Movies Similar to Paws and Purpose

Something In The Water: A Kinston Basketball Story(2020)

1 in 52 players from Kinston High make it to the NBA, the most per capita in the world. Where basketball provides a way out for many with otherwise limited opportunities, something is definitely in the water in Kinston, NC.

Catboy(2021)

A short documentary where director Dave Jackson digs