The Great Pyrenees, or Pyrenean Mountain Dog, is an icon of dogdom as well as dog films, mostly thanks to the immortal Belle. While there have been four Belle et Sébastien movies (listed below), there were also four different TV shows, making Belle a French Lassie. The TV series were: Belle et Sébastien (1965) from France, with 13 episodes; the follow-up Sébastien parmi les hommes (1968), also French with 13 episodes, now in color; the animated Meiken Jolie (1981–1982) from Japan with 52 episodes; and French-Canadian animated production Belle et Sébastien (2017).
The title links will take you to Amazon movie pages (Reel Dogs earns a referral fee at no cost to you) or, for rarer titles, alternative sources for the films.
The 12 Dogs of Christmas * Year: 2004 * Country: US * Breed content: Low
As the title implies, there are many dogs. The Great Pyrenees is not one of the stars, but seen a few times.
Animal Clinic * Year: 2004 * Country: US * Breed content: Low
Only a briefly seen background dog at the vet clinic. Originally an Animal Planet made-for-TV movie.
Belle et Sébastien AKA: Belle & Sebastian * Year: 2013 * Country: France * Breed content: High
A beautiful film shot in the Alps and based originally on a French TV show from 1965, then adapted into a novel in 1966 by Cécile Aubry, about a boy and a Great Pyrenees, “Belle”, set to the backdrop of both the French Alps and World War Two. The first TV series contained thirteen half-hour episodes and was broadly released in the 1960s with an English dub for the BBC.
Belle et Sébastien, l’aventure continue AKA: Belle & Sebastian: The Adventure Continues * Year: 2015 * Country: France * Breed content: High
Sequel to Belle et Sébastien.
Belle et Sébastien 3, le dernier chapitre AKA: Belle and Sebastian, Friends for Life * Year: 2017 * Country: France * Breed content: High
Third in the Belle et Sébastien trilogy, now with kidnapped puppies in the mix.
Belle et Sébastien: Nouvelle génération AKA: Belle and Sebastien: The New Generation * Year: 2022 * Country: France * Breed content: High
A modernized adaptation of Belle et Sébastien, now only taking inspiration from the original 1965 show but set in the modern day with a new story. Yet to be released in North America.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta! * Year: 2012 * Country: Mexico/US * Breed content: Low
A background dog only.
C’era un castello con 40 cani AKA: There Was a Castle with Forty Dogs * Year: 1990 * Country: Belgium/France/Italy/Spain * Breed content: Low
An incredible dog movie including a Great Pyrenees among the pack, although not a main feature. Only released in Europe.
Dumb and Dumber * Year: 1994 * Country: US * Breed content: Unconfirmed
Finding Neverland * Year: 2004 * Country: UK/US * Breed content: Medium
“Porthos” was played by a female Great Pyrenees in makeup.
Ma-eum-i Doo-beon-jjae I-ya-gi AKA: Hearty Paws 2 AKA: Heart is… 2 * Year: 2010 * Country: South Korea * Breed content: Low
The story of a yellow Labrador Retriever searching for her kidnapped puppies, with only a brief appearance by a Great Pyrenees.
Milou en mai AKA: May Fools * Year: 1990 * Country: France/Italy * Breed content: Unconfirmed
Puppy Swap: Love Unleashed * Year: 2019 * Country: US * Breed content: Low
One of the dogs seen briefly in a run at the animal shelter. The main dogs are Pomeranians.
The Saltwater Moose * Year: 1996 * Country: Canada * Breed content: Low
A Pyr as the family dog, seen occasionally.
Sans Famille AKA: Without Family * Year: 2000 * Country: France/Germany/Czech Republic * Breed content: Medium
Oliver Twist meets Belle and Sebastian, with a wonderfully well-trained (by Pascal Tréguy and Étienne Serclerat) and placid Pyr. Adapted into a film from a French TV show and never released outside of Europe.
Santa Buddies * Year: 2009 * Country: US * Breed content: High
The merging film between the Air Buddies franchise and Santa Paws, including an adult and puppy Pyr along with the Golden Retriever puppies. Zeus plays the adult “Santa Paws”.
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups * Year: 2012 * Country: Canada/US * Breed content: High
Third of these Christmas Great Pyrenees films, now with a whole family of Pyr puppies. Lady, daughter of Zeus, plays the mom. Lady was herself one of the featured mother dogs on Animal Planet’s Too Cute series with her own litter of puppies.
The Search for Santa Paws * Year: 2010 * Country: Canada/US * Breed content: High
Follow-up to Santa Buddies about the Pyr puppy.
Sourdough * Year: 1981 * Country: US * Breed content: High
Before Belle, there was the hermit in Sourdough who lives and travels in the northern wilderness with the very smart choice of two Great Pyrenees pack dogs as his only companions. I have an old VHS of this movie, which has never been released on DVD, but you can now see it online.
Within These Walls * Year: 2001 * Country: Canada/US * Breed content: Low
Only in the final scene.
Know more Great Pyrenees movies? Please send info to [email protected]. Thank you!