Actor Anne Hathaway stated during a press tour that movies featuring the deaths of dogs should automatically receive an R rating, pointing to audience trauma from films like “John Wick.” According to Complex and Variety, the actor voiced her opinions while promoting her new sci-fi thriller “The End of Oak Street,” which released in theaters.
Anne Hathaway Calls for R Ratings for Dog Deaths in Films
During an August interview with Complex, Hathaway argued that canine fatalities in cinema warrant a strict adult rating regardless of other content. “Doesn’t matter if anybody curses. It doesn’t matter if there’s violence,” Hathaway told the outlet. “If a dog dies — R-rated.” Variety reported that the actor made similar comments during her press rounds for “The End of Oak Street,” highlighting how common the trope has become in modern storytelling.
Audience Trauma Linked to “John Wick” and Other Tragic Tropes
Hathaway told Complex that she suspects viewer anxiety stems from earlier cinematic tragedies, specifically naming the 2014 action film “John Wick,” where a beagle named Daisy dies during a home invasion. “I think everybody’s so traumatized by ‘John Wick’ because I’ve been seeing those too,” Hathaway said, noting fan demands that her canine co-star remain safe. “Like, ‘They better not kill the dog!’ I’m like, which movies are out there killing dogs that everybody is so scared that they’re just casually doing it in movies now?”
Did you know? Current Motion Picture Association guidelines base ratings on the intensity and realism of violence, but they do not specify categories for the types of victims depicted on screen.
Fate of Starbuck in “The End of Oak Street”
In “The End of Oak Street,” Hathaway stars alongside Ewan McGregor as parents protecting their family from dinosaurs after a cosmic event transports their suburban street into prehistoric times, according to Variety. Hathaway plays matriarch Denise Platt, and the family’s trusted canine companion is named Starbuck. Variety noted that the Warner Bros. tentpole was directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by J.J. Abrams. Hathaway assured anxious fans that Starbuck survives the ordeal, telling Complex, “We break rules in this movie. That might not be one of them.”
How Current Movie Ratings Handle Violence
According to standard rating definitions, R-rated films feature graphic violence, blood, gore, or torture that is clearly evident. PG-13 films may contain realistic violence, but the guidelines dictate that the content cannot be both realistic and pervasive or extreme. Neither rating system includes specific rules or automatic triggers regarding animal characters or pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the dog die in “The End of Oak Street”?
No. According to Anne Hathaway, the family dog Starbuck survives the events of the movie.
What is “The End of Oak Street” rated?
The film is rated PG-13.
Who directed “The End of Oak Street”?
David Robert Mitchell directed the film, with J.J. Abrams serving as a producer, as reported by Variety.
What are your thoughts on Anne Hathaway’s proposal for movie ratings? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below, and subscribe to our newsletter for more film news and updates.