Akita Movies | Reel Dogs

Hachi-ko (1987)

This list includes both the American and Japanese Akita Inu. There are surely more Japanese films featuring Akitas. If you know of any, please let us know!

10 Promises to My Dog

or Inu to watashi no 10 no yakusoku

2008 (Japan)

Akita: unconfirmed

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3

or Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!

2012 (USA)

Chihuahua: ★★★
Akita: ★
American Eskimo Dog: ★
Australian Shepherd: ★
Border Terrier: ★
Beagle: ★
Basset Hound: ★

Dog Lover’s Symphony

2006 (USA)

Labrador Retriever: ★★★
Belgian Tervuren: ★
Australian Shepherd: ★
Border Collie: ★
Miniature Pinscher: ★
Poodle: ★
American Eskimo Dog: ★
Parson Russell Terrier: ★
Havanese: ★
Basset Hound: ★
Dalmatian: ★
German Shepherd Dog: ★
Silky Terrier: ★
Golden Retriever: ★
Cardigan Welsh Corgi: ★
Flat-Coated Retriever: ★
Pug: ★
Great Dane: ★
Mastiff: ★
West Highland White Terrier: ★
Akita: ★
Samoyed: ★
English Springer Spaniel: ★
Large Munsterlander: ★
Chihuahua: ★
Doberman Pinscher: ★
Alaskan Malamute: ★
Shetland Sheepdog: ★
Weimaraner: ★
Mixed Breed: ★

With a dog training school in the film you see dozens of dogs working in the background and doing agility. Unsure about a few of these, like the Silky that could be a large Yorkie. The Akita might be a mix. And the ungroomed bunch of Havanese might also be something else. A few of these, like the Malamute and Doberman, only appear in the credits.

Frequency

2000 (USA)

Akita: ★
Dalmatian: ★

Hachi-ko

or Hachiko monogatari

1987 (Japan)

Akita: ★★★

An exceptional dog film and well-worth the trouble of finding on DVD outside of Japan.

Hatchi: A Dog’s Tale

or Hatchi

2009 (USA/UK)

Akita: ★★★
Shiba Inu: ★★
American Bulldog: ★
Boston Terrier: ★

In this American remake of the classic Japanese Hachiko film, baby Hachi is played by Shiba Inus.

Little Heroes 3

or Top Dogs: Little Heroes 3

2002 (Canada/USA)

Mixed Breed: ★★★
German Shepherd Dog: ★
Akita: ★
Shiba Inu: ★

The stars are mixed breeds, with a few other dogs featuring, most noticeably the silver brindle Akita on a grooming table late in the film.

Marmaduke

2010 (USA/UK)

Afghan Hound: ★
Great Dane: ★★★
Australian Shepherd: ★★
Beauceron: ★★
Akita: ★
Beagle: ★

Great Dane is supported by many other dogs, including Beauceron villain, Australian Shepherd girlfriend, and Afghan Hounds as classic cheerleader stereotypes watching jocks in this unfunny comedy.