gag : Before they take their stepdad Bob Seaver's last name, Peter, Jamie, and Hope's last name is Burnford, the same as the writer of the original book.
• Never Going Back to Prison : Chance, who spent some time in the pound, struggles to escape from a pound worker, yelling, "I'm not going back! No way!"
• Nice Mean And In Between : Shadow, the wise Cool Old Guy , is the Nice, the grouchy Jerk with a Heart of Gold Sassy is the Mean, and Chance is the naive but loyal In-between.
• No Good Deed Goes Unpunished : The trio rescue a lost girl in the woods, and are rewarded with a trip to the pound. It's only to wait for their owners, but they don't realize that.
• Not Now, Kiddo : Chance trying to warn Shadow about the Mountain Lion. Shadow : ( irritated ) Young dog, just— ( sees the mountain lion, snarling viciously ) RUN!
• Off Screen Moment Of Awesome : It's not shown how Shadow manages to get out and go home after falling and getting injured and trapped in an old cavern.
• Old Dog : Shadow. Though it was only after injuring himself from falling in a cavern that he fully comes to terms with this. He still makes it.
• Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping : In the Danish dub, Sassy's voice actress Søs Egelind clearly tries to voice Sassy with an affected North Zealand accent (stereotypically associated with the upper class), but often lapses into her native Eastern Jutland accent (Jutlandic accents are stereotypically associated with rural people). Especially her way of pronouncing the words "mig" ("me") and "dig" ("you") comes off as a really weird mix between the two accents, making Sassy sound like a classy lady and a bumpkin at the same time.
• As Chance is chewing on a shoe, he offers a piece to Sassy:
• After Chance gets himself injured by a porcupine:
• "Whatever you do, don't lick yourself."
• Platonic Declaration of Love : Chance to Shadow when the latter falls into a hole towards the end of their journey and declares himself too old to climb out of it. Shadow: I have nothing more to give, Chance. And it's time for you to be on your own. Chance: But I want you with me. I love you, Shadow. Shadow: ... you've learned everything you need, Chance. Now all you have to learn... is how to say goodbye.
• When Sassy initially refuses to come along — saying that it was a lovely journey, but she'll just wait for the bus — Shadow notes that she'd be left in the middle of nowhere, alone. Sassy: You two are really gonna go off and leave me here? Shadow: You wait for that bus. You'll do fine.
• A much more dramatic example occurs towards the film's conclusion. Shadow falls into a hole, and appears to be too injured to continue. However, Chance jumps down in an attempt to tell Shadow that he can do it . It appears as if Shadow is ready to give up, but Chance utterly refuses to let Shadow quit, even telling Shadow that he loves him. It must have worked, because Shadow does eventually manage to get out .
• Police Are Useless : Downplayed. While the San Francisco PD doesn't consider missing pets vital enough to warrant a police search, they suggest to Peter that he puts up missing posters of the animals (with both Peter and the cop unaware at the time that his stepfather's already done so).
• Pounds Are Animal Prisons : Subverted. The animals see the pound as this, especially when Chance starts freaking out at being taken to one. But Chance only freaks out because he went to one when he was a puppy, and he believes that this is what's going to happen to them. In truth, the animal handlers really do have their best interests at heart. The only reason the three main characters are taken there are so their owners can be contacted and given back to the pets. A 'torture' given to Chance is when the pound workers remove porcupine quills he has stuck in his face. All in all, it's not animal prison, but Chance, Shadow and Sassy think it is due to their misunderstanding of what the humans are doing.
• When Chance unsuccessfully tries to catch a rabbit, he says "I hate fast food."
• Sassy gets hit on by a bunch of dogs as she passes by them in the pound, to which she says "I don't believe it. Catcalls."
• Properly Paranoid : Shadow at one point tries to get the attention of a group of people who are looking for a little girl lost in the woods. Chance protests fearing that they will take them to the pound and lock them up. Later, that's exactly where they are taken. What Chance doesn't realize, however, is that the people who took them there had good intentions and were just trying to help the pets reunite with their owners.
• The Quincy Punk : A mohawked example is briefly shown getting booked in a San Francisco police station shortly before Peter comes in to ask for help in finding the family pets.
