Anne Hathaway has sparked a conversation about animal portrayals in film, particularly regarding the emotional impact of dog deaths on audiences. In a recent interview with Complex, the Oscar-winning actress asserted that films featuring storylines where dogs meet tragic ends should automatically receive an R rating. “I feel like movies that kill dogs should automatically be rated R,” she remarked. “Doesn’t matter if anybody curses, it doesn’t matter if there’s violence, if a dog dies, R-rated.”
Concerns Over Animal Depictions
Hathaway’s comments came in light of audience speculation regarding the fate of Starbuck, a dog character in her upcoming film The End of Oak Street. She mentioned having seen reactions from viewers concerned about the well-being of the canine, saying, “Somebody was like, ‘Can you just let the audiences know that, like, it’s all gonna be OK?’ We break rules in this movie, that might not be one of them. Don’t worry.”
Addressing the fear stemming from films like John Wick, where a dog’s death plays a pivotal role, Hathaway questioned, “I’m like, which movies are out there killing dogs that everybody’s scared that we’re just casually doing it in movies now?”
The End of Oak Street: A New Adventure
The End of Oak Street, which co-stars Ewan McGregor, centers around a family that finds themselves in a location occupied by dinosaurs. The Hollywood Reporter’s chief film critic David Rooney praised Hathaway’s performance, describing her character, Denise, as “the essential glue holding the film together.” He noted that Denise is reminiscent of an Anne Tyler character, grappling with feelings of unfulfillment and trapped in her domestic life.
A Year of Busy Schedules
Hathaway’s role in The End of Oak Street is just one facet of her busy career this year. She has already appeared in The Odyssey, Devil Wears Prada 2, and Mother Mary. Looking ahead, she also has an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel Verity slated for release in 2026, which adds yet another title to her bustling schedule.
Reflecting on her packed year, Hathaway shared her surprise with THR at the film’s premiere, stating, “When I got my schedule for this year from all the wonderful film studios that I’ve worked with, I saw it and I kind of thought I was being punked. But then they showed me that no, no, no, all these [release] dates were going to hold and I just said as long as audiences don’t get sick of my face — which I wouldn’t blame them, I would not blame them if they did — let’s go.”
