Looking for a solid movie themed around your favorite dog breed? Luckily, German Shepherd Dogs are the second most popular dog breed in America. Naturally, there are plenty of great movies about this fantastic dog.
Most movies about German Shepherds revolve around war themes and family pet experiences. So whether you are looking to beef up your military history knowledge or watch a heart-warming film with your family, you are in for a treat.
Best Movies About German Shepherds
Here is a list of all our favorite GSD movies, along with their respective trailer, director, release year, cast, and synopsis. These movies about German Shepherds will leave a lasting impression on you and your movie-watching buddies!
I am Legend
Director: Francis Lawrence
Release Year: 2007
Cast: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Willow Smith
Movie Genre: Science fiction, horror, drama, thriller
Overview: Brilliant scientist Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a survivor in post-apocalyptic New York City. Neville desperately spends his days searching for other survivors and finding a cure for the plague that has brought about humanity’s destruction. He is accompanied on his journey by his loyal companion, Sam, a German Shepherd Dog.
Max
Director: Boaz Yakin
Release Year: 2015
Cast: Josh Wiggins, Lauren Graham, Thomas Haden Church
Movie Genre: American Family Adventure, War Drama
Overview: Following the death of his owner, U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott, Max (A German Shepherd Dog) is too traumatized to carry on his service duties. He is adopted by his owner’s family, despite Kyle’s younger brother, Justin, wanting nothing to do with Max. However, once Justin realizes Max may be the key to finding out what happened to his older brother, he begins to bond with his new dog.
Finding Rin Tin Tin
Director: Danny Lerner
Release Year: 2007
Cast: Ben Cross, Tyler Jensen, Gregory Gudgeon
Movie Genre: Historical drama, adventure, children’s film, comedy
Overview: Finding Rin Tin Tin tells the story of a shell-shocked German Shepherd puppy found shortly before the end of World War I. His finder, American serviceman Lee Duncan, takes Rin Tin Tin to the United States, where he becomes the hero of several films.
Rusty Leads the Way
Director: Will Jason
Release Year: 1948
Cast: Ted Donaldson, Ann Doran, John Litel
Movie Genre: Adventure, children’s film
Overview: 13-year-old Danny Mitchell (Ted Donaldson) becomes interested in his blind neighbor, Penny Waters (Sharyn Moffett). Danny and his dog befriend Penny all while under the scrutiny of the local school board. The school board intends to place Penny in a state school for the disabled. However, Danny believes his dog can help Penny with her disability.
K-911
Director: Charles T. Kanganis
Release Year: 1999
Cast: Jim Belushi, Christine Tucci, Wade Williams, James Handy
Movie Genre: Action, crime fiction, action-adventure, comedy
Overview: K-911 is the sequel to the American buddy cop action-comedy k-9. In this sequel, Detective Michael Dooley (James Belushi) and his loyal German Shepherd, Jerry Lee, track a gun-wielding psychopath.
Terminator 1984
Director: James Cameron
Release Year: 1984
Cast: Arnold Schwarzeneger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn
Movie Genre: Action, horror, tech noir, cyberpunk, thriller, science fiction, fantasy
Overview: A cyborg assassin known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwartzeneger) disguises himself as a human and time-travels from 2029 to 1985 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). She is targeted by the Terminator for her unborn son grow up to lead the fight against Skynet, an artificial intelligence system that sparks a nuclear holocaust. Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is sent to protect Sarah Connor and her future unborn son from the Terminator so that mankind can survive.
Megan Leavey
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Release Year: 2017
Cast: Kate Mara, Tom Felton, Edie Falco, Ramon Rodriquez
Movie Genre: War Drama
Overview: Megan Leavey is based on the true-life story of a young Marine corporal whose discipline and bond with a military combat dog saves the lives of many while deployed in Iraq. The military dog, Rex, is an aggressive dog that she trains to eventually go on over 100 missions. Their missions are cut short by an explosive device that injures both Megan and Rex.
Ace of Hearts
Director: David MacKay
Release Year: 2008
Cast: Dean Cain, Britt McKillip, Anne Marie DeLuise
Movie Genre: Drama, family drama, television, children’s film
Overview: Ace of Hearts follows the story of a police officer who tries to save his German Shepherd partner from being put down. Ace, the German Shepherd Dog, is wrongfully accused of mauling a suspect. The police officer’s daughter also helps to save Ace from being wrongly prosecuted.
We Think the World of You
Director: Colin Gregg
Release Year: 1989
Cast: Alan Bates, Gary Oldman, Liz Smith, Frances Barber
Movie Genre: Comedy, LGBT, indie film
Overview: We Think the World of You is set in post-war London. Frank (Alan Bates) is a middle-aged well-off London man who has had a long-term relationship with Johnny (Gary Oldman). When Johnny is sent to prison for burglary, Frank seeks to gain custody of his lover’s German Shepherd Dog called Evie. Despite his reluctance, Johnny gives up Evie to his parents just before imprisonment. Due to the nature of Frank and Johnny’s relationship, Johnn’s parents prevent Frank from seeing Evie.
My Dog Tulip
Director: Sandra Fierlinger, Paul Fierlinger
Release Year: 2010
Cast: Christopher Plummer, Lynn Redgrave, Isabella Rosselini, Brian Murray
Movie Genre: Animation, drama, indie film
Overview: My Dog Tulip is the only animated film on this list of movies about German Shepherds. It is a tale of a bond between a man and his German Shepherd named Tulip who he had rescued from a cruel home. It is a bittersweet memoir of the companionship this man and dog shared.
Names of Famous German Shepherd Dogs
This list of famous German Shepherd dogs includes real-life war heroes from history, movie star dogs, and dogs from popular television series. Some of these are fictional German Shepherd names from movies while others had roles in our military.
Chips, Military Hero Dog
Rin Tin Tin
Strongheart
Bullet the Wonder Dog
MWD Chips
Cairo the War Dog
Max the Bionic Dog
Buddy, The First Seeing Eye Dog
ISIS Dog Conan
Rumor, Best in Show
K9 Apollo, Search and Rescue
Sentry dog, Nemo
Horand von Grafrath
Sam – I am Legend
Wolfie – Terminator 1984
Jerry Lee
Hobo – Little Hobo
Delgado – Beverly Hills Chihuaha
Rex – Inspector Rex [TV Show From 1994 to 2006]
Ace – Ace of Hearts
Rusty
Ace the Wonder Dog
Bullet – Roy Rodger Show
History of Movies Featuring German Shepherds
German Shepherd dogs have been the stars of television series and movies for a long time. There were many great reasons to feature this breed from their incredible looks, incredible intellect, and immense bravery.
You probably know of many famous German Shepherd dogs like Thunder the Dog and Rin Tin Tin. Thunder dog acted in American silent films from 1923 to 1927. Rin Tin Tin was widely known internationally and worked in silent films as well from 1954 to 1959.
Want to learn more about German Shepherds? Check out these adorable German Shepherd Mixed Breeds.
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