• Recognizable by Sound : When the ending starts, the family hears Chance barking. Hope says "I know that bark! It is him!" Sure enough, Chance comes bounding over a hill moments later.
• Right for the Wrong Reasons : Chance says they should just stay at the farm because they've been abandoned. Of course he's right that they should have stayed, but not because they were abandoned, but because their owners were coming back for them in a couple of weeks anyways (however a deleted scene reveals they were unable to make it, which only proved Chance right).
• Rousing Speech : Chance gives Shadow this to get him to climb out of a pit, with a little bit of What the Hell, Hero? at the beginning. Chance: You pushed me this far, now I'm pushing you the rest of the way! You know, back in the woods, even when things looked really bad, I always thought we'd make it because I thought you were too stubborn to quit! Well, you're not gonna quit, not now! Not when we're this close!
• Scenery Porn : You get to see just how beautiful the Sierra Nevada Mountains are as the pets make their way home.
• Short Cuts Make Long Delays : At first, Shadow thinks that they can get home just by going over a mountain. When Sassy reminds Shadow it took them ages to get this far, Shadow tells her that they went the long way, and that going straight up and over the mountain is the shortcut. Nope. But that doesn't stop him.
• When Chance flings the cougar (or, as he called it, "Arnold Schwarzakitty") into the air, he yells, " Hasta la vista , kitty!"
• The Mission: Impossible theme plays as Sassy infiltrates the pound.
• Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism : The first film is firmly set in the idealistic end of the spectrum, as the main characters are able to trek past the dangerous Sierras and return home on instinct alone, while the humans (even the pound keepers ) all have the best interests for animals at heart. The sequel , on the other hand, is more decidedly realistic, as the conflict is instigated by a moment of animalistic panic, as opposed to the careful consideration of the previous film's journey; the main characters are lost in the city, with no clear path home; and the reality of pet abandonment — which was only briefly touched upon in the first film — is much more thoroughly analyzed .
• Smelly Skunk : Chance got inflicted with this trope during their journey home. Chance: (sniffing inside a hollow trunk) What's that smell? Smells interesting. * HISSSS* [Chance runs away. A skunk comes out.] Chance: Woo-hoo-hoo! I never thought anything can smell too much! Hey Shadow, wanna have some fun, stick your head in that hole!
• Team Dad : Shadow is older and wiser than Chance or Sassy, and acts as such.
• That Poor Cat : Invoked when Kate accidentally stepped on Sassy's tail during the chaotic attempt at feeding Chance.
• Translation Convention : The pets are dubbed in English, along with a couple of animals at the animal shelter.
• Tropey, Come Home : Invoked. The pets run away, and their humans spend the rest of the movie trying to find them.
• Tsundere : Sassy, who is very snarky, but rest assured she does love both "her boys" and Hope.
• And for dogs in general. Shadow calls Chance out for not caring about their owners and thinking so little of humans, although, in Chance's defense, he's been abandoned before, something Shadow hasn't experienced.
• Ungrateful Bastard : The animals think of the humans who sent them to the pound as this after they had helped rescue a little girl lost in the woods. It's unfortunate because the humans were extremely grateful for their help, and only sent them to the pound so they could both treat Chance for his injuries and to have a safe spot for their owners to come collect them.
• Ventriloquist Animal : The pets talk but don't move their mouths to do it.
• Vitriolic Best Buds : Chance and Sassy. The two practically never stop bickering and complaining about each other, but when push comes to shove, they try as hard as anyone else to help the other out.
• What's an X Like You Doing in a Y Like This? : The reaction Sassy gets from an older man who finds her washed up on a riverside.
• The Muppet Christmas Carol
• Creator/Walt Disney Pictures
• A Far Off Place
• High School Musical
• MediaNotes/General Audiences Rating
• Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
• Canine Fiction
• Hocus Pocus
• Feline Fiction
• The Home Teachers
• AmericanFilms/H to M
• Films of 1990–1994
• Hot Shots! Part Deux
• Show Within a Show
• ImageSource/Live-Action Films (A to L)
• A Pet into the Wild
• Family Versus Career
• QuoteSource/Live-Action Films (A to L)
• Pounds Are Animal Prisons

