Animal movies coming to theaters in 2017 include “Rock Dog,” “Kong: Skull Island,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” “War for the Planet of the Apes”and “Jumanji.”
January 27, 2017
“A Dog’s Purpose”
Based on the book by W. Bruce Cameron: A dog tries to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes and owners.
Director: Lasse Hallström
Stars: Britt Robertson, Bradley Cooper, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton
Watch the trailer
February 10, 2017
“Kedi”
A documentary about the street cats of Istanbul, Turkey. Read the Moviepaws review.
February 10, 2017
“John Wick: Chapter Two”
Hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is back with a vengeance — and a new dog — in this hotly anticipated action sequel. Read the Moviepaws review.
February 24, 2017
“Rock Dog”
A Tibetan Mastiff just wants to play guitar instead of become a guard dog like his dad in this animated comedy starring the voice talents of Owen Wilson, Eddie Izzard and Lewis Black. Watch the trailer
March 2017
March 10, 2017
“Kong: Skull Island”
Explorers are led under false pretenses to an island inhabited by (surprise!) a giant ape in this King Kong film set in the ’70s.
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson and John Goodman
Watch the trailer
March 17
“Beauty and the Beast”
In this live-action version of the classic Disney movie, a young woman falls for a prince who is under a beastly enchantment.
Director: Bill Condon
Stars: Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Ewan McGregor, Dan Stevens
March 31, 2017
“The Zookeeper’s Wife”
Jessica Chastain stars as the title character who turns the Berlin zoo into a refuge for Jews during World War II in this film based on the best-selling book. Read the viewer advisory.
April 21, 2017
“Born in China”
This documentary from Disneynature follows the adventures of three animal families — pandas, golden monkeys and the elusive snow leopard.
Director: Chuan Lu
Narrator: Xun Zhou
June 23, 2017
“Transformers: The Last Knight”
The action franchise adds Freya, formerly “the loneliest dog in the world” as the loyal companion of Anthony Hopkins in the fifth installment of the series.
June 16, 2017
“Once Upon a Time in Venice”
In this bullet-ridden action-comedy, Bruce Willis is Venice Beach P.I. Steve Ford, who teams up with a local thug (Jason Momoa) to get his beloved dog, Buddy, back. Costars John Goodman, Thomas Middleditch, Famke Janssen, and Kal Penn. Opens June 16 in limited release. On Disc/Streaming August 15.
Jul 14, 2017
“War for the Planet of the Apes”
In the sequel to “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” Caesar and the apes ago to war with a human army led by a ruthless Colonel (Woody Harrelson).
August 28, 2017
“The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature”
In the sequel to the 2014film, Surly the Squirrel (Will Arnett) and the park animals must band together to prevent Oakton City’s crooked mayor (Bobby Moynihan) from bulldozing Liberty Park and replacing it with a dangerous amusement park.
November 10, 2017
“Show Dogs”
“Jumanji”
The Rock, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan star as ordinary people sucked into a mystical jungle game where they face off with rhinos and black mambas in a “spiritual sequel” to the 1995 film.
December 22, 2017
“Ferdinand”
An animated version of the 1936 classic children’s book about a shy bull with the voice talents of Russell Peters, Donald Sutherland, Chris O’Dowd, Samantha Morton and Diego Luna.
Movie Paws 