In the current world of selfishness, ego, greed, and hatred, you will always find a deeper and stronger bond between humans and animals, whether it’s dogs, cats, horses, or any other pet. There are instances that go viral on social media where a Lion recognizes a lady who helped the beast about 10 years ago or the examples of men and women who run, play, and fight with their own group of wild beasts such as tigers or lions.
Such instances often prove that no matter how wild or timid these beasts become, they always value the bond of love, the bond of friendship. Respecting such bonding, many Hollywood filmmakers have tried to enact such relations between human and animals in many different movies based on some original stories or a few literal works which were later picked for screen adaptions.
Here are some of the most loved and emotional movies that display true bond of love and friendship between humans and animals:
The Black Stallion
The Black Stallion is a 1979 Hollywood film that displays the friendship bond between a boy and his black stallion. Based on the classic children’s novel of the same name by Walter Farley, the film is directed by Carroll Ballard and stars Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney, Teri Garr, Hoyt Axton, and the Arabian horse Cass Ole in pivotal roles. The Black Stallion is one of the Best Films for Horse lovers.
Hachi: A Dog’s Dale
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale is a 2009 British-American film based on a true incident about a faithful dog named Hachiko. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom, the movie stars Richard Gere, Joan Allen and Sarah Roemer in pivotal roles. However, the main lead of the movie is Hachi who is portrayed by 3 dogs in the movie named Chico, Layla and Forrest. Hachi or Hachiko is know for emotions of the dog for his friendly owner. Hachi is a film that can make you cry by a dog. Hachiko is the best film for dog lovers. You will love and cry if you have a loyal dog.
War Horse
War Horse is a war-drama film that revolves around Joey, a war horse that unites with his first owner, trainer and friend Albert portrayed by Jeremy Irvine. The movie was directed by the ace filmmaker Steven Spielberg from a screenplay adapted from the 1982 Children’s novel of the same name set before and during World War I.
Directed by Ang Lee, Life of Pi is a highly acclaimed and renowned Hollywood movie based on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same title. The film stars Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, Tabu, Gerrard Depardieu, and Adil Hussain in the pivotal roles. The film starts with Irrfan Khan, who plays the adult Pi Patel, narrating his life story to the novelist Yann Martel that involves the many days deserted in the vast sea on a life boat along with Richard Parker, a Bengal Tiger.
King Kong
King Kong is 2005 Epic monster adventure Film, which is in fact the official remake of a 1933 movie of the same title. The film is directed by Peter Jackson, who has crafted the movie in such a way that it displays the enormous giant beautifully in the movie without losing on the dramatic edge of the story-line. Set in 1933, the movie is about an adventurous journey of a film crew into the mysterious skull island where they encounter the gigantic gorilla, popularly known as King Kong in the legends. The film stars Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black, and through motion capture, Andy Serkis as the King Kong. King Kong is one of the Most expensive Hollywood movies Ever.
The Rise of the Planet of Apes
A 2011 American Science Fiction film directed by Rupert Wyatt, Rise of the Planet of Apes tries to show the bond between a young scientist, who is desperate to find the cure for his father suffering from Alzhiemer, and a Chimpanzee, who is the infant of the Chimp on whom the scientist has been testing the new drug. The movie stars James Franco as the young scientist, along with Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo, and Andy Serkis in pivotal roles. The movie is in fact focused on the theme where the human race will decline and challenged for supremacy by the new race of the Apes.
Babe
Babe is a 1995 comedy-drama film revolving around a piglet named Babe which becomes an excellent sheepdog for its humble and loving nature. Directed by Chris Noonan, the film is the screen adaptation of Dick King-Smith’s 1983 novel The Sheep-Pig, also known as Babe: The Gallant Pig in the USA. Babe tries to break the stereotype about dogs being the most faithful animal to humans by developing a bond of trust and affection with his master.