Important Links

• Action Adventure
• Commercials
• Crime & Punishment
• Professional Wrestling
• Speculative Fiction
• Sports Story
• Animation (Western)
• Music And Sound Effects
• Print Media
• Sequential Art
• Tabletop Games
• Applied Phlebotinum
• Characterization
• Characters As Device
• Narrative Devices
• British Telly
• The Contributors
• Creator Speak
• Derivative Works
• Laws And Formulas
• Show Business
• Split Personality
• Truth And Lies
• Truth In Television
• Fate And Prophecy
• Edit Reasons
• Isolated Pages
• Images List
• Recent Videos
• Crowner Activity
• Un-typed Pages
• Recent Page Type Changes
• Trope Entry
• Character Sheet
• Playing With
• Creating New Redirects
• Cross Wicking
• Tips for Editing
• Text Formatting Rules
• Handling Spoilers
• Administrivia
• Trope Repair Shop
• Image Pickin'

Advertisement:

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

The 25 best childhood movies for when you're feeling nostalgic

Entertainment Weekly takes a trip down memory lane with our favorite family films from bygone eras.

When life is stressful, and sometimes it feels like there is no place you can escape to. Fortunately, that’s not true; if nothing else, there’s the warm embrace that comes from watching your favorite movies from childhood.

However, nostalgia can be a dangerous thing. The films you once loved may be downright disappointing when you revisit them as an adult. That’s why we sifted through our dusty DVDs (and even VHS tapes) to find the films that are worth a trip down memory lane. Here are the best childhood movies for when you’re craving a blast from the past.

A Goofy Movie (1995)

A Goofy Movie is nostalgic in more ways than one. This cult classic is now remembered as one of Disney’s last great 2-D films before everything went the way of Pixar. It’s hard to watch this tale of young Max (Jason Marsden) on a road trip from hell with father Goofy ( Bill Farmer ) while desperately trying to impress the girl of his dreams and not think about your own awkward adolescence and familial ties. As EW’s critic points out, it also has an old-fashioned “idealistic hearts-and-flowers message that telling the truth will make you a hero.”

Where to watch A Goofy Movie : Disney+

Director: Kevin Lima

Cast: Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings, Kellie Martin

Related content: Revisiting the songs of A Goofy Movie

Air Bud (1997)

Air Bud wears its heart on its sleeve — er, paw — as a story about a young teen ( Kevin Zegers ) who copes with his father’s death by adopting a dog with a preternatural talent for playing basketball. Dealing with the pressures of life in a new town becomes that much easier when he takes the advice of a kind former athlete (Bill Cobbs) to try out. It’s not too long before the golden retriever becomes the real star thanks to his inexplicable hoop skills, teaching us an important message: “Ain't no rule says a dog can't play basketball!"

Where to watch Air Bud : Disney+ 

Director: Charles Martin Smith

Cast: Kevin Zegers, Michael Jeter, Wendy Makkena, Bill Cobbs, Eric Christmas

Related content: Ranking Air Bud 's 5 sports skills

Aladdin (1992)

Disney’s original Aladdin infused the company’s usual fairytale charm with equally powerful jolts of action and comedy. It’s difficult not to get caught up in the dreams of a young street urchin (Scott Weinger) who dreams of a lush life with a beautiful princess (Linda Larkin). Those aspirations are threatened by a creepy Grand vizier (Jonathan Freeman), but a magic lamp has a few twists of fate in store for young Aladdin. The real star is Robin Williams ’ genie; as EW’s critic noted , the late star’s improvisational “madness flows in torrents. It’s as if, by being cut off from his physical body, Williams is free to reach newer and purer levels of gonzo.”

Where to watch Aladdin : Disney+  

EW grade: A ( read the review )

Director: John Musker, Ron Clements

Cast: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried

Related content: Aladdin : Genie, peddler theory confirmed by directors

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast lives up to its name, giving us a timeless tale of an inventor’s bookworm daughter ( Paige O'Hara ) who is imprisoned by a monstrous beast (Robby Benson) before discovering the softer side of Stockholm Syndrome. Sure, the trope of the local hunky hunter (Richard White) being the real threat is less than subtle, but the film compensates with its sheer charm. As EW’s critic wrote, the film emphasizes “the miraculous buoyancy of movement, as if everything on-screen, from the proud heroes to the birdies in the trees, were part of the same swirling visual symphony.”

Where to watch Beauty and the Beast : Disney+  

EW grade: B ( read the review )

Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Cast: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury

Related content: An oral history of the animated Beauty and the Beast

Cinderella (1997)

In retrospect, this ’90s Cinderella was an early Disney experiment in creating live-action remakes of famous animated features. It gussies up an already-timeless tale with music from Rodgers and Hammerstein and big-name stars, including Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother and Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen. The essential story is still the same, with Cinderella ( Brandy Norwood ) falling in love with a dashing prince (Paolo Montalban). The modern updates are hit-or-miss, but as EW’s reviewer noted, the cast is killer , lauding Norwood specifically for being “adorable.” 

Where to watch Cinderella (1997): Disney+ 

Director: Robert Iscove

Cast: Whitney Houston, Brandy Norwood, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander

Related content: 12 Cinderella movie adaptations, ranked

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a great childhood movie in which legendary director Steven Spielberg plumbs the depths of the audience's imagination, seeing an alien befriend an earthling ( Henry Thomas ) who eventually lets his siblings (including a young Drew Barrymore ) in on the secret. The candy-crushing charms of E.T. are counterbalanced by some scary scenes involving government agents who relentlessly investigate outer space’s secrets. Some parts may be intense for younger children, but nobody knows how to make our inner child laugh — and cry — like Spielberg.

