Most of the human population will agree that animals make everything better. Animals are always great judges of character and have even been shown to teach humans how to be more caring.
Animals are always a great addition to any film and cast. Audiences always love seeing the cute friends and sidekicks that make the human characters into better people. Unfortunately, animals in movies are also shown in their final moments. These moments can be some of the most emotional and heartbreaking in a film.
7 Samantha - I Am Legend (2007)
The 2007 post-apocalyptic thriller I Am Legend is a scary look at the last of humanity. After a cure for cancer causes a zombie outbreak, Robert Neville (Will Smith) is the last man in New York City due to being immune to the outbreak. He walks the city with his dog Samantha, searching for a way to cure the plague. The loyal Samantha is Robert's last companion he has left after he watches the population crumble around him. They protected each other and stayed together through everything. It broke every heart in the audience when she was infected and Robert had to put her down as he sang to her.
6 Daisy - John Wick (2014)
The 2014 action blockbuster John Wick is an international sensation that has sprouted a highly successful franchise. The whole story of the movie was a sad and heartfelt one. Retired assassin John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves, is mourning the sudden loss of his wife. To help with his grieving, his late wife gifted him a puppy named Daisy. When a sadistic mobster decides to break into Wick's house and steal his vintage car, it sparks Wick into a violent rampage to take down anyone involved. The movie's beginning shows that John Wick only has two good things left in his life: his car and his puppy. These are what he rested his mourning and his very sanity on. When the thugs broke in to steal Wick's car, one of them killed the poor puppy. The scene was heartbreaking because not only did the innocent Daisy die, but she was the last living link Wick had to his late wife.
5 Artax - The NeverEnding Story (1984)
The NeverEnding Story from 1984 is a magical family film. When a young boy happens across a book trying to hide from bullies, he begins to sneak away during school to read it. The book tells of a land called Fantasia, that is being surrounded by a darkness that destroys everything. The hero of the book, Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) is on a quest to find a cure for the empress of the land, so she can protect Fantasia. On his quest, Atreyu and his valiant steed, Artax, find themselves in the Swamp of Sadness. The swamp is able to latch onto someone's sadness and despair, and uses it to trap and devour them. While Atreyu has a medallion from the empress that protects him from the swamp's grip, his beloved horse was not so lucky. As they cross the tar-like swamp, Artax slowly sinks into the muck as Atreyu begs him to not let the sadness consume him. The mature symbolism was one of the reasons Artax's death bothered so many people.
4 Mufasa - The Lion King (1994)
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The 1994 Disney film The Lion King is an incredible and powerful animated film. It was so successful that there has been a hit Broadway musical, multiple continuations, and a remake made. A powerful story following a young lion cub Simba, as he is caught in a political battle for power. After Scar (Jeremy Irons) stages the death of the current king and Simba's father, Simba must go into hiding. However, the pride begins to fall into ruin under Scar's control forcing Simba to face the trauma of his past in order to save the pride.
Mufasa, voiced by James Earl Jones, is shown as a great father and king. He is almost a perfect role model for an adult to show kids. When Mufasa dies in the stampede, audiences are in a front row seat to see the devastation of Simba. The heartbreak was immense as the young boy called out for someone who was longer there. This scene traumatized a whole generation and is definitely one of the most heartbreaking deaths in films.
3 Hachi - Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
The 2009 film Hachi: A Dog's Tale is a sweet and moving story of friendship. Adapted from the 1987 Japanese film Hachiko Monogatari, it is based on a true story of an Akita dog named Hachi. In the 2009 film, the story follows Parker Wilson, played by Richard Gere, who finds a young dog lost on the railway that Wilson commutes on. He takes the pup home with him temporarily and names the dog Hachi after lucky number eight. Wilson and Hachi grow an incredible bond as they walk together every day to the railway.
The heartbreaking moment in the film begins when Hachi follows Wilson to the train station with a ball to play with. This was an abnormal act as Hachi never played fetch, and could not be trained to play it. Wilson was finally able to play fetch with Hachi that day, as the dog tried to keep Wilson home that day. After Wilson never returns home on the train and passes away, Hatchi forever keeps watch over the railway waiting for Wilson. It remained that way for 10 years until Hachi rests, and is finally reunited with Wilson.
2 Marley - Marley and Me (2008)
The 2008 furry friend film Marley and Me is a cute romance story about newlyweds starting a new life together. John and Jenny, played by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, move to Florida and buy a home. Soon, they adopt Marley, an adorable Labrador puppy that turns out to be a fluffy ball of chaos. While the pup is an unconventional companion, he always remains loyal to John and Jenny, and brings them closer together as their family grows.
The family's best friend helps the family through different jobs, locations, and struggles. When life finally settles down, Marley gets sick. Being too old to survive any corrective surgery for his condition, Marley must be put down in a scene that is devastating. Audiences can feel the love and support as the family pays their last respects to the dog that held them all together.
1 The Sled Team - Eight Below (2006)
The 2006 family adventure film Eight Below is a tale about friendship and loyalty. Set in Antarctica, a scientific expedition team must leave behind the sled dog team after an accident. Due to the perilous weather, the dogs must fight to survive alone in the cold for months. Their owner must fight to get back to rescue them as they wait for his return.
While the fight to rescue the team is a heart-warming story, seeing the dogs stranded and alone was incredibly sad. Audiences felt the hopelessness and fear laced through the team. The dogs do their best to stay alive by finding food and shelter in the snowy wilderness; however, a couple of the dogs were lost. The oldest dog, Old Jack, was too weak to break out of the leads that the team was attached to. Then, during a scene where the remaining dogs were able to play and feel happy, Dewey ends up slipping down an incline. After Dewey is mortally wounded from the fall, the team stays with him during his last moments. While Eight Below was a family film, it did not hold back on the depressing and traumatic scenes that ripped the audiences' hearts out.