“Good Boy” Dog Star Wants Oscars to Consider Animal Actors
The horror film “Good Boy” is turning heads, and not just because of its haunted farmhouse storyline. It stars Indy, a very real dog, who gives a gripping performance that is as chilling as it is charming. But now, Indy is aiming higher than box office numbers. He wants an Oscar!
Yep, a legit Oscar. IFC, the studio behind the film, has kicked off a cheeky but real campaign asking the Academy to consider Indy for Best Actor. The problem? The Oscars don’t give awards to animals.
To make their case, IFC published an open letter, written as if by Indy himself, in Variety. It is funny, a little snarky, and totally on point. “Apparently, I am not a good enough boy for you,” the letter says. He even signs it with a paw print.
Good Boy Film / IG / The IFC letter calls out decades of animal actors who’ve never been recognized. From the pig in “Babe” to the wolf-dog in “White Fang”, they all gave unforgettable performances and got nothing.
Indy’s question hits hard: how many great performances have to be ignored before things change?
The Film That Sparked It All
“Good Boy” was supposed to be a small horror flick. But things changed fast. Directed by Ben Leonberg, the story follows a guy named Todd and his dog Indy as they move into a creepy farmhouse. What makes it unique is that the story is told from Indy’s point of view. It is weird, wild, and surprisingly emotional.
The 2025 horror film struck a nerve. When the trailer dropped this summer, it blew up. Over 100 million views flew in across social platforms. What started as an indie horror film suddenly had real momentum, and it paid off. “Good Boy” pulled in more than $2.3 million domestically, marking IFC’s second-best opening weekend ever.
However, what is making people stop and pay attention isn’t just the gimmick of a dog in a lead role. It is the performance.
And that is the core of IFC’s argument. If an actor is someone who creates emotion on screen and brings a character to life, why can’t that actor be a dog? Indy’s performance might not have lines, but it has weight.
A History of Ignoring Animal Talent
Animal actors have always been part of film history. But they have rarely gotten proper credit. The PATSY Award tried to change that in the 1950s, honoring top animal performances. It ran for about 20 years, then fizzled out. Its final winner? A cat named Tonto in “Harry and Tonto” back in 1974.
Today, there is the Palm Dog Award at Cannes. It started in 2001 and has been the best canine performance of the festival. This year, it went to Panda, a dog in the Icelandic film “The Love That Remains”. But awards like this stay mostly on the sidelines. None of them has the prestige or attention of the Oscars.
Good Boy Film / IG / The timing of this campaign feels right. Social media is eating it up. The letter is going viral. And more people are talking seriously about how we define acting in the modern era.
There is also a real love for dogs here. Indy’s not just a dog doing tricks. He is the emotional anchor of a horror movie, and fans are treating him like a real star. This campaign is funny, sure. But it’s also putting a spotlight on something we have all overlooked for too long.
Even if the Academy doesn’t change its rules overnight, this campaign keeps “Good Boy” in the spotlight. It’s already sparked think pieces, online debates, and even discussions among voters. That’s exactly what a strong campaign should do.