Pet lovers are typically divided into two camps – those who love them and those who prefer to live without them. But for those who love them, which, according to Forbes magazine is 66% or 86.9 million American households, they really adore their additional family members. Many of us can't imagine going anywhere without our animal companions, and even passing another critter in the street leaves us smiling from ear to ear. (If you want to see an interesting assortment of animals, check out the trailer for "Gladiator 2.")
When it comes to showbiz, having an animal in a film or on set isn't always considered ideal for those interacting with them. It is something that caused comedian W.C. Fields to once say, "Never work with children or animals." Thankfully, not everyone agrees with him and there are a multitude of movies with pets or animals. Having a pet in a film is like that perfect combination of peanut butter and jelly – an ideal match-up that combines two of the things that Americans love most – pets and movies.
Throughout movie history, there have been a lot of films that work with pets. To identify the most legendary ones, 24/7 Tempo reviewed IMDb, an online movie and TV database owned by Amazon, to find some of the most popular pet movies, as well as films, in which pets play a featured role. Our list is a real Noah's Ark. Dogs lead the charge, with the majority of appearances, but there are also cats, an owl, a parrot, a fish, and other creatures. (Don't miss the official pets and animals of every state.)
Older films that feature on our list are "The Thin Man," a comic mystery from 1934, based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett and starring Myrna Loy and William Powell as a couple who solve crimes with the occasional help of their dog, a Wire Fox Terrier named Asta; "Bringing Up Baby," a 1938 screwball comedy about a paleontologist, played by Cary Grant, an heiress, played by Katharine Hepburn, and a leopard called Baby. (Interestingly, the dog who plays Asta – real name Skippy – portrays a dog named George in this same movie.)
No list is complete without the 1939 classic "Wizard of Oz," which gives us Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), and her little dog, Toto, who go on adventures everywhere together. Toto was played by a female brindle Cairn Terrier (although some say it was a Yorkshire Terrier) named Terry. (Perhaps you prefer bunnies and want to see the most famous bunnies of all time.)
Here are the most legendary pets in film history.