While we’re stuck at home, the one thing we can turn to is the comfort provided by our pets.
Thankfully, Hollywood knows we’re suckers for a good pet movie and that’s why I'm diving into the top five movies about pets.
Lassie Come Home
Let’s start with a home run off the first pitch, because who doesn’t love Lassie?
Lassie is probably pop culture's most famous dog and it all started with this 1943 black and white tale.
It has spawned heaps of sequels, remakes and TV series. But the film where it all started is about why we love our pets.
The plot is simple: it’s about how pets and owners are attached to each other. Something all pet owners can relate to.
If you want to watch a more recent version, the 2005 remake does the job.
The Adventures of Milo and Otis
Although this isn’t strictly a pet film about the relationship between owner and animal, it counts because Milo and Otis were pets on a farm.
It was made in Japan but translated into English, with the great Dudley Moore providing the voices for all the characters.
The adventure story follows orange tabby cat Milo whose curiosity gets the better of him, which leads to him getting stuck in a box floating down a river.
His friend Otis, a pug, tries to catch up to him.
Milo meets different animals along the way before the two friends are reunited.
It’s a little goofy for adults, but an easy watch for the children.
Cujo
You want controversy? Well, here it is, because no doubt readers will be mortified.
The phrase ‘man’s best friend’ isn’t always true —and poor Cujo proves just that.
This classic Stephen King horror story will certainly have you leaving Rover outside for the night.
The larger-than-life St Bernard Cujo looks innocent as the family pet, but he changes after being bitten by a bat that gives him rabies.
Cujo then proceeds to attack his family and their neighbours, killing many along the way.
The suspense peaks when the mother and son are trapped in a car as Cujo attacks them.
It’s a scary film but still a solid retelling of King’s novel and technically a film about the family pet.
Babe
Most pet films are about cats and dogs because there’s only so much you can do with goldfish before you’ve lost the audience.
That’s why Babe is a classic. It’s quirky and has a great cast.
A pig (Babe) is adopted by the farm’s sheep dogs and soon becomes a ‘sheep pig’. Babe is so good at his job he becomes his farmer’s entry in a sheep dog competition.
Babe has a great cast led by Christine Cavanaugh providing the timid voice of Babe and James Cromwell as the farmer Arthur Hoggett while the much-loved Magda Szubanski perfectly plays his bubbly wife.
Produced by the same bloke (George Miller) who brought us the Mad Max series (go figure), Babe is a film the whole family can enjoy.
Oddball
This is close to home and based on a true story.
The most recently made film on this list features the friendly and always naughty Oddball protecting the fairy penguins on Middle Island, near Warrnambool, from foxes.
Shane Jacobson plays the goofy farmer and comedian Frank Woodley makes us laugh as a dog catcher.
It’s a family film, a good laugh and just lovely overall.