Sometimes you just want to switch off your brain, wrap yourself in a blanket, and watch something beautiful. No shooting, no intrigue, no another detective story full of maniacs and murders. Just nature, animals, and a bit of human foolishness against their backdrop. We’ve gathered six movies after which you’ll either want to get a dog or move to a deserted island. Or both at once. Movies about nature and animals in our selection are very different in mood: there’s drama that gives you a lump in your throat, and comedy that makes your cheeks hurt from laughing. But all of them make you forget about phone notifications for a couple of hours and remind you that the world outside can be amazingly beautiful.
We’ve gathered excellent movies about nature and animals for you
Life of Pi — A Movie About a Boy and a Tiger in the Open Ocean
An Indian young man named Pi ends up in a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. His companion is a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but Ang Lee turned it into one of the most visually stunning films of the decade. The ocean here either glows like Christmas lights or turns into a nightmare.
The film came out quite a while ago. It’s the perfect time to watch it if you haven’t already. Photo: timeout.com
The film won four Oscars, including Best Director, and this is a case where the awards are fully deserved. Don’t expect a simple adventure: beneath the beautiful surface lies a philosophical story that won’t let you go for several days after watching. Of course, it’s not an action movie about zombies and the apocalypse, but it’s still pretty great.
Eight Below — A Movie with Paul Walker About Dogs
Paul Walker plays an Antarctic researcher who is forced to leave his sled dog team at the station due to an emergency evacuation. Eight huskies and malamutes are left alone in the middle of an icy wasteland for six months. What follows is a heartwarming film after which you’ll hug your dog tighter than usual (and if you don’t have a dog, you’ll seriously consider getting one).
A lesser-known but quite good film with Paul Walker that animal lovers will enjoy. Photo: afisha.ru
Based on the true story of a Japanese expedition in 1958, and Disney managed not to turn it into a sugary fairy tale. The nature here is harsh, honest, and incredibly beautiful. And it’s nice to see Walker outside of “Fast & Furious”: the film proves what a versatile actor he was.
Zookeeper — A Comedy About Talking Animals
Kevin James’ character works as a zookeeper and hopelessly tries to sort out his love life. The animals, watching this circus, decide to break the main rule and start talking to him. A gorilla teaches him confidence, a lion advises him to roar at rivals, and a bear suggests he just be himself. Silly? Absolutely. Funny? Very much at times. “Zookeeper” is a contender for a great movie for the evening!
An amazing comedy about a zookeeper that people of all ages will enjoy! Photo: kg-portal.ru
This is a light family comedy that doesn’t aim for an Oscar but is perfect for an evening when you don’t feel like thinking at all. Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, and Adam Sandler lent their voices to the animals, so the menagerie turned out quite star-studded. Plus the zoo on screen looks so good you’ll want to buy a ticket.
K-9 — A Movie About a Police Dog
Detective Dooley, played by James Belushi, gets a German Shepherd named Jerry Lee as his partner. The dog chews up his car seats, steals food, and acts as if he’s the one wearing the badge. It seems like a typical buddy movie, but the chemistry between Belushi and the dog is so convincing that you forget about the crime plot and just watch their relationship.
If you love dogs and police movies, this is the best pick for the evening! Photo: afisha.ru
Somewhere in the background there’s an investigation into a drug dealer, but let’s be honest: everyone watches this dog movie not for the legendary actor. The film is over 35 years old and it still makes you smile. A cinema classic that never gets old.
The Big Year — A Comedy About Birdwatching
Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson play a trio of fanatics who compete to see the most bird species in a single calendar year. Based on true events, and that’s perhaps the most surprising part. While the characters race across all of North America with binoculars, their families are quietly losing their minds.
There are almost no movies about birdwatching. And this one’s a comedy with a pretty solid cast! Photo: afisha.ru
Director David Frankel, who made “The Devil Wears Prada,” turned this into a warm and slightly bittersweet film about people who chase a dream while forgetting about everything else. There are plenty of birds on screen, the landscapes from Alaska to Texas are stunning, and the humor is understated — they don’t make them like this anymore. An underrated film that undeservedly flew under most viewers’ radar. Time to fix that!
The Beach — A Movie About a Paradise Island with DiCaprio
Technically, “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t quite belong among movies about animals
