Dog

An Army Ranger named Jackson Briggs and his loyal dog are forced to travel along the Pacific Coast Highway to attend a friend's funeral. What starts as a mandated stopover becomes a slow reckoning with grief, each mile revealing small truths about courage, accountability, and the cost of silence. They roll through sunlit beaches, fogbound cliffs, and sleepy towns where ordinary people offer brief, meaningful snippets of wisdom. At a seaside deli, a blunt but compassionate manager and a perceptive teen provide moments that test Briggs to open up, even in awkward honesty. The dog remains a steadfast companion, a quiet beacon that nudges him toward connection, and the coast keeps reshaping his sense of home. Along the route, glimpses of Briggs's former unit (Ranger Jones and Ranger Lucas) surface in memories and brief encounters, grounding the film in his military past.

Directed by Reid Carolin and Channing Tatum, with a story by Brett Rodriguez, Dog released in 2022 as a compact drama comedy about loss and friendship told along a coastline. Supporting turns from Aavi Haas and Ryder McLaughlin add local color.

Dog earned a worldwide box office of $84,774,243 on a budget of $20,000,000, delivering a solid return that exceeded expectations for a performer-led mid-budget drama. Its market strength came from broad appeal to families and dog lovers.

Critical reception highlighted the balance of practical humor with sincere emotion. The core themes include facing duty, accepting loss, and finding new purpose through companionship. The relationship between Jackson Briggs and the dog stays grounded, letting coastal vistas and small-town encounters reinforce the emotional through line.

The film struck a positive chord with dog lovers and road trip fans, thanks to the steady presence of a loyal animal co star and the Pacific coast visuals. It sparked conversations about resilience and the comfort of friendship in tough times.