Where to watch E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)  

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote

Related content: The story behind E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Half a decade before he kicked off the MCU, director Jon Favreau created this holiday classic about Buddy ( Will Ferrell ), one of Santa’s elves who discovers he’s actually human and sets off on a madcap quest to find his biological father in New York City. The plot is mostly an excuse for Ferrell to bounce his manic whimsy off an incredible cast, including Zooey Deschanel and Peter Dinklage, but that’s a large part of why this nostalgic hit resonates with families each holiday season.

Where to watch Elf : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)  

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Asner

Related content: Behind the scenes of Elf with Will Ferrell

FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)

20th Century Fox/courtesy Everett Collection

FernGully: The Last Rainforest is a surprisingly engaging tale of a forest fairy ( Samantha Mathis ) who must save the titular rainforest from a malevolent spirit (Tim Curry) that wants to destroy everything she knows and loves. The entire voice cast is talented, but to nobody’s shock, Robin Williams steals every scene he’s in as a bonkers bat with madcap dialogue that feels a bit like the Genie from Aladdin after drinking way too much coffee. The movie’s message is important as well, which EW’s critic says “makes a good eco-lesson for kids and for parents who often can’t see the rainforest for the trees.”

Where to watch FernGully: The Last Rainforest : Tubi

EW grade: N/A ( read the review )

Director: Bill Kroyer

Cast: Tim Curry, Samantha Mathis, Christian Slater, Jonathan Ward, Robin Williams

Related content: 15 pop culture staples that'll make you want to save the Earth

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire had some big magical boots to fill after Prisoner of Azkaban (which is widely considered the best film of the franchise ), but this tale of Harry ( Daniel Radcliffe ) surviving a deadly tournament with the help of Ron and Hermione ( Rupert Grint and Emma Watson ) and trying to keep Lord Voldemort ( Ralph Fiennes ) at bay still sings. Bright and full of delights, the film is arguably more nostalgic than its predecessor because of its keen, deadpan humor. To quote EW’s critic , director Mike Newell “has a gift for light comedy, and he knows just how to release the sour-ball charm of his fellow Brits.”

Where to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire : Peacock   

Director: Mike Newell

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Miranda Richardson

Related content: Harry Potter 's Oliver Phelps reveals a scene in Goblet of Fire was unexpectedly 'dangerous'

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

For a certain generation, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is an unforgettable animal adventure. This is the fur-flying story of two dogs (voiced by Michael J. Fox and Don Ameche) and a cat (voiced by Sally Field ) who are separated from their humans and embark on a wilderness adventure full of dangers like bears and snakes. If you don’t mind a few tears, this is fuzzy nostalgia at its best, and a film that EW’s critic lauded as “a breath of animal-oriented realism.”

Where to watch Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey : Disney+ 

Director: Duwayne Dunham

Cast: Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, Don Ameche, Robert Hays, Kim Greist

Related content: I'm Still Not Over... Shadow's almost-death in Homeward Bound

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Studio Ghibli/Ntv/Tokuma 

From legendary director Hayao Miyazaki , Howl’s Moving Castle is about an orphaned girl (Chieko Baisho) whose new wizard friend (Takuya Kimura) has a magical castle in the sky. When she finds herself in the crosshairs of an angry witch (Akihiro Miwa), it’s up to Howl the wizard to save her. This isn’t Harry Potter , however, as the heartfelt movie is more about introspection than mystical battle royales. As EW’s reviewer points out , the film has a kid-friendly message that “coming into one’s own is the most heroic — and magical — experience of all.”

Where to watch Howl’s Moving Castle : Max 

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa

Related content: All of the Studio Ghibli movies, ranked

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

20th Century Fox / Everett

The premise of Mrs. Doubtfire is decidedly un-PC: It’s about a recent divorcee ( Robin Williams ) who decided to stay close to his family by dressing up as their very elderly, very female nanny. These days, it’s admittedly hard not to sympathize more with his ex-wife (Sally Field) and her hunky new beau ( Pierce Brosnan ), but the combination of great physical comedy and sharp comic dialogue makes the film hard to resist. Problematic plot or not, EW’s reviewer put his finger on the real reason to return to this film: the “inspired comic performance” of Williams.

