Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you decided to make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Who doesn’t love to watch a movie featuring dogs? How about German Shepherd Dogs in particular? Movies showing the unique qualities and remarkable intelligence of GSDs will always be relatable to GSD owners alike.
We came up with this list by reading our reader’s suggestions in the comment section, and polling from thirty other GSD owners on social media. You will be amazed to find out our beloved German Shepherds are extremely talented when it comes to acting. From comedies, dramas, wars, to actions, our beloved GSDs have shown us they can excel in what they are assigned to within these genres. Check out our list below to see if you’ve missed out on any one of them.
You may also like: 10 Books Every German Shepherd Owner Must Read
Megan Leavey (2017)
- Runtime: 1h 56m
- Directors: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
- Starring: Kate Maravan, Bradley Whitford, Tom Felton
- Genres: Drama, Military and War
Based on the true story of Megan Leavey, a young Marine corporal whose unique discipline and bond with a military combat dog saved many lives during her deployment in Iraq.
Assigned to clean up the K-9 unit after a disciplinary hearing, Leavey starts to identify with Rex, a particularly aggressive dog that she trains. Over the course of their service, Megan and Rex complete more than 100 missions until an improvised explosive device injures both, putting their fates in jeopardy.
Click below to watch the movie trailer on YouTube:
I Am Legend (2007)
- Runtime: 1h 56m
- Director: Francis Lawrence
- Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan
- Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Action
Based on the 1954 novel of the same name by Richard Matheson, Will Smith plays the US Army virologist Robert Neville. He is the last man left on earth after a terrible virus has transformed all people into mutants/zombies.
The film follows Neville in his everyday life with his German Shepherd Dog Sam and his daily grind of trying to find a cure.
Click below to watch the movie trailer on YouTube:
K-9 Series
The K-9 film series consists of four issues. The plot revolves around a police detective who is teamed up with a German Shepperd named Jerry Lee, to solve criminal investigations. Here’s a summary for your quick reference:
| K9 | K-9000 | K-911 | K-9: P.I. | |
| Release year | 1989 | 1991 | 1999 | 2002 |
| Run Time | 1hr 42min | 1hr 36min | 1hr 31min | 1hr 35min |
| Detective Dooley | James Belushi | Chris Mulkey | James Belushi | James Belushi |
K-9 (1989)
- Runtime: 1h 42m
- Director: Rod Daniel
- Starring: Jim Belushi, Mel Harris, Kevin Tighe
- Genres: Comedy
Officer Michael Dooley always prefers working alone, but he was assigned a German Shepherd partner, Jerry Lee, while working a case involving the notorious drug lord.
Initially irritated by the animal, Dooley learns how valuable Jerry Lee is.
Click below to watch the movie trailer on YouTube:
K-9000 (1991)
- Runtime: 1h 36m
- Director: Kim Manners
- Starring: Chris Mulkey, Catherine Oxenberg, Dennis Haysbert
- Genres: Action, Comedy
Female Scientist Dr. Aja Turner implants a computer in a German Shepherd’s brain to help it track and capture criminals. She teams up with Eddie Monroe, a hard-nosed policeman who is implanted with a microchip, allowing him to communicate with the dog.
K-911 (1999)
- Runtime: 1h 31m
- Director: Charles T. Kanganis
- Starring: James Belushi, Christine Tucci, James Handy
- Genres: Action, Comedy
Officer Detective Michael Dooley and his faithful German Shepherd partner, Jerry Lee, who have been working together for 10 years. For Jerry Lee, this means he has a hard time keeping up with police duties as an aged canine.
Joining the pair is fellow officer Wendy Welles and her tough Doberman pinscher. Together, Dooley, Welles, and their dog partner work in teams to fight crimes.
Click below to watch the movie trailer on YouTube:
K-9: P.I. (2002)
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Director: Richard J. Lewis
- Starring: James Belushi, Gary Basaraba, Kim Huffman
- Genres: Action, Comedy
Dooley and his long-time K-9 partner Jerry Lee are ready to retire from the police force. But before he can retire with his pension he must work as a P.I. to find a set of high-tech computer chips.
Click below to watch the movie trailer on YouTube:
The Littlest Hobo (1958)
- Runtime: 1h 17m
- Director: Charles R Rondeau
- Starring: Buddy Hart, Wendy Stuart, Carlyle Mitchell, Howard Hoffman, Bob Kline
- Genres: Drama
With the backdrop of Los Angles in the 1950s, this is a heart-warming story about a German Shepherd Dog helping a lamb to escape the slaughterhouse.
