10 Horror Films Where Pets Survive

If you adore these creatures and enjoy horror films as much as we do, this list will surely appeal to you. Sergey Nivens/iStock/Thinkstock

Fido often makes an appearance in horror films. With a cheerful wag of the tail, a canine on the silver screen can easily win the audience's hearts, as viewers naturally feel empathy for a dog in peril or delight when it becomes the hero. Similarly, when a pet is harmed or killed, it can heighten the horror of a scene or underscore the villain's cruelty. Sometimes, this is simply effective storytelling by the filmmaker. Other times, it feels like a cheap, emotional trick. Did we also mention that cinematic pets don't need the lengthy backstories that human characters often require?

If you love scary movies but want to avoid the heartbreak of seeing a pet meet its end, even a fictional one, these 10 films deliver the chills while ensuring our furry companions remain unharmed. Be aware that this list may include spoilers, especially regarding whether or not the dog dies. And since we love all animals equally, we've included cats as well.

10: 'Gremlins'

Deagle, Peltzer, and Barney face off. (And hello, Judge Reinhold!) Warner Brothers/Getty Images

In this iconic '80s film, Billy Peltzer and the town of Kingston Falls are overrun by a chaotic group of strange reptilian creatures known as gremlins, which emerge from seemingly innocent, fluffy beings called Mogwai if fed after midnight. While the movie is packed with dark comedy, it undeniably falls into the horror genre – the gremlins are vicious monsters that brutally kill several people. However, Peltzer's dog, Barney, makes it through the chaos unscathed.

Barney appears to be in danger right from the start when the cruel Mrs. Deagle threatens to harm the lovable but accident-prone dog for destroying her imported ceramic snowman. Later, when Barney is found tangled in Christmas lights, Peltzer initially blames Deagle (Wrong! It was the gremlins!). Despite looking a bit uncomfortable, Peltzer frees Barney, and the dog is unharmed. Peltzer's father then takes Barney away for most of the film. He returns for the final showdown in a department store but remains safe throughout. The movie concludes with Barney happily staying with the Peltzer family.

9: Two Movies in the 'Friday the 13th' Series

Kane Hodder, who played Jason Voorhees in four of the "Friday the 13th" movies, definitely seems like someone who adores dogs, right? Royce DeGrie/Getty Images

Jason Voorhees, the hockey-masked killer, isn’t exactly known for his kindness, but on two occasions, a dog has crossed his path and survived to tell the tale. In 1981’s "Friday the 13th Part 2," camp counselor Terry owns a dog named Muffin. Muffin encounters Voorhees in the woods, and later, the counselors find an animal’s body, assuming it’s Muffin. However, it turns out to be another animal, presumably one that lived a long, happy life before passing naturally. By the film’s end, Muffin is safely reunited with her friends.

Another dog, Toby, plays a notable role in "Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan." Toby narrowly escapes death multiple times, including surviving a sinking boat and dodging dangerous criminals. After navigating the tough streets of New York City, Toby reappears for the movie’s climax.

Does Jason Voorhees have a soft spot for dogs? A popular anecdote claims that Kane Hodder, the stuntman/actor who played Voorhees in most of the series, refused to perform a scene where Voorhees kicks a dog.

8: 'Poltergeist'

Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) attempts to stop the TV spirits from taking her in "Poltergeist." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images

If you grew up in the '80s, you likely remember being scared out of your wits by "Poltergeist." Despite its PG rating, making it seem suitable for kids, the film featured a closet monster, a sinister tree, a TV portal to another dimension, and even a man ripping his own face off in the mirror. Thankfully, we all made it through, and so did the family dog!

The Freeling family relocates to a new housing development constructed on an ancient

graveyard. Their dog, E-Buzz (sometimes written as E. Buzz), accompanies them through most of their paranormal experiences. While the demonic entities in the house target the humans, E-Buzz remains unharmed and even joins the family when they escape to a hotel.

Unfortunately, Carol Anne’s pet bird, Tweety, wasn’t as lucky.

7: 'Hellboy' and 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army'

A variety of character models from "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" Vince Bucci/Getty Images

A towering, red-horned demon brought to Earth by Nazi occultists during World War II might sound like the ultimate villain. However, it’s just Hellboy, a cigar-chomping, gun-wielding, nearly immortal supernatural being who solves paranormal mysteries worldwide. And he has a soft spot for cats. (We know some might not classify "Hellboy" as horror, but his feline affection earns him a spot on this list.)

Guillermo del Toro’s "Hellboy" films are modern marvels of practical makeup and special effects (though CGI is present, the real stars are actors in incredible foam-latex costumes). One subtle change del Toro made from Mike Mignola’s original comics was giving Hellboy a quirky trait. The demon houses numerous cats in his BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, for those unfamiliar) apartment and lovingly tends to them. Despite chaotic action scenes nearby, the cats are never shown in danger in either movie.

As for any mice or rats that might have once inhabited BPRD headquarters, their fate remains a mystery.