Eight Below
Eight Below is a 2006 adventure film based on a 1983 Japanese film Nankyoku Monogatari. The film stars Paul Walker as a guide for Antarctica Research base with his team of 8 sled dogs. The movie takes a drastic turn when he must leave these sled dogs at fate only to return after a while to take them back. However, the fate has different arrangements as the weather conditions deteriorate and there couldn’t be a rescue mission possible till the next spring. The story of the movie revolves around the survival journey of these 8 sled dogs and the attempt of their leader who gives it all in just to visit the base again to rescue his team of 8 sled dogs.
Stuart Little
Stuart Little is a 1999 family drama that stars Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie and Jonathan Lipnicki portrays as the family of Stuart Little while Michael J. Fox and Nathan Lane offers their voice for the rat Stuart Little and cat Snowbell. This film is loosely based on the novel of the same name written by E.B. White. The movie revolves around the Little family who adopts a rat named Stuart as their son crafting a beautiful family drama.
Marley And Me
Marley And Me is a 2008 comedy-drama film starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston in the lead roles. Directed by David Frankel, the movie revolves around Marley, a pet dog, adopted by the young couple John and Jenny Grogan portrayed by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston respectively. Marley & Me is a based on a real story and the screenplay was adapted from a memoir of the same name by the real John Grogan.
Free Willy
Free Willy is an American family drama film directed by Simon Wincer that tells us the story of the bond between a young boy Jesse played by Jason James Ritcher and a captive orca named Willy. The film became a box office success establishing Keiko, a male orca that played Willy as an overnight star.
Dunston Checks In
Dunston Checks In is a 1996 comedy film directed by Ken Kwapis as well as written by John Hopkins and Bruce Graham. The film focuses around Dunston, played by Sam, the Orangutan who creates havoc at the Majestic Hostel causing trouble for the hotel manage Robert Grant played by Jason Alexander. The movie is fun to watch and is one of the best laughter rides in the Hollywood cinema featuring an animal as the central character.
101 Dalmatians
If you were a kid of the 90s, you must have come across the cartoon series named 101 Dalmatians. Following the series, Walt Disney Pictures made a live-action family comedy 101 Dalmatians in 1996 as the 2nd adaptation of Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel titled, The Hundred And One Dalmatians. The film stars Glenn Close as the iconic villain Cruella de Vil, while Jeff Daniels as Roger and Joely Richardson as Anita, who are the caretakers of the real stars of the movie – the 101 Dalmatians.
Dr. Dolittle
Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 family comedy film featuring Eddie Murphy as the central character Dr. John Dolittle, who has an amazing gift of communicating with animals. Directed by Betty Thomas and starring Ossie Davis, Oliver Patt, Peter Boyle, Richard Schiff, Kristen Wilson and many others in pivotal roles, the movie focuses on the problems and hilarious events faced by Dr. Dolittle owing to his amazing gift that allows him to talk to and understand animals. Dr. Dolittle is that one movie, which animal lovers would love to watch again and again.
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a 2007 computer animated film developed by Pixar under the direction and story from Brad Bird. The movie is about an anthropomorphic rat who dreams of becoming a great chef and tries to pursue the same by befriending the garbage boy of the Parisian restaurant. Whether he is successful in achieving his goal or not makes the rest of the story with loads of fun and comedy flavors.
Loosely based on a similar theme as King Kong, Mighty Joe Young is a 1949 black-and-white fantasy adventure film that revolves around a giant gorilla and his caretaker Jill Young played by Terry Moore. The film is directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack and also stars Robert Armstrong and Ben Johnson in pivotal roles.
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit is a 2003 biographical sports drama based on the real life and racing career of Seabiscuit, an undersized and overlooked Thoroughbred race horse and adapted from the best-selling non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand about the same horse titled Seabiscuit: An American Legend. Directed by Gary Ross and starring Tobey Maguire as Red Pollard, the jockey of the legendary horse Seabiscuit. The movie inspires us in many ways, displaying the importance of hard work and agility in order to overcome our weakness and triumph at every hurdle life throws at us.
Your Turn!
Now you can add your favourite films in the list, just Comment the name of the film which is not in the current list of our website.
Rajeesh Nair is a true Gizmofreak and an addictive movie buff. He blogs at LifeBlender.com – a lifestyle Blogzine which focuses on general life related topics of the 21st Century.
