'Good Boy' dog Indy throws hat in Oscars ring, pens an open letter to the Academy

In what might be the cutest awards season stunt yet, Indy, the breakout canine star of horror movie “Good Boy,” has officially thrown his paw into the Oscars ring.

Indie studio IFC released an open letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, humorously demanding that animal actors be considered in acting categories — because apparently, it’s time Hollywood gave its four-legged performers the recognition they deserve.

"Despite my critically acclaimed role in the recent film ‘Good Boy,’ — I have been deemed ineligible for the Best Actor category," Indy quipped in the letter obtained by

Variety and distributed by IFC. "Apparently, I am not a good enough boy for you."

The timing couldn’t be better for IFC, whose release of Good Boy raked in $2.2 million over the opening weekend — marking the studio’s second-best launch ever after 2024’s Late Night with the Devil ($2.8 million) and ranking as IFC Entertainment Group’s third-largest opening weekend overall behind RLJE Films’ Clown in a Cornfield.

The movie has received a rating of 91% on review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes and is set to release in India on October 17.

Indy’s plea isn’t just about wagging tails and puppy eyes; the letter points to a long Hollywood history of animal actors delivering memorable, emotionally charged performances — think Jed the wolf-dog in

White Fang, the whale in Free Willy, and Babe the pig, whose film was even nominated for Best Picture. Indy asks, "How many great performances must go overlooked before the Academy throws us a bone?"

Critics have gotten on board, too. IndieWire called Indy "one of the most emotive actors of his generation," cementing his case as more than just a novelty.

The campaign gathered momentum after the July trailer and poster launch went viral, racking up over 100 million views — IFC’s largest reach ever. What started as a modest release quickly expanded into a nationwide theatrical debut, giving

Good Boy

the studio’s second-largest theatre count opening weekend ever.

In his closing lines, Indy delivers the ultimate call-to-action: "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."

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