Where to watch Mrs. Doubtfire : Disney+   

Director: Chris Columbus

Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Robert Prosky

Related content: Remembering Robin Williams: The Mrs. Doubtfire sequel that almost was

My Girl (1991)

Columbia/courtesy Everett Collection

Sometimes, childhood nostalgia is a bit sad, especially when you decide to rewatch My Girl . This is the story of a young girl ( Anna Chlumsky ) whose dad ( Dan Aykroyd ) runs the town funeral parlor. She soon develops a sweet relationship with a young boy (Macaulay Culkin) who has major allergies and a big heart. Everyone remembers its tear-jerking conclusion, but the film should be remembered for Chlumsky’s performance. As EW’s critic noted , “She has an affecting vulnerability, and she manages something rare in a child performer: You constantly see [her] mind working, yet she never seems like a coy show-off.”

Where to watch My Girl : Amazon Prime Video (to rent) 

Director: Howard Zieff

Cast: Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Macaulay Culkin, Griffin Dunne

Related content: Macaulay Culkin in his first screen kiss

Space Jam (1996)

The plot of Space Jam is hilariously absurd. When our favorite Looney Tunes characters are threatened by aliens, Bugs Bunny and crew must beat their foes in a game of basketball. To do so, they recruit (who else?) Michael Jordan . MJ is just one of a bunch of big stars who appear as themselves, including Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, and Bill Murray for some reason. But for the target kid audience, the true appeal is seeing live-action characters interact with famous cartoons. Thin story or not, there is plenty of heart in what EW’s reviewer admittedly called “an 87-minute novelty act that grew out of a TV commercial for sneakers.”

Where to watch Space Jam : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Director: Joe Pytka

Cast: Michael Jordan, Billy West, Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle, Danny DeVito

Related content: Space Jam: The story behind Michael Jordan's improbable victory

Stand by Me (1986)

Stand by Me traces the starkly genuine friendship between very different boys ( Wil Wheaton , River Phoenix , Corey Feldman , and Jerry O’Connell) as they make a macabre journey to see a dead body. It’s funnier than it sounds, thanks to everything from their amusing misadventures (swamp leeches, oncoming trains) to their wisecracking chemistry. That makes the film consistently enjoyable even in its more melancholy moments, as we spend time with a tight-knit group who are, as EW’s critic pointed out , “bound together for what feels like an eternity of campfire tales, pinkie swears, and debates about whether Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman.”

Where to watch Stand by Me : Hulu  

EW grade: B+ ( read the review )

Director: Rob Reiner

Cast: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland

Related content: Kiefer Sutherland reveals how he, River Phoenix, and a guitar may have inspired Stand by Me 's title

The Goonies (1985)

The Goonies is vintage Steven Spielberg storytelling at its best, even if it was Richard Donner behind the camera instead of Spielberg (who created the concept) himself. Donner delivers an unforgettable tale of precocious kids (including Sean Astin and Corey Feldman) who set off on a desperate attempt to find hidden treasure and save their parents’ homes. Along the way, they tangle with scary criminals, find an unexpected ally, and learn a bit more about what it means to grow up. That’s ironic, of course, because re-watching this movie is the quickest way to feel like a kid again. After all, what’s the point of nostalgia if we can’t relive our youth?

Where to watch The Goonies : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)   

Director: Richard Donner

Cast: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, Ke Huy Quan, Anne Ramsey

Related content: The Goonies cast: Where are they now?

The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant is Brad Bird ’s animated love letter to a bygone age. The movie focuses on how the titular giant (a powerful and mysterious robot voiced by Vin Diesel ) changes the lives of the young boy (Eli Marienthal) who befriends him and other memorable characters like the local beatnik artist ( Harry Connick Jr. ). Both nostalgia and Cold War paranoia are baked into the ambitious tale which, as EW’s critic declared , “transports you back to that moment in the Atomic Age when a simple nuts-and-bolts robot could seem as magical to a kid as anything in science fiction.”

Where to watch The Iron Giant : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)   

EW grade: A- ( read the review )

Director: Brad Bird

Cast: Eli Marienthal, Vin Diesel, Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Aniston, James Gammon, Cloris Leachman, John Mahoney

Related content: How The Iron Giant director Brad Bird built a robot with a soul

The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King has sometimes been dismissed as Hamlet for kids, but it’s so much more than that. This film about a young lion (voiced by both Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick ) whose father (James Earl Jones ) is killed by an evil, usurping uncle (Jeremy Irons) defined a generation. It’s not so much a story of growing up as deciding what kind of person you want to be (or not to be). Disney songs have never been catchier, nor the characters more colorful, and the messages — about maturing and embracing your full potential — are truly timeless.

