15 dog movies ranked by how much you’ll cry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr1dvT8di80

5. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

When the Seaver family goes on vacation and leaves their three pets, Shadow, Chance, and Sassy at a friend’s ranch, the two dogs and one cat become concerned that their humans are never coming back. They embark on an adventure to get back home in Homeward Bound: An Incredible Journey, and the lengths they travel are truly incredible.

This movie, based on the 1960 book The Incredible Journey, is a tearjerker for several reasons. The animals get hurt, including a memorable scene where Chance takes porcupine quills to the face. They have to swim, escape wild animals, and traverse land that’s definitely not meant for domesticated animals. In their eagerness to see their people again, they put themselves into incredible danger, which remarks on how much our pets love us but also makes me never want to leave my cats at home when I go camping ever again.

The Seavers return from their vacation thinking they’ll never see their pets again, and when they do, the feeling of relief and joy is so overwhelming that it’s almost too much after so long spent watching these animals suffer. Despair and desperation color about 90 percent of the film. It’s hard to watch, even if you know the ending!

Rooting for Shadow, Chance, and Sassy is easy, though you’ll go through at least a box of tissues while you do. And you’ll definitely want to have a buddy with you — parts of Homeward Bound (that part where you think Shadow isn’t going to make it out of the hole?) are nerve-wracking enough to require some handholding or anxiety soothing, especially if you’re an animal lover.

Likelihood of making you cry: 7/10