If you love movies about dogs, where intrepid canines are the main characters and embark on wild adventures together, then you’ve probably heard of a dog movie called “Benji.”
Depending on your age and your taste in movies, you may be more familiar with 1974 original or the new Netflix adaptation released in 2018, which features a small dog named Benji as the protagonist. So, what kind of dog is Benji?
Benji was a mix of Miniature Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, and Schnauzer. He is a fictional character created by Joe Camp and has been the focus of several movies from 1974 to the 2000s.
So, now that we’ve answered that question, let’s go a little deeper. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about this adorable little dog and the movie he stars in. Keep reading now to get all the details! Is the Dog In “Benji” Real?
One of the first questions you may have had while watching “Benji” is whether the protagonist is a real dog.
It may be harder to tell in the 2018 version due to the use of CGI to make it look like Benji is talking or doing other things that dogs don’t usually do.
Benji is a real dog. The dog who plays Benji in the film is a rescue dog and was originally found in the parking lot of a grocery store before being taken to a nearby shelter.
Upon being cast for the movie, Benji’s trainer immediately thought the little canine was a Schnauzer/Cocker Spaniel mix. However, the shelter where they found him labeled him as a border terrier.
His carefree life comes crashing down around his floppy ears when two of his friends get kidnapped. It’s up to Benji to save them both, while also putting a stop to the bad guys’ plans.
There have been multiple “Benji” films ever since the original was released back in 1974, with the most recent adaptation being released in 2018 on Netflix. To be exact, there have been 9 movies, 4 TV shows, and 2 documentaries over the years. Let’s learn a little bit more about the newest movie and its cast.
The film was directed and cast by Brandon Camp, who is actually the son of the director of the original Benji film, Joe Camp.
It was produced by Blumhouse Productions and starred Gabriel Bateman and Darby Camp, among many others. Some other actors who played a major part in the film include Angus Sampson, Will Rothhaar, Kiele Sanchez, and Jerod Haynes.
As far as box office sales go, it has been considered far less successful than the original. The 1974 film grossed around $45,000,000 worldwide, while the newest adaptation only grossed around $585,000.
This may be due in large part to the film being a Netflix film, which means many viewers may have watched it through their subscription rather than at the theater.
HOW MANY BENJI DOGS WERE THERE?
Four different dogs have played Benji.
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The haunted house in the movie was converted into a bed & breakfast.
Benji starts out by showing this shot of a creepy haunted house where ultimately Paul and Cindy are held hostage. Well, if youre ever in McKinney, Texas, it seems you can have a much more pleasant stay in the exact same place. The residence used as a Benji film location for the haunted house scenes has been painted up and converted into Dowell House Bed & Breakfast.
: Google Streetview