Where to watch The Lion King : Disney+   

Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Cast: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly

Related content: All the differences between the original Lion King and the 2019 remake

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

The Mighty Ducks initially appears to be a standard sports film about a disgraced lawyer and former athlete ( Emilio Estevez ) whose community service punishment for a DUI is coaching a local hockey team. Sure, it sounds like Bad News Bears on ice, but the narrative is delightfully unpredictable. The kids — including Joshua Jackson and Elden Henson — are charming and funny, but the real star is the amusingly out-of-place Estevez, who makes the most out of every scene. As EW’s critic originally noted , that makes this the rare “kids’ movie that’s mostly about an adult.”

Where to watch The Mighty Ducks : Disney+

Director: Stephen Herek

Cast: Emilio Estevez, Joss Ackland, Lane Smith, Joshua Jackson, Heidi Kling, Elden Henson

Related content: Mighty Ducks oral history: What we learned

The Muppet Movie (1979)

Kermit and the gang have had many theatrical adventures, but none are as memorable as the original. The Muppet Movie sees everyone's favorite frog chasing a career in show business, but that’s mostly an excuse for him to go on a crazy road trip and bounce off fellow Muppets like Miss Piggy and a live-action trickster (Charles Durning). Trust us: You’ll be humming “Rainbow Connection” all day after you re-watch this classic.

Where to watch The Muppet Movie : Disney+ 

Director: James Frawley

Cast: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Charles Durning

Related content: Watch Jamie Dornan channel Kermit the Frog in adorable, spot-on rendition of 'Rainbow Connection'

The NeverEnding Story (1984)

Is there any child of the ’80s who wasn’t traumatized by The NeverEnding Story ? It’s about a young boy (Barret Oliver) who escapes the trauma of school bullies and the recent death of his mother by disappearing into fantastic tales. One magical book sends him on a literal (and literary) journey, where he intersects with a noble warrior (Noah Hathaway) who’s trying to heal a sick empress (Tami Stronach). Sure, the movie includes one traumatizing scene we won’t talk about here, but the powerful work of Alan Oppenheimer — who lends his voice to several key characters — helps audiences remember the spectacle more than the sadness.

Where to watch The NeverEnding Story : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Cast: Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, Patricia Hayes, Sydney Bromley, Alan Oppenheimer

Related content: The NeverEnding Story oral history: How 3 kids helped save the world

The Princess Bride (1987)

Despite its modern framing device as a purely fictional fairytale, The Princess Bride is a sincere fantasy adventure, complete with a heroic farmhand ( Cary Elwes ) out to save a beautiful princess (Robin Wright) from a royal drip (Chris Sarandon). With the help of a fencing master ( Mandy Patinkin ) and other eccentric allies, he must navigate everything from evil servants to rodents of unusual size. Speaking of unusual size, EW’s review singled out one unexpectedly great performance : “ The Princess Bride is a fun, sad, scary, witty fairy tale featuring the greatest performance ever given by a professional wrestler, the late Andre the Giant.”

Where to watch The Princess Bride : Disney+   

Cast: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Chris Sarandon, 

Related content: What more is there to say about The Princess Bride ?

The Sandlot (1993)

The Sandlot has a nominal plot about a new kid in town (Tom Guiry) who must retrieve an invaluable baseball from the home of a neighbor ( James Earl Jones ) whose fearsome dog, “The Beast,” keeps a vigilant, slobbery watch. That conflict is a launching point for a film about the joys of being young and exploring friendship through shared activities in the summertime. The movie was made for children but now holds special appeal for adults. As EW’s critic put it , “Certainly the sight of nine middle-class kids playing ball instead of Nintendo on a sunny day will draw a nostalgic sigh from any parent.”

Where to watch The Sandlot : Disney+ 

Director: David Mickey Evans

Cast: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi, Denis Leary, Karen Allen, James Earl Jones

Related content: Secrets of The Sandlot

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz is the timeless classic of a young girl ( Judy Garland ) taken far from Kansas and deposited in a fabulous new land filled with figures like a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), Tin Man (Jack Haley), Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton). The film’s use of color, comedy, and music still holds up almost 100 years later, with visual wonders and oddball surprises helping to keep the whole family engaged. According to EW’s writer, that broad appeal is by design , as the movie “remains the weirdest, scariest, kookiest, most haunting and indelible kid-flick-that’s-really-for-adults ever made in Hollywood.”

Where to watch The Wizard of Oz : Max  

Director: Victor Fleming

Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton

Related content: How the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz became the ultimate Hollywood symbol

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Robert Zemeckis directed Who Framed Roger Rabbit , and it shows. This tale of a grizzled detective (Bob Hoskins) helping an animated rabbit (Charles Fleischer) defeat an evil judge ( Christopher Lloyd ) who has figured out how to kill cartoons incorporates the comedy beats you’d expect from Back to the Future with the manic panic of the weirdest Looney Tunes shorts. The animation is subtle and the performances are perfectly over-the-top. Those strengths work in tandem to blend different genres, elevating and uniting them into an exploration of animation and live-action that, to this day, has never been topped. 

