No matter if you’re a dog lover or animal welfare advocate, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for on-screen storytelling. From happy endings to horror, dogs are taking center stage in new and powerful ways. Whether you’re looking for something light and family-friendly or deeply moving and socially relevant, this year’s lineup has something for every kind of viewer, and every kind of pup.

Here are the top 15 new documentaries, shows, and films launching in 2025 that feature dogs, explore our bond with them, or shine a light on animal welfare, plus where to stream them!

1. Pets

• About: Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, this heartwarming documentary celebrates the deep, cross-species bonds between people and their pets.
• Debut: April 11, 2025 (National Pet Day)
• Where to Watch: Disney+
• What’s the Buzz? Filled with emotional, healing pet stories featuring dogs, cats, and more

2. Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children With Autism

• About: Highlights service dog training for autistic children, featuring Rosie O’Donnell’s dog Kuma.
• Release: April 2025
• Where to Watch: Hulu
• What’s the Buzz? Deeply touching insight into canine companions aiding children with autism

3. Dogs Are People Too

• About: A playful yet thought-provoking exploration of the “non-human personhood” movement across America.
• Release: April 2025
• Where to Watch: Available on Video-on-Demand
• What’s the Buzz? A humorous and informative dive into evolving legal views on dogs

4. Folktales

• About: Set in Norway, focuses on teens forging connections and growing through caring for sled dogs.
• Premiere: January 25, 2025 (Sundance), US release July 25, 2025 via Magnolia Pictures
• Where to Watch: Theatrical + streaming soon
• What’s the Buzz? A beautiful portrait of growth and human-animal teamwork

5. Good Boy  

• Genre: Supernatural horror from a dog’s POV
• Premiere: SXSW, March 10, 2025
• Where to Watch: Shudder (distribution in US, UK, CA, AU/NZ)
• What’s the Buzz? A gripping, emotional thriller centered on a loyal dog named Indy

6. Dog Man

• About: Adapts Dav Pilkey’s hit kids’ graphic novel, featuring a canine police hero.
• Release: Streaming April/May 2025
• Where to Watch: Prime Video & Peacock
• What’s the Buzz? Fun, family-friendly, with strong emotional beats

7. Heart of the Beast

• About: Brad Pitt and a retired combat dog trek through the Alaskan wilderness.
• Filming: Began March 2025; release expected late 2025
• Where to Watch: To be distributed by Paramount
• What’s The Buzz? Promises strong action and emotional resonance around veteran canines

8. The Good Dog

• About: Based on Avi’s novel, it follows a malamute’s dilemma between humans and wolves.
• Release: December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day)
• Where to Watch: Theaters
• What’s the Buzz? Poignant exploration of loyalty and ancestral urges

9. Dog Patrol

• About: A family adventure featuring sheriff Cuba Gooding Jr. and a crime-solving canine.
• Release: September 20, 2025
• Where to Watch: Plex
• What’s the Buzz? Lighthearted, fun, great for the whole family

10. The Dogs

• About: A Horror and Suspense, Thriller film about a young teen and family who encounter ferocious dogs and sinister spirits after a move to a new home
• Release: June 13, 2025
• Where to Watch: Theaters
• What’s the Buzz? Appealing to indie documentary fans

11. Dog Days Out

• About: A playful series showing pups having adventures while their humans are away.
• Release: February 13^th, 2025
• Where to Watch: Netflix
• What’s the Buzz? Lighthearted kids’ content, dog-centered fun

12. Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake

• About: Follows TV star Pete Wicks working with Dogs Trust rescue center.
• Release: January 7, 2025 (UK); US platform TBD
• Where to Watch:  Apple TV
• What’s the Buzz? Behind-the-scenes look at rescue dogs and caregivers

13. SuperNova: The 100 Mile Dog

• About: Follows Nova, a 7-year-old Hungarian Vizsla, and her ultra-running dad Evan Birch, with mom Cassie serving as crew chief on a grueling 100-mile race.
• Release: May 15, 2025
• Where to Watch: YouTube
• What’s the Buzz? Showcases the incredible endurance and bond between a working dog and human during ultra-distance running

14. Nothing Safer

• About: Focuses on Colorado’s inmate-rescue dog training program, highlighting mutual rehabilitation for both dogs and inmates.
• Release: March 27, 2025
• Where to Watch: PBS
• What’s the Buzz? A moving, dual-healing story where service dogs help reduce prison recidivism — and find loving homes

15. Abby’s List: A Dogumentary

• About: Follows Mark Sutherland and his dog Abby on a heartfelt cross-country bucket-list road trip.
• Release: May 2, 2025
• Where to Watch: Amazon Prime & Other Streaming
• What’s the Buzz? A nostalgic, tear-filled journey that explores love, loss, and life goals with a canine companion