Note: We are always concerned for the wellbeing of animals who appear in films. Films are listed here based on subject matter, without knowing the actual conditions on set.

This selection of films addresses grief for a beloved animal, burial, life within the earth, and the grief that other animals experience. For a list of other films about human relationships with other animals, visit the list of films at the Center for Families & Animals.

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A Dog’s Purpose. Directed by Lasse Hallström. 2017. Los Angeles: Amblin Entertainment. Based on the book by W. Bruce Cameron

All Dogs Go to Heaven. Directed by Don Bluth. 1989. Dublin, Ireland: Sullivan Bluth Studios, Goldcrest Films International.

All the Little Animals. Directed by Jeremy Thomas. 1998. UK: Recorded Picture Company. Based on the book by Walker Hamilton.

Bwakaw. Directed by Jun Lana. 2012. Philippines: Cinemalaya.

Closet Monster. Directed by Stephen Dunn. 2015. Canada: Rhombus Media.

Denali. Directed, written, edited by Ben Knight. 2015. Moonhouse.

Duck, Death and the Tulip. Directed by Matthias Bruhn. 2010. Trickstudio. Based on the book by Wolf Erlbruch.

Fantastic Fungi. Directed by Louie Schwartzberg. 2019. USA documentary.

Forbidden Games (original title: Jeux interdits). Directed by René Clément. 1952. France: Silver Films. [part of The Criterion Collection].

Frankenweenie. Directed by Tim Burton. 2012. Los Angeles: Tim Burton Productions. 

Gates of Heaven. Directed by Errol Morris. 1978. Los Angeles: MGM Home Entertainment, 2005. DVD. 

Get Low. Directed by Aaron Schneider. 2009. Los Angeles: Sony Pictures Classics, 2010.

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. Directed by Lasse Hallström. 2009. Los Angeles: Hachiko, LLC. Based on Hachi-kō by Kaneto Shindô.

Heart of a Dog. Directed by Laurie Anderson. 2015. New York: Canal Street Communications.

Hud. Directed by Martin Ritt. 1963. Los Angeles: Paramount Pictures.

Kes. Directed by Ken Loach. 1969. UK. [Based on the 1968 novel, A Kestrel for a Knave, by Barry Hines, depicts a boy who captures and trains a kestrel against the background of oppressive attitudes towards working class children, bullying, and an older brother’s aggressions.]

My Life as a Dog. Directed by Lasse Hallström. 1985. Sweden: FilmTeknik. Based on the book, Mitt liv som hund, by Reidar Jönsson. The Criterion Collection.

Old Partner (Wonang Sori). Directed by Chung-Ryoul Lee. 2008. South Korea: Studio Neurimbo.

One Nation Under Dog: Stories of fear, loss and betrayal. Directed by Jenny Charchman, Ellen Goosenberg Kent, and Amanda Micheli. 2012. New York: HBO Documentary Films.

Orphée et Eurydice. Music by Christoph Willibald Gluck. Libretto by Pierre -Lois Moline. Directed, choreographed and designed by John Neumeier. Directed by Matthew Diamond for PBS Great Performances. [While not specifically addressing the death of animal companions, this spellbinding opera-ballet illustrates how love transcends death and grief, and reaffirms life.]

Pet Sematary. Directed by Mary Lambert. 1989. Paramount Pictures.

Pet Sematary. Directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer. 2019. Di Bonaventura Pictures; Room 101, Inc.

Roma. Directed and written by Alfonso Cuarón. 2018. Espectáculos Fílmicos El. [A review of the film’s symbolism here]

Secondhand Lion. Directed by Tim McCanlies. 2003. David Kirschner Productions. USA. [Hint: the lion is metaphorical]

Sounder. Directed by Martin Ritt. 1972. Radnitz/Mattel Productions.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor. 2019. Participant Media. UK, Malawi. [Based on the memoir, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.]

The Loved One. Directed by Tony Richardson. 1965. Sonoma County: Filmways. [based on the book by Evelyn Waugh]

The Three Lives of Thomasina. Directed by Don Chaffey. 1964. Los Angeles: Disney Studios.

Tikkun. Directed and written by Avishai Sivan. 2015. Israel: Plan B Productions. [Note: frontal nudity, sexual content, images of butchery] Read a review: After Life in Art Forum.

To Dust. Directed by Shawn Snyder. 2018. King Bee Productions. [Spoiler alert: in dealing with the death of his wife, the protagonist seeks to learn about the body’s decomposition. Yet it is a comedy of errors. In investigations, a pig is murdered and buried. While the film received critical respect, the murder of the pig – presented as a comical, ironic trope – wasn’t necessary to move the story forward, or reflect upon deeper themes.]

Troll. Directed by Roar Uthaug. 2022. Motion Blur. Norway. [This film is worth watching, not only for the special effects (we’ve seen similar scenarios before – hello Godzilla), but for the Nordic folklore, and bringing up themes about the essence of life, what is consciousness, memory, oppression, isolation and alienation, openness, longing, family, grief, coexistence, extinction, learning and hope.]

Where the Red Fern Grows. Directed by Lyman Dayton and Sam Pillsbury. 2003. Bob Yari Productions.