Where to watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit : Disney+  

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Cast: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer, Kathleen Turner, Joanna Cassidy, Mel Blanc

Related content: Christopher Lloyd recalls favorite scene and more from Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Related Articles

The most memorable dogs from movies

Posted: May 10, 2023 | Last updated: July 29, 2023

Dog is man’s best friend, or so the old adage goes. Dogs are often costars of their human counterparts as well. Canines pop up in films with frequency. Sometimes, they even star in movies. Dogs can’t talk, at least without the help of movie magic, but they can make memorable turns in films. These are the pooches that still stick with us.

“Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” (1993)

A remake of a 1963 movie, “Homeward Bound” was a classic family film in the ‘90s. It tells the story of two dogs, Shadow and Chance, and a cat, Sassy, who are lost far from home. Having Michael J. Fox provide the voice of one of the dogs probably helped.

You may also like: 20 films that spawned unexpected franchises

“Beethoven” (1992)

There are no talking dogs in “Beethoven.” Just a gigantic St. Bernard making Charles Grodin miserable. Grodin was perfect casting for a film like this. He plays put-upon dad with gusto against his large, hirsute costar.

Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive entertainment content.

“Turner & Hooch” (1989)

Grodin did great work with a dog, and so did Tom Hanks. Early in his career, before he was an Oscars darling, Hanks played a cop who is paired with a dog on a case. It’s a mismatched buddy cop film at its core, but one of them is a canine. Hanks has to shoulder the load, but he has no problem with it, of course. He even nails the dramatic moments.

You may also like: The most tantalizing "What Ifs" in Hollywood history

“The Shaggy Dog” (1959)

“The Shaggy Dog” has been remade a few times, but we are going with the original. The story is simple. Tommy Kirk, a Disney movie staple, plays a teenage boy who periodically turns into, well, a shaggy dog. Fred MacMurray, also a Disney staple, is around as well. Amazingly, this movie got a sequel called “The Shaggy D.A.” Yes, it’s about an attorney who turns into a dog.

“Marley & Me” (2008)

Dog lovers put themselves through the wringer with “Marley & Me.” At this point, it’s not a spoiler to say the dog at the center of the film doesn’t make it until the end. You may shed some tears like so much dog fur, but the movie has a ton of fans regardless.

You may also like: The greatest Yacht Rock songs of all time

“One Hundred and One Dalmatians” (1961)

Hey, animated dogs still count. Plus, there are a ton of dogs in this movie. At least, like, 50 if we had to guess. Of course, in addition to all the dogs there is one of the iconic Disney villains, Cruella de Vil, who eventually got her own live-action movie where she’s played by Emma Stone.

“Scooby-Doo” (2002)

Scooby-Doo has been on our TV screens for decades. He also has popped up in film a couple of times. The “Scooby-Doo” movies are a who’s who of 2000s actors like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Matthew Lillard, and the CGI hasn’t aged great, but the first movie still has its fun moments.

You may also like: The 25 best Gen-X films

“Bolt” (2008)

The highest-grossing dog movie not adjusted for inflation? You can probably guess, given that we’re talking about it right now. Yes, it’s “Bolt.” Is it a “classic” dog movie in the traditional sense? Maybe not, but obviously ton of people have seen it, and we bet kids in 2008 enjoyed it quite a bit.

“A Dog’s Purpose” (2017)

Well, “A Dog’s Purpose” is certainly memorable. Is it good? We wouldn’t go that far, but this film about a dog that keeps getting effectively reincarnated definitely made a mark. It’s the dog movie that dares to kill the dog not just once, but multiple times!

You may also like: 20 facts you might not know about 'Tropic Thunder'

“K-9” (1989)

Apparently 1989 was big for dogs and cops joining forces. This time, it’s Jim Belushi in the role of the cop, and his dog partner is a German shepherd, a more-traditional choice than Hooch. The movie isn’t quite on par with the Tom Hanks vehicle of the same year, but it found success anyway.

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua” (2008)

What a ludicrous film. Even among movies about talking dogs this one is bonkers, and also bad. And yet, the trailers made us admittedly fascinated, and the movies (yes, they made more than one) do have that “so bad, it’s good” quality.

