Good Boy is one of the most acclaimed and talked about horror movies of 2025, but with an adorable dog taking center stage in the movie, this is your guide to if the canine dies, should that be information you need before deciding to watch.
Good Boy has been making waves since it debuted at SXSW in March, with critics and audiences blown away by the horror movie‘s clever central conceit.
That’s because it’s a haunted house movie told from a canine’s point-of-view, with Indy the dog – played by Indy the dog – our eyes and ears for much of the movie, and the only character who realises that something supernatural might be afoot.
You can read our Good Boy review here. But we also know some animal-lovers won’t watch a movie if they know a dog dies, so that information can be found below. Meaning SPOILERS ahead (though please avoid if you can, as it’s best to go into this one knowing nothing).
Does the dog die in Good Boy?
No, the dog does not die in Good Boy, with Indy surviving through to the end of the movie.
The story concerns dog Indy and master Todd moving to a house in the woods, where the pet pooch immediately detects something supernatural within those four walls.
There’s creepy noises and shadows in the attic and basement, doors creak and open of their own accord, and Indy even sees another seemingly spectral dog creeping around the house.
But Indy’s owner seems blissfully unaware of the nightmare his dog is witnessing, and trying to protect him from. Though to be fair, Todd, has problems of his own, in the shape of a serious illness that’s affecting both his body and his brain.
That mind fog sees him treating Indy pretty poorly towards the end of the film. But it also means he banishes his best friend to under the house when the paranormal activity appears to really kick off.
Which might just save Indy’s life, as while he’s scared down there, he doesn’t die, and makes it to the end of the movie. At which point he’s found and rescued by Todd’s sister Vera, who drives him safely away from the haunted house.
So be warned – while the dog doesn’t die in Good Boy, he is in danger for much of the movie, and thanks to Indy’s incredible acting chops, appears to be stressed and frightened throughout. All of which was achieved not by scaring him senseless, but through audio cues, hand gestures, and food, though definitely not carrots.
Director compares Indy to Mission: Impossible’s Ethan Hunt
As the release of Good Boy has been approaching, search for whether Indy dies has spiked, prompting writer-director Ben Leonberg to speak out about the issue.
“Were we surprised by the reaction? I mean, yes, I think so,” Leonberg tells CinemaBlend. “It’s all been delightful. We certainly think our dog is really compelling. I think everyone thinks their own dog is the cutest, most compelling dog in the world. So maybe my wife and I are gonna be a little warped now. But no, it’s been delightful to see that people are this invested in Indy, his story and outcome.”
Leonberg says he’s also fine with audiences knowing in advance what happens to Indy, even comparing the dog to Ethan Hunt: “It’s probably not so different from what I think people know when they go and see a Mission: Impossible movie,” says Leonberg.
“Tom Cruise isn’t gonna die, but the filmmaking still has to let you think he might fall off that airplane and die potentially for real, when you’re watching Mission: Impossible. So, it’s a different way to solve a kind of similar problem.”
