Dog From Horror Hit ‘Good Boy’ Should Get Honorary Oscar

The dog star from the horror hit Good Boy should get an honorary Oscar, a new petition that has secured tens of thousands of signatures says.

Released by the Independent Film Company and Shudder, Good Boy premiered in theaters on Oct. 3. The film, which tells its tale from the point of view of the dog, named Indy, went on to earn $6.6 million domestically and $2.1 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $8.7 million. Good Boy had a production budget of $70,000, the film’s publicist confirmed.

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The logline for Good Boy reads, “A loyal dog moves to a rural family home with his owner, Todd (Shane Jensen), only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.”

Indy, who is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, belongs to director Ben Leonberg and was co-trained by Leonberg and producer Kari Fischer for his role in Good Boy. Film critic Rafael Motamayor of IndieWire certainly took notice of Indy’s performance in his review of Good Boy, calling the dog “one of the most emotive actors of his generation — regardless of species.”

More Than 43,500 Fans Have Signed The ‘Good Boy’ Honorary Oscar Petition

With awards season underway, fans are drawing attention to Indy’s performance by signing a new petition on the website Care2 that is asking the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to award the canine from Good Boy an honorary Oscar at the upcoming Academy Awards.

As of the publication of this article, the Good Boy Oscar petition has more than 43,500 signatures with the goal of obtaining 45,000 signatures.

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The petition reads, “Every year, the Oscars honor the best actors, directors, and creators in Hollywood – but this year, one unforgettable star has been left off the list: Indy, the canine lead of Good Boy.

“Even the indie studio, IFC, released a now-viral open letter in Indy’s voice that captured hearts across the internet, with Indy himself joking, ‘Apparently, I am not a good enough boy for you.’ But fans know better – from his soulful eyes to his scene-stealing timing, Indy proved he’s every bit as deserving of gold as any human nominee.

“In Good Boy, Indy gave one of the most emotionally rich performances of the year. Critics even called him “one of the most emotive actors of his generation.” And unlike some past productions that exploited animals for entertainment, Good Boy set a new standard: Indy was treated with love, care, and respect every step of the way.

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“It’s time for the Academy to celebrate the art of animal acting and the people who make it ethical and humane. After all, if Anatomy of a Fall’s canine star could captivate audiences worldwide, surely Indy’s paw-print belongs in Oscar history too.”

IFC and Shudder are serious about getting some awards season recognition for Indy. In the studios’ For Your Consideration list for Good Boy that was sent to the Critics’ Choice Association members for nominations for the 31st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards, Indy was listed in the Best Actor category for the film.

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While Indy has yet to score any Best Actor nominations this awards season, Ben Leonberg, who was also the editor on Good Boy, received a Best Editing nomination from the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Rated PG-13, Good Boy is currently available on streaming video on demand on Shudder and available to purchase or rent on video on demand on various digital streaming platforms.

Note: Forbes.com contributor Tim Lammers is a member of the Critics’ Choice Association.

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