You may also like: The 20 best songs about the music industry

“Lady and the Tramp” (1955)

The quintessential animated dog movie. “Lady and the Tramp” tells a classic tale of star-crossed lovers. They just happen to be dogs. At least they got to share a famous plate of pasta.

“A Dog of the Regiment” (1927)

Rin Tin Tin was, no joke, once one of the biggest movie stars in the world. People loved to watch the German shepherd rescued from a battlefield during  World War I. He would literally headline movies, and it was even an urban legend he was voted the original winner of Best Actor at the first Oscars, but the Academy wouldn’t have it. He mostly starred in silent movies and we chose “A Dog of the Regiment” as our Rin Tin Tin entry because, well, just look at the poster.

You may also like: 20 facts you might not know about 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'

“Benji” (1974)

“Benji” is a true American success story. Director Joe Camp couldn’t get any studio to make his movie about a mutt on an adventure. He made it for $500,000. It made $45 million, and then spawned four sequels, including the ominously named “Benji the Hunted.”

“Cujo” (1983)

Benji is a friendly dog. Cujo? Not so much. Admittedly, he was nice enough at first. Then, the massive St. Bernard contracted rabies. Suddenly, he was rabid, violent, and trapped a mother and her son in their car in this adaptation of a Stephen King story.

You may also like: The best TV shows that lasted only one season

“The Adventures of Milo and Otis” (1989)

Originally a Japanese movie, “The Adventures of Milo and Otis” tells the tale of a tabby cat and a pug. Apparently it was shot over four years, presumably just to get enough footage of the animals doing interesting things. It was adapted for American audiences by cutting out 15 minutes and adding narration by Dudley Moore. This worked, as it was a hit.

“Lassie” (1994)

Obviously, originally Lassie became an iconic character thanks to television. Many years later, and with a different dog of course, we got a “Lassie” movie. It’s exactly what you would expect. A collie helps some people out. There are no surprises to a movie about Lassie, but people went to it to get exactly what they were promised.

You may also like: The 25 highest all-time grossing films in the U.S.

“Air Bud” (1997)

One of the more-inexplicable movie series ever, “Air Bud” has made an impact on pop culture we cannot deny. This film about a dog that plays basketball basically revitalized the “animal plays sports” genre. It introduced a whole new generation to the “There’s nothing in the rulebook!” trope. Thanks, “Air Bud.”

“The Mask” (1994)

We end this list with two movies not explicitly about dogs, but prominently featuring a dog. “The Mask” centers on Jim Carrey as a guy who puts on a mask and turns into a living cartoon. It was also Cameron Diaz’s first movie. Of course, we also of course remember when Stanley Ipkiss’ dog Milo puts the mask on as well. Truly, he was smokin’.

You may also like: The 25 greatest action hero names of all time

“There’s Something About Mary” (1998)

The dog in “There’s Something About Mary” didn’t have the best time. It goes through some rough stuff. Hey, this is a shock-value, gross-out comedy. Putting the little pup through the wringer was part of that. Maybe the dog in “There’s Something About Mary” isn’t as famous as Mary and the “hair gel,” but the dog is definitely a standout.

Did you enjoy this slideshow? Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive entertainment content.

More for You

Megan Fox Signs With UTA

7 Ways People Destroy the Value of Their Homes, According to a Real Estate Agent

Here's No. 1 thing mentally strong couples 'never' do, says relationship therapist of 20 years

How Much Beer You'd Have To Drink To Equal A Single Shot Of Liquor

A woman said her tattoos got her rejected for a job, but experts say personality is far more important

Do I have to pay off my spouse's debts when they die? Here's what you're responsible for and what you aren't after a loved one's death

Martin Lewis issues warning to people choosing air fryer over oven

Unsellable Houses' Lyndsay Lamb Says Buyers Are Moving Away From This Color Trend

What Is the Average Height for Women?

Liz Cheney's Message to Supreme Court After Donald Trump Hearing

Harvard psychologist shares 5 toxic things 'highly narcissistic' people always do in relationships

This is the ideal sleep temperature for older adults, new study finds

“NCIS: Hawai'i ”canceled after 3 seasons at CBS

Kirk Cousins comments on Falcons' decision to draft QB Michael Penix Jr.

Putin is using 'nuclear blackmail' — and Russia defeating Ukraine could spark global chaos and economic disaster, Jamie Dimon warns

At 43, I’ve finally learned how to love my size 16 curves

What happens if you don't use airplane mode on your flight? Here's the answer to that, and more common travel questions.

Marriage counsellor shares one sign your relationship is really over

People Who Don’t Show Empathy Usually Have These 18 Traits

Barber Coins Are Worth Thousands: Here’s How To Spot Them in Your Spare Change