Animals are fascinating creatures with a world of their own. It is no doubt that animals have been a beautiful presence in the life of many with their ability to forge sweet bonds with humans. Their presence offers a change of perspectives, keeps us in track of our climate and environment and helps us understand the world around us a little better.
These movies offer beautiful tales about the lives of certain animals, the way they survive, in addition to their capacity to change human lives for the better. They’re also perfect for watching alone or as a family and are the kinds of movies you don’t come by across often.
12 My Octopus Teacher (2020)
My Octopus Teacher is an Oscar-winning documentary dedicated to marine life, particularly the life of a young octopus. Filmmaker Craig Foster spent a year free-diving in the ocean in False Bay near Cape Town, South Africa as a means to reconnect with himself. He documented his journey by capturing the unusual relationship he developed with an octopus and the journey to the wonders of her world, making him learn so much in the process.
Octopuses are known for their beauty, intelligence, and curiosity, and this documentary is a deep dive into the ocean that is full of surprises that are a complete revelation to the scientific world as well as an ode to the human-animal connection.
11 The Bear (1988)
The Bear is an Oscar-nominated movie that follows the journey of an adult Kodiak bear and an orphaned cub that have to survive being hunted by two men with dogs and guns. The film almost has no dialogue, making you focus on the action and adventure happening on screen. It captures the essence of the wilderness and the lives of animals trying to make it through the day. It is also overflowing with great cinematography and an incredibly moving performance by the bears that will make you connect with the animal on a whole new level.
10 Eight Below (2006)
Eight Below is a film based on the true story of a Japanese expedition that was carried out at the South Pole in 1958, where the party was faced with extreme conditions that forced them to leave. The movie follows the journey of sled dogs trying to survive in the Antarctic after their owners had to leave them behind and the brutal conditions they have to navigate.
The film has an impeccable cast, starring the incredible late Paul Walker with huskies that are outstandingly trained to deliver a performance that will have you mesmerized from the beginning until the end.
9 Free Willy (1993)
Free Willy tells the story of the bond that develops between a boy (Jesse) and a killer whale (Willy). After being caught by a fisherman, Willy ends up trapped in an aquarium in Northwest Adventure Park where he is miserable. Jesse feels for the whale and starts visiting him often where the two develop an unlikely bond that drives Jesse to save the whale, whatever the cost is. Free Willy is a classic movie that depicts the touching relationship that humans and animals can have that transcends explanation.
8 Max (2015)
Max is a heartwarming family movie about a military dog that used to serve in Afghanistan with American marines that gets sent to the United States where he gets adopted by a family in Texas. However, the dog is traumatized by what he faced in the war which makes it hard for him to obey anyone. Yet, he slowly gets close to the family’s youngest member Justin, and they forge a bond filled with trust and adventure that unleashes all the skills that Max had to utilize in the war. Max truly captures the loyalty and kindness of dogs.
7 The Lighthouse of the Orcas (2016)
The Lighthouse of the Orcas is an Argentine movie that was inspired by a true story of an autistic boy. The film follows the journey of a mother who takes her autistic child from Spain to Argentina in the hopes of helping her son have a positive experience. When the mother (Lola) sees her son reacting cheerfully to the orcas he sees on the screen, which is nearly the only thing he reacted to, she desperately takes him to Beto, a man who works as a ranger in the Peninsula Valdes National Park who is close to orcas himself.
This delicate movie depicts how animals can have mysterious healing effects on humans and has a fascinating premise.
6 A Street Cat Named Bob (2016)
A Street Cat Named Bob is a feel-good movie about an ex-homeless man and a recovering drug addict in London who has his life changed when a cat grows attached to him and returns to his apartment every time he lets it go. The film has an entertaining plot that is refreshing, especially with the animal protagonist being a cat and not a dog that changes your life by simply entering.
This movie will be relatable to many because it perfectly embodies how animals have the capacity to give you a reason to live when you feel hopeless, which often leads you to new paths.
5 The Tiger (2015)
The Tiger is a South Korean movie that zooms in on the journey of an experienced hunter who tries to hunt the last tiger in Korea who has managed to masterfully escape from many hunters before. Set in a mountainous setting, the film depicts a battle between two powerful living beings that will leave you rooting for both as it is layered with emotions, intensity, history, and symbolism. The Tiger has excellent use of CGI and stunning visuals as well as evocative acting.
4 The Black Stallion (1979)
The Black Stallion is a movie that will take you on a journey filled with depth. It tells the tale of a boy and an Arabian stallion who survive a shipwreck that leaves them alone trying to survive on an uninhabited island. The movie not only captures the beauty of their journey and the way they delicately connect, but it takes a new direction midway through the film. It builds on the story by adding more to the premise when they are both saved and return home where the horse gets trained by a successful trainer to help him race against the fastest horses in the world.
3 Babe (1995)
Babe is an Oscar-winning film about a piglet that a farmer wins at a country fair that learns how to herd sheep. When the piglet (Babe) learns that its fate is to be eaten, it tries to escape from the terrifying idea by proving useful to the farmer in other aspects which allows it to forge a connection with all animals found on the farm. Babe depicts the story from the animal’s perspective and their daily lives on the farm in an innocent, true, and profound motion picture that will suck you into the dialogue of animals that speak like humans and will have you empathize with their point of view.
2 Dolphin Tale (2011)
A Dolphin’s Tale is dedicated to the true story of a baby dolphin named Winter that was caught in a crab trap at two months old but was fortunately rescued by a fisherman who took her to a treatment center. She is famous for having her injured tail replaced by an innovative prosthetic tail for being in the Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida where she had visitors and lots of admirers.
The film follows the story of a lonely boy who befriends an injured dolphin at a treatment facility. It perfectly depicts the struggles of each one of them, the boy and the dolphin, and how their bond helps them deal with their difficult situations through its multi-layered plot.
1 Two Brothers (2004)
Two Brothers follows the journey of two male tigers that used to have a strong and loving bond through their playful and adventurous spirits but who were unfortunately separated and taken into captivity, each living a completely different life. However, they are reunited years later and they are forced to fight each other by an explorer. Two Brothers is not an easy movie to watch as it pinpoints the harshness of wildlife and the ways humans add to its darkness for their own pleasure. Yet, the film offers a poignant narrative that is refreshing and that is a beautiful tribute to the tiger species and the threats they face in our ecosystem.
It is often easy to get distracted by the modern, urban world, and get sucked into our own worlds which are often stripped of a true connection to nature. Oceans, forests, and deserts are all habitats full of fascinating creatures and through them, we get to see the much bigger picture of Earth and all its mysteries and laws.
These movies will get you out of your head and transport you somewhere else which makes them truly inspiring. Whether it is learning about a certain species, observing other habitats, or witnessing a heart-touching story involving pure connection and sweetness, you come out of these movies with so much added knowledge on the essence of being alive.