The 8 Best Dogs That Stole Our Hearts In Horror Movies

The bond between humans and dogs stretches back thousands of years, so it’s no surprise that dogs have been featured in movies since the earliest days of film.

In the horror genre, canine characters typically fall into two categories: loyal companions who aid humans or dangerous antagonists who threaten them. This list highlights the best cinematic dogs, divided into these two roles.

Quick note: there are minor spoilers when discussing the dogs in this list. Horror films are sometimes criticized for using harm to dog characters as a cheap way to evoke strong emotions. Since many people prefer to avoid that, major spoilers about each dog’s fate are hidden in boxes below their descriptions.

Chips – Dawn of the Dead (2004)

In Dawn of the Dead (2004), a stray dog is discovered in the parking garage of a shopping mall while a zombie apocalypse rages on outside. The dog is taken in by Nicole, one of the survivors living in the mall. Nicole loses her father to a zombie bite, so she forms a strong bond with the dog whom she names Chips. Later in the movie, Chips is sent on a rescue mission to carry supplies to a man isolated in a building across the street from the mall. Chips performs admirably, and any fault found in the rescue mission comes down to human error, not in anything that Chips does.

Lester – Halloween (1978)

Lester, from John Carpenter’s Halloween, is a good guard dog who is very protective of young Lindsey Wallace. Lester is the first to realize that Michael Myers is on the prowl at Lindsey’s house. When Lester first appears, he barks assertively towards the back door where Michael later appears. Lindsey’s babysitter Annie thinks Lester is barking at her, but he’s just being a good boy. Later, Lester shows no fear when he approaches Michael and attempts to scare the masked killer away.

Toby – Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Toby is the smartest character in Jason Takes Manhattan. When he sees danger, he runs far, far away. Toby helps comfort Rennie, a young woman who joins a high-school class boat trip from Crystal Lake to New York City despite her phobia of water. Toby is initially creeped out when he sees a vision of a young Jason Voorhees drowning but later gains the courage to stand up to two muggers threatening Rennie in New York.

Gonk – Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)

Gonk is one-third of the inheritance Elvira receives after her great-aunt dies. Elvira isn’t impressed with Gonk at first, so she gives the normal-looking poodle a punk makeover. Gonk has magical abilities and can transform himself into other animals, and he is smart enough to try to hide a book of spells from an evil warlock. Gonk is also brave and aggressive.

Sam – Dog Soldiers (2002)

Sam, a Border Collie, is thrust into a fight for survival against a group of werewolves in the British horror movie Dog Soldiers. Sam makes friends with Private Lawrence Cooper when Cooper and his squad of soldiers look for shelter while being hunted by werewolves. Sam doesn’t back down from the supernatural beasts and plays a vital role in making sure his favorite humans have a fighting chance for survival.

Nanook – The Lost Boys (1987)

Nanook is a beautiful Alaskan Malamute who is highly protective of his owner Sam in The Lost Boys. When Sam’s brother Michael begins to fall into the dark world of vampirism, Nanook understands the danger and acts accordingly, protecting Sam while alerting him to his brother’s condition. When Nanook isn’t hunting vampires, he enjoys car rides with his family and chasing horses in open fields.

Beast – The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

In The Hills Have Eyes, the Carter family owns two German Shepherds: Beauty and Beast. Beauty is emotional and impulsive, while Beast is calm and calculating. Just like his human companions, Beast suffers a terrible loss after the Carter family becomes stranded in the Nevada desert near a family of cannibals. Beast plays a huge role in the movie, rising to a level of importance equal to the human characters.

Samantha – I Am Legend (2007)

Samantha, affectionately known as Sam, is the sole companion of Robert Neville during his struggle for survival in I Am Legend. Sam is incredibly brave, though sometimes too careless in a world where mutated humans known as Darkseekers could be lurking in any shadow. Sam and Neville have a strong bond, helping each other stay sane in a world where it has been years since either of them has been in contact with another human or dog.