6: 'Dawn of the Dead'

In 2004, "Dawn of the Dead" zombies invaded the NYC subway as part of a promotional stunt for the film. Thankfully, the human passengers escaped unscathed. Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic for Universal Home Video

In the 2004 remake of George Romero’s iconic zombie apocalypse thriller, a group of survivors takes refuge in a shopping mall surrounded by the undead. Chips the dog enters the story midway, discovered by the survivors in an underground parking garage. He becomes central to the plot when they realize the zombies ignore dogs and only target humans. Chips is sent on a mission to deliver supplies to their friend Andy in another building, but zombies break in through the dog door and attack Andy. Nicole, one of the survivors, grows deeply attached to Chips and risks her life to save him, prompting the group to rescue her in turn.

Despite facing significant danger alongside the humans, Chips remains unharmed by the zombies and stays with the survivors throughout their journey. By the film’s conclusion, he’s aboard their boat, and the credits hint at him escaping to an island overrun by zombies, who likely won’t harm him.

5: 'The Lost Boys'

Pure '80s nostalgia! From left to right: Billy Wirth, Kiefer Sutherland, Brooke McCarter, and Alex Winter in a scene from the 1987 classic "The Lost Boys." Warner Brothers/Getty Images

If you’re craving a quintessentially '80s horror movie, "The Lost Boys" is a must-watch. It’s about a group of stylish vampires in a California town clashing with the Coreys (Feldman and Haim). The film is so '80s that it feels like a Rubik’s Cube wearing leg warmers while voting for Ronald Reagan.

While you might expect the teen heartthrobs to be the movie’s heroes, it’s actually Nanook, a husky, who delivers the decisive blow against a wounded but still dangerous vampire. With a powerful leap, Nanook sends the vampire crashing into a bathtub filled with holy water.

Nanook demonstrates the invaluable role of a loyal dog when battling vampires. He consistently warns his friends of vampire presence and can detect when someone has been turned into a vampire.

As Edgar Frog (Feldman) tells Sam Emerson (Haim) in the film, "Your dog can sniff out flesh-eaters in an instant!"

4: 'Alien' and 'Aliens'

A costume from the movie 'Alien' is showcased at the HR Giger Museum on May 13, 2014, in Gruyeres. Swiss surrealist artist Hans Ruedi Giger designed the iconic and terrifying creature, which notably had no interest in cats. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

These two films are cornerstones of the sci-fi/horror genre. A species of deadly aliens infiltrates a spaceship, leading to a fierce battle for survival. Only warrant officer Ellen Ripley survives. Oh, and Jones the cat.

Jones, the Nostromo spaceship's "ship's cat," spends the movie lurking in shadowy corners and occasionally startling the crew. In fact, Jones is behind one of the most iconic "Oh, it's just the cat" jump scares in horror film history.

Although Jones has a few close calls with the alien in the first film, it never directly attacks him. Ripley secures Jones in her cryosleep chamber at the end of the movie. This makes Jones likely the longest-lived pet in cinematic history—he and Ripley remain in suspended animation for 57 years before being rescued. They’re taken to a space station near Earth, where Jones presumably lived out his days (Ripley later embarked on another mission, and her extended cryosleep likely outlasted Jones’ lifespan).

If you’re curious about Jones the cat’s perspective, you can explore the events aboard the Nostromo from his point of view!

3: 'The Hole'

Haley Bennett starred as Julie in Joe Dante’s 2009 film "The Hole," another movie where the canine actor stays safe throughout. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI

This 2009 horror film, directed by Joe Dante of "Gremlins" fame, is a hidden gem that channels the spirit of classic '80s PG-13 horror. It blends innocence and terror as the young protagonists discover a mysterious trapdoor covering a bottomless hole.

While the kids take time to realize the hole is dangerous, their dog Charlie senses it immediately. This leads to some humorous, kid-friendly double entendres like, "Charlie doesn’t like your hole very much." Opening the hole releases a terrifying entity, but Charlie remains unharmed. He disappears from the screen in the latter half of the movie, likely off doing more dog-like activities, such as digging holes or napping.

2: 'Amityville Horror'

Is this the most infamous "haunted" house on Long Island? American International Pictures/Getty Images

This 1979 film is inspired by a book that claims to recount the true story of the Lutz family and the terrifying paranormal events they faced after moving into a house where a gruesome murder occurred. It has since been exposed that the Lutz story was fabricated, though it proved highly profitable through book and film deals.

The Amityville haunting is filled with countless eerie details, but our focus is on Harry the dog. Did the demonic or Native American spirits harm him? Harry appears visibly disturbed by the secret room discovered in the basement, cowering and avoiding it. However, when the haunting becomes unbearable and the Lutz family flees, Harry escapes with them, unharmed.

1: 'Mama'

Guillermo del Toro attends a promotional event for "Mama" in Toronto in January 2013. Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

"Mama" is a unique ghost story about two feral girls raised by a spirit. When they are rescued, Mama the ghost begins haunting their new home to reclaim them. The household includes the girls’ uncle, his girlfriend, and a dachshund named Handsome.

Not only does Handsome remain unharmed by Mama, but he also appears excited to see her, wagging his tail and running toward her whenever she appears. This might be the first instance of such a positive ghost-dog interaction. At a certain point in the film, Handsome simply stops appearing, likely due to inconsistent storytelling rather than any harm coming to him.

While another hunting dog in "Mama" also escapes unscathed, Handsome undoubtedly steals the spotlight as the true star of the film.