It will make perfect family entertainment, especially with kids. The movie may be dated but the dog and sheep will melt your heart.
The film has inspired two series of TV episodes over 20 years. The first was aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication and was revived for a popular second run on CTV from 1979 to 1985.
Max (2015)
- Runtime: 1h 50m
- Director: Boaz Yakin
- Starring: Josh Wiggins, Lauren Graham, Thomas Haden Church
- Genres: Drama
After U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott is killed in Afghanistan, Max, his highly trained service dog, is too traumatized to remain in service.
Back in the U.S., Kyle’s family adopts the dog, but teenage brother Justin (Josh Wiggins) has problems of his own and doesn’t want the animal. However, Max maybe Justin’s only chance to learn what really happened to his brother.
Click below to watch the movie trailer on YouTube:
The Christmas Shepherd (2014)
- Runtime: 1h 24m
- Director: Terry Ingram
- Starring: Teri Polo, Martin Cummins, Jordyn Ashley Olson
- Genres: Drama, Kid
Sally is heartbroken when her dog runs away during a thunderstorm. When she learns he was found by Mark, a widower, she travels to Boston to get him. Sally and Mark are given the best Christmas gifts of their lives when they fall in love.
Scoot and Kassie’s Christmas Adventure (2016)
- Runtime: 1h 29m
- Director: Ben Gourley
- Starring: Luke Perry, Ariana Bagely, Taylor Negron
- Genre: Adventure, Kid
Widowed Paul Stevenson and his two daughters, 15-year-old Ester and 10-year-old Kassie have just moved to the winter resort town.
Kassie rescues a retired, wounded German Shepherd Dog and names him Scoot. She and her friends organize a charity concert to raise money for less fortunate kids, and Scoot has to save the day when two crooks make plans to steal the donated money.
Click below to watch the movie trailer on YouTube:
The Lighthouse by the Sea (1924)
- Runtime: 1h 36m
- Director: Malcolm St. Clair
- Starring: Rin Tin Tin, William Collier Jr., Louise Fazenda, Douglas Gerrard
- Genre: Adventure
This is a silent film produced by and distributed by Warner Bros, starring Rin Tin Tin, the most famous German Shepherd actor of the 1920s.
Rin Tin Tin has appeared in 27 films in total. And since then, dozens if not hundreds of movies have been made starring German Shepherd Dogs.
Click below to watch a movie clip on YouTube:
Ace of Hearts (2008)
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Director: David Mackay
- Starring: Dean Cain, Anne Marie DeLuise, Britt McKillip
- Genres: Drama, Kids
Officer Daniel Harding is a distinguished member of the K-9 police unit. His partner and best friend is Ace, a German Shepherd police dog.
When Ace is accused of mauling a suspect, an overzealous DA convinces police authorities that Ace should be euthanized. Refusing to give up on his beloved companion, Harding’s unfaltering belief in his partner and family leads Harding on a mission to clear his longtime partner’s good name.
Click below to watch the movie trailer on YouTube:
Love Leads the Way (1984)
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Director: Terry Ingram
- Starring: Timothy Bottoms, Eva Marie Saint
- Genres: Drama
Based on a true story, when an insurance salesman is blinded in a boxing accident, his world is turned upside down as he has trouble functioning in his sightless world.
He eventually gets a guide dog, but soon learns that he is barred from entering into transit vehicles and public buildings and businesses. He must fight, with his canine companion, to make the country recognize that those rules are unfair to him and his guide.
Bonus: Inspector Rex (1994-2008)
- Directors: Hajo Gies, Detlef Rönfeldt, Bodo Fürneisen, Oliver Hirschbiegel, Wolfgang Dickman
- Starring: Santo vom Haus Zieglmayer, Tobias Moretti, Karl Markovics
- Language: Deutsch (with English subtitles)
This is not actually a movie – A 14 year TV series with a German Shepherd in the lead – who doesn’t love that? This series has inspired a lot of GSD owners around the world
A recently divorced cop adopts a police dog who lost his former companion, together they solve crimes in and around Vienna.
Click below to watch a clip on YouTube:
Not sure? You can buy just 1 episode or a season on Amazon Prime. Click to learn more:
We hope you enjoy this list as much as we do. Leave a comment and let me know if there’s another great German Shepherd movie you want me to add to the list.
