15 dog movies ranked by how much you’ll cry

4. Shiloh (1996)

Shiloh gave hope to future animal rescuers everywhere when it came out in 1996. Based on a Newbery Medal-winning children’s novel of the same name by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, the movie follows Shiloh, a hunting dog who’s severely mistreated by his owner Judd, after he runs away from home and finds a young boy named Marty who instantly bonds with him. Marty’s father won’t let him keep Shiloh, because he belongs to Judd, so Marty creates a makeshift home for Shiloh and hatches a plan to adopt him from the mean old hunter.

He makes a deal with Judd to work for the dog, but Judd opts not to honor the contract because he’s the worst. Shiloh, who was recently attacked by another dog, spends the next few days with Marty and his family regardless so that he can heal, and in that time Marty’s dad comes around to the idea of letting Marty adopt the dog. Of course, Judd won’t give him up that easily, but that’s clearly less about Shiloh and more about being a terrible person.

This movie has a happy ending, but there’s also dog abuse and dognapping, as well as a serious period of time where it looks like Shiloh won’t get to stay with Marty despite their bond. It’s one of those dog movies that hurts to watch until the very end, and then you cry anyway because you’re so glad that Shiloh gets to live a happy life with a family who loves him.

Likelihood of making you cry: 8/10