Turner & Hooch

This beloved classic, considered one of the most important dog films ever made, stars Tom Hanks, a detective working in a small California coastal town. One day, a man named Amos Reed is murdered, shocking the entire town. No one saw what happened — except for this smelly mutt named Hooch.

Surprise, surprise: Hanks’ character isn’t particularly fond of dogs, and despises Hooch, too. But because he’s the only reliable witness that can solve this murder, they are compelled to work together, with Hooch even making Hanks’ home his temporary home in the process.

Of course, they end up being solid friends by the end of the film. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. The fun, instead, is in watching how these two work together and come to be friends. It’s a fun journey, filled with laughs, trills, intrigue, and a whole lotta heart. You will see Turner & Hooch mentioned in every definitive list of dog films ever made, and for good reason: aside from being a heartwarming buddy cop movie, it’s a genuinely fun and affecting film in general.

Turner & Hooch is a pleasant, silly, offbeat, but ultimately cheerful film that provides more delights than ponder-worthy plot points. But you didn’t really click on this list expecting any of these films to have complex, Oscar-worthy plots, did you?

Director: Roger Spottiswoode – Screenplay: Dennis Shryack, Michael Blodgett, Daniel Petrie Jr., Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr. – Cast: Tom Hanks, Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson – Run Time: 1h 37m