Anne Hathaway Says ‘Movies That Kill Dogs Should Automatically Be Rated R’

Actress Anne Hathaway has spoken out about the issue of dog deaths in movies, advocating for such films to receive an R rating. In a recent interview with Complex Pop Culture, Hathaway stated that "movies that kill dogs should automatically be rated R." She made this declaration while promoting her upcoming film, The End of Oak Street, which features a dog named Starbuck who plays a significant role in the story.

During the interview, Hathaway addressed concerns raised by viewers who were worried about the fate of the family dog in her new film. She assured them that "we break rules in this movie" and emphasized that "that might not be one of them. Don't worry." However, her comments hinted at the underlying reason for her stance on the matter.

Hathaway believes that the fear surrounding dog deaths in movies stems from the widely popular film, John Wick. In John Wick, the protagonist avenges his puppy after it is killed by gangsters. This traumatizing event, according to Hathaway, has left people "so traumatized" by the depiction of a dog's demise in cinema.

The End of Oak Street, directed by J.J. Abrams and starring Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, revolves around a family's struggle to survive after their neighborhood is disrupted by an otherworldly event. Starbuck, an Australian cattle dog, is a central character in the film and is portrayed with great affection by Hathaway. She described Starbuck as "the undisputed star of the film," highlighting the importance of the canine in the narrative.