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Indy, the dog star of the horror movie Good Boy, is making a big ask this awards season. In an open letter to the Oscars, he’s calling for animal actors to get recognition in the acting categories. Funny, heartfelt, and a little cheeky, the letter argues that dogs, cats, and other four-legged performers deserve their moment in the spotlight too.
“Despite my critically acclaimed role in the recent film ‘Good Boy,’ — I have been deemed ineligible for the Best Actor category,” Indy writes in the letter obtained exclusively by Variety and released by IFC. “Apparently, I am not a good enough boy for you.”
Good Boy has already achieved a strong commercial performance. The film opened to $2.2 million, marking IFC’s second-best opening weekend ever, trailing only 2024’s Late Night with the Devil ($2.8 million). The release also ranks as IFC Entertainment Group’s third-largest opening weekend overall, behind Clown in a Cornfield under the RLJE Films banner.
Indy’s plea points to a longstanding tradition of memorable animal performances that have gone unrecognised by the Academy, citing Jed the wolf-dog in White Fang, the whale in Free Willy, and the titular pig in Babe—the latter of which was nominated for Best Picture. “How many great performances must go overlooked before the Academy throws us a bone?” Indy asks.
Critics have praised Indy’s work, with IndieWire describing him as “One of the most emotive actors of his generation.” The campaign gained momentum following the release of the film’s trailer and poster in July, which together garnered over 100 million views across platforms, the largest reach in IFC’s history. Originally intended as a limited release, the film’s rollout expanded to a nationwide theatrical debut, resulting in IFC’s second-largest opening weekend theater count ever.
In the closing lines of the letter, Indy delivers a heartfelt message to the Academy: “We ask that you stop lifting your leg on the contribution of myself and the many great animal actors whose work continues to go unrecognised.”
Reactions online have been overwhelmingly positive, with fans taking to social media to show support. One wrote, “Pls give him his award :(,” while another commented, “He understood the assignment and sat for it.” Other responses included, “A good boy being denied a treat breaks my soul,” “They need to call the award: Best Boy,” and, “The only actor who actually deserves a standing ovation and a belly rub.”
Good Boy is a 2025 American supernatural horror movie. It is directed by Ben Leonberg, his first feature film, and written by Leonberg and Alex Cannon. The cast includes Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden, and Leonberg’s real-life dog, Indy, who plays the main role. The story shows a haunted house through the eyes of a dog.
The movie premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 10, 2025. It was released in U.S. theaters on October 3 by IFC and Shudder. Good Boy became the third highest-grossing film in the history of these companies.
Good Boy follows Todd, a young man with a chronic lung disease, who moves with his dog Indy to his late grandfather’s isolated rural home. The house appears haunted, and Indy senses a dark, shadowy presence tied to the home’s past. As Todd’s health deteriorates and he becomes increasingly erratic, Indy uncovers the remains of the family’s missing dog and experiences visions of both the dark figure and Todd’s deceased grandfather. After a series of terrifying encounters with the entity, Todd ultimately succumbs to his illness and the supernatural forces in the house, while Indy bravely tries to protect him. The next morning, Todd’s sister Vera finds him dead, and Indy reunites with her.
