Who doesn’t love a great movie featuring a canine? Films starring dogs are everywhere, and one of the most common breeds on the big screen is the Golden Retriever. Whether you’re interested in watching Golden Retrievers play basketball or want to cry your eyes out over the love dogs have for their people, you can find a Golden Retriever movie to satisfy your needs.

Rather than have you do the work of hunting these films down, though, we’ve gathered some of our favorite Golden Retriever movies you can watch today below. Take a look to find kids’ films, family films, and more!

The 15 Golden Retriever Movies

1. Air Bud

When you think of movies starring Golden Retrievers, chances are Air Bud (and the accompanying sequels and spin-offs) is one of the first to pop into your head (at least if you’re of a certain age). This family-friendly flick features a dog named Buddy who is an excellent basketball player. There’s more to it than that, of course, such as learning to live with grief after the death of a loved one and dealing with bullies. The movie was rather popular when it came out, and it’s still fun to watch today!

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2. Air Buddies

Air Buddies is the first film in the Air Bud spin-off series and features Buddy’s puppies—puppies who talk, we might add! This was a marked difference from the Air Bud films, as Buddy couldn’t talk in those (although he speaks in Air Buddies). Instead of featuring the puppies playing sports, Air Buddies (and the sequels) are more about the adventures of these cute little guys. In this film, the puppies are chased by bad guys who want to steal them. (In the third film, the puppies go to space!!)

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3. The Art of Racing in the Rain

If you’re in the mood to cry, The Art of Racing in the Rain might be the film for you. In this movie, Golden Retriever, Enzo, narrates his life from beginning to end. Starting from puppyhood, we see Enzo adopted by a race car driver, then go through his life as the race car driver gets married and has a child. Plenty more comes after that, but you’ll have to watch the movie to find out what! Just remember to have the tissues handy.

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4. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

If you’re a kid of the 1990s, then you definitely remember this film! Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a remake of a 1963 film, which was based on a novel. The movie features three animals—Chance (an American Bulldog), Shadow (a Golden Retriever), and Sassy (a Himalayan cat)—who mistakenly believe they’ve been abandoned by their family and decide to make the trek across the Sierra Nevada to make it home. It’s an excellent film filled with plenty of adventure and drama, so you’re sure to love it!

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5. For the Love of a Dog

Looking for an utterly heartwarming film? It doesn’t get much more heartwarming than this one! For the Love of a Dog is about a community (primarily teens) banding together to raise money for a local Golden Retriever in need of expensive surgery. This movie was never a big hit, like Homeward Bound, but people who’ve seen it have greatly enjoyed it, saying it’s incredibly uplifting.

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6. Pick of the Litter

Love documentaries? Curious about what it takes for a canine to become a guide dog to people who are blind? Then Pick of the Litter is for you! This documentary follows a group of Golden Retriever puppies from the moment they’re born as they take a two-year journey to become guide dogs for blind people. You’ll see all the training it takes to become a guide dog and find out which pups make the final cut.

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7. Napoleon

This adorable Australian film features a Golden Retriever named Muffin (who calls himself Napoleon) and his cockatoo friend, Birdo. Napoleon has big dreams of living as a wild dog, rather than the family dog he is. One day, during a birthday party, a basket lined with balloons carries him away from his family and dumps him in the wilderness. Napoleon meets a ton of Australia’s wild animals out there, learns how to be brave, and learns the importance of family. Fun fact—64 dogs played Napoleon!

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9. A Dog’s Purpose

A Dog’s Purpose is another movie you just might end up crying over. This film features a reincarnating dog trying to find his purpose (so, the dog is only a Golden Retriever in one lifetime) and explores themes of dysfunctional families, loyalty, and grief. It’s an incredibly sweet story (and, yes, the pup does find their purpose at the end!), but it’s another where you might want to have a box of tissues on standby.

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10. Golden Winter

Want a holiday film featuring Golden Retrievers? Look no further than Golden Winter! Also known as Santa’s Little Yelpers, it features an entire litter of adorable Golden Retriever pups. There’s not much information about this film out there, but it seems to follow the story of a boy who befriends the litter of Golden Retrievers (who are homeless) and then works with them to stop a bank robbery. It’s definitely a feel-good kind of film!

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11. A Letter to True

A Letter to True is unlike the other films on this list, but if you’re a fan of artsy, stream-of-consciousness cinema, you may enjoy this. The documentary was made by filmmaker Bruce Weber and heavily features his family of Golden Retrievers, including True. The movie’s focus isn’t only on the dogs, though; it’s interspersed with other themes and obsessions of Weber, including music, Liz Taylor, home movies, politics, and friendship. It definitely won’t be a film for everyone, but if you love Golden Retrievers and artistic documentaries, it might be the movie for you!

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12. Dog Gone

In the mood for some ridiculous fun? Then check out Dog Gone, a cross between a diamond heist and Home Alone! In this film, a boy saves a Golden Retriever from a group of criminals who mistreat the pup. These criminals stole a bunch of diamonds and hid them with the dog, so when Diamond (as the boy names them) goes missing, the criminal gang goes in search. It may all be a bit ridiculous, but truly, what’s a better combination than dogs and capers?

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12. The Retrievers

Grab the entire family to enjoy this family film about a human family who gets adopted by a Golden Retriever named Pilot! Pilot eventually ends up having a litter of puppies, which the father of the household insists must be given away. But once the puppies are gone, the family realizes (with some help from Pilot) how much they miss the dogs and head out to track them down and bring them home. It’s a sweet, feel-good movie featuring a cast you’ll recognize (Betty White! Robert Wagner!).

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13. Cybermutt

Want a flick that the tiny humans in your life will adore? Then, you need to introduce them to Cybermutt! This film stars a Golden Retriever named Rex, who ends up saving a genius scientist’s life. However, Rex is badly injured while doing so. To thank the pup, the scientist turns Rex into a bionic dog (with superpowers!). Now Rex can run 70 mph, see in infrared, and has super strength. Is it silly? Yes. Is it fun? Also, yes!

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14. The Trial of Old Drum

The Trial of Old Drum is on the sadder side (though it has a happy ending!) and based on a true story (or at least, the legends surrounding the actual story). Though the true-life version is much different (and not as happy), the film does an excellent job of capturing the love between a child and their favorite dog. When Old Drum is accused of killing sheep, he is jailed and given a trial to determine his guilt or innocence. Meanwhile, his owner works to find evidence of Old Drum’s innocence. This one is an enjoyable film for the whole family!

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15. One Minute More

If you’re a fan of foreign cinema and have been looking for a foreign film featuring a Golden Retriever, look no further! The Taiwanese movie One Minute More is a rom-com about a hardworking editor who adopts one of these dogs, resulting in a new outlook on life. Wanchen is working 14 hours a day as an editor, but after adopting Lila, the Golden Retriever, her life begins to change as the dog encourages her to put other things before work. The Japan Times called this film a bit corny, but also tear-inducing, so it may make for a fun watch for those who enjoy rom-coms from other countries!

Conclusion

There’s really no shortage of movies starring or featuring Golden Retrievers available for viewing! Whether you’re seeking a movie for the whole family, a tear-jerker, a documentary, an artistic expression, or a foreign film, you’ll find a little bit of everything when it comes to Golden Retriever movies. And due to streaming, these movies are easier to watch than ever. So, pick a film, make some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy!

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Featured Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia_Shutterstock