All roads lead home

Arthur’s story is a reminder of how brilliant and brave and loyal dogs are, even when it appears that the world has forgotten them. Arthur the King, a new film from Lionsgate, is based on the true story of how a scrappy street dog and a pro adventure racer forge an unbreakable bond over the course of 10 days and 435 miles.

To celebrate the release of the film, Best Friends and Lionsgate are teaming up to help place homeless pets with loving families. Arthur the King is full of heart and courage and, we hope, inspiration for people to head to the shelter and adopt their own extraordinary adventure buddy. Or fellow couch potato — they need homes, too.

Mark Wahlberg plays the film’s main character, Michael Light, modeled after Mikael Lindnord, an adventure racing athlete from Sweden who lived the story and wrote the bestselling book on which the movie is based. The starring role of Arthur, a handsome, golden, scruffy-coated dog, is played by lookalike canine actor Ukai.

Mark and Ukai also star in a PSA for Best Friends to spread the word about dogs and cats in shelters all across the country who are waiting for someone to bring them home.

The PSA will play in front of all movies, all screens, at all AMC movie theaters in the country from March 11 through April 11. That’s 585 locations and about 25% of the U.S. market share who will see the message about adopting their next pet.

On February 19, Lionsgate hosted an Arthur the King special screening and dog adoption event in Los Angeles with the film’s stars and adoptable puppies from Best Friends. The public was invited to the Arthur the King Dog and Family Festival, which featured various activities inspired by the film’s sport and adventure themes, such as a rock-climbing wall, a mountain bike virtual reality station, a dog obstacle course, a paw-printing station for the furry attendees, live performances, and more.

The movie will be in theaters everywhere starting March 15, set to inspire adventure seekers, people who love dogs, and anyone who appreciates a beautiful story. Above all, it’s a story about what’s possible when you take a chance and bring a pet home.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill by 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.