Indy the Dog from the horror film Good Boy is receiving so much praise for his performance that he has sent a letter to the Academy Awards, requesting a nod from the Oscars. In the letter, Indy states (via Variety):
Despite my critically acclaimed role in the recent film ‘Good Boy,’ — I have been deemed ineligible for the Best Actor category. Apparently, I am not a good enough boy for you.
Good Boy has opened to a record-breaking $2.2 million, marking IFC’s second-best opening weekend ever, following 2024’s Late Night with the Devil ($2.8 million), as reported by Variety. The heartfelt letter, which concludes a cute pawprint of Indy, also mentions his inspiration for chasing the Hollywood dream.
Indy the Dog Highlights Animal Actors With Oscar-Worthy Performances
Indy the Dog is making waves as the breakout canine star in Hollywood. Here are the key details regarding the film:
In the letter addressed to the Academy, Indy highlights his journey by throwing shade at the Oscars(via Variety):
As a young pup, I was forever changed by Jed the wolf-dog’s stirring performance in White Fang. That was the moment I first knew: I wanted to chase my own Hollywood dreams. From Free Willy to Babe, The Birds to War Horse — animal actors have carried emotional arcs, and in some cases, entire franchises — all while suffering this indifference and disregard from the two-legged actor community at large. To date, we remain largely absent from your yearly accolades, unrecognized for our craft, and left in my smaller but still adequate house by the academy at large.
The movies mentioned evoke nostalgic memories in us, from resonating with the Free Willy protagonist orca to the farm pig in Babe. These movies were core memories from our childhood that shaped our values and empathy for animals during a very impressionable time in our lives.
Is it really an unfair request that the animal actors in the films get their own award? Indy had this to say regarding the matter:
How many great performances must go overlooked before the Academy throws us a bone?
The birds from The Birds certainly haunted us enough to deem a good performance, and Jed the wolf-dog was a furry, lovely wolf in films like The Thing and The Journey of Natty Gann. Who can forget the lovely horse from Seabiscuit and the tragic tale of Marley in Marley & Me?
An honorable mention to the cat that stole our hearts from Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing. Animals have proved time and time again that they can make or break a film, and Indy is no exception in this horror film.
Good Boy Follows in the Footsteps of a Successful 2025 Horror Calendar
2025 saw an unprecedented resurgence of horror films in the mainstream, from originals to sequels, starting with the breakout hit Sinners from Ryan Coogler. The vamp-horror flick saw a dual role from Michael B. Jordan, with multiple praises for the story, performances, and direction.
This year even gave us the final Conjuring flick, which saw massive success at the domestic box office. Bringing a supposed end to the Warrens’ investigations, the movie received lukewarm reviews, but that didn’t stop audiences from getting their closure.
What was spooky was the impact that the original film Weapons had on everybody. The Zach Creggor film saw Josh Brolin and Julia Garner go against an enemy they had no idea about, in a meditative tale on grief and frustration.
Decades later, we were treated to the unexpected story that was 28 Years Later, with Ralph Fiennes delivering the top-notch performance we have come to expect. The movie tackles almost every subject in horror, leaving us with more dread than cheap thrills.
Several films like Bring Her Back and Together went a bit under the radar, but are still excellent films with interesting stories to tell, ranging from possession to body horror.
We saw the final performance by Tony Todd, the face of eerie impending doom in Final Destination: Bloodlines, a movie that performed exceedingly well at the box office and with critics for being self-aware with its premise and having fun with the concept.
Fans can expect another scare, with the release of The Black Phone 2 right around the corner.
What do you think of Indy the Dog’s letter to the Oscars? Let us know in the comments.
Good Boy is currently running in cinemas in the U.S.
