Hollywood legend has it that when the votes for Best Actor were tabulated at the very first Academy Awards® ceremony in 1929, the award was won by one of the most popular stars of the silver screen. But there was a snag. The winner—who had starred in some 24 pictures and went by the name of Rin Tin Tin—was a dog. Desperate to avoid embarrassment, and determined to lend their inaugural event a certain level of credibility, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ran the vote again, without the beloved canine’s name on the ballot, ultimately handing the award to Emil Jannings for his work on The Last Command (1928).
Rin Tin Tin led a charmed life, hoovering up endorsement deals and receiving fan mail from all over the world. When he died in 1932, regular programming was halted on television and radio for eulogizing news bulletins, and in 1960 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Many animals have followed in Rin Tin Tin’s paw prints over the years, achieving the kind of fame that would be the envy of all creatures great and small. The border collie Lassie would become a television icon, while Trigger—the golden palomino stallion who starred in more than 80 films—received equal screen billing with his human costar, Roy Rogers.
With such riches at stake, it’s little wonder that the menagerie of animal actors in this collection give such committed performances. The dogs, especially, are gluttons for attention. From the bovine one-woman show of Andrea Arnold’s Cow (2021) to the excellent ensemble work of a herd of sheep in Ilisa Barbash and Lucien Castaing-Taylor’s Sweetgrass (2009), here’s where you’ll find some of the hardest-working bestial thespians in show business. Pay no attention to the studiously nonplussed look on the face of the hippo in Pepe (2024)—he’s as hungry for an Oscar® as the rest of them.

Hollywood legend has it that when the votes for Best Actor were tabulated at the very first Academy Awards® ceremony in 1929, the award was won by one of the most popular stars of the silver screen. But there was a snag. The winner&#8212;who had starred in some 24 pictures and went by the name of Rin Tin Tin&#8212;was a dog. Desperate to avoid embarrassment, and determined to lend their inaugural event a certain level of credibility, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ran the vote again, without the beloved canine&#8217;s name on the ballot, ultimately handing the award to Emil Jannings for his work on The Last Command (1928).
Rin Tin Tin led a charmed life, hoovering up endorsement deals and receiving fan mail from all over the world. When he died in 1932, regular programming was halted on television and radio for eulogizing news bulletins, and in 1960 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Many animals have followed in Rin Tin Tin&#8217;s paw prints over the years, achieving the kind of fame that would be the envy of all creatures great and small. The border collie Lassie would become a television icon, while Trigger&#8212;the golden palomino stallion who starred in more than 80 films&#8212;received equal screen billing with his human costar, Roy Rogers.
With such riches at stake, it&#8217;s little wonder that the menagerie of animal actors in this collection give such committed performances. The dogs, especially, are gluttons for attention. From the bovine one-woman show of Andrea Arnold&#8217;s Cow (2021) to the excellent ensemble work of a herd of sheep in Ilisa Barbash and Lucien Castaing-Taylor&#8217;s Sweetgrass (2009), here&#8217;s where you&#8217;ll find some of the hardest-working bestial thespians in show business. Pay no attention to the studiously nonplussed look on the face of the hippo in Pepe (2024)&#8212;he&#8217;s as hungry for an Oscar® as the rest of them.

All Creatures Great and Small: Animals on Film

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL: ANIMALS ON FILM

It’s the job of any animal actor to upstage their human costars at every opportunity. From attention-seeking dogs to nonplussed hippos—and even an irascible crab—this collection celebrates all creatures great and small, shining a spotlight on the hardest-working bestial thespians in show business.

It&#8217;s the job of any animal actor to upstage their human costars at every opportunity. From attention-seeking dogs to nonplussed hippos&#8212;and even an irascible crab&#8212;this collection celebrates all creatures great and small, shining a spotlight on the hardest-working bestial thespians in show business.

Animals on Film

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ANIMALS ON FILM

All Creatures Great and Small:

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ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL:

Contains material that may not be suitable for children or young adults.

René Laloux

Les escargots

The Snails

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THE SNAILS

Generally suitable for all ages, but viewer discretion is advised.

Heddy Honigmann

Buddy

BUDDY

strobe lighting

Bettina Perut

Iván Osnovikoff

Los Reyes

LOS REYES

discriminatory language

Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias

Pepe

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PEPE

Kelly Reichardt

Wendy and Lucy

WENDY AND LUCY

Contains material and themes suitable only for mature audiences.

Al Warren

Dogleg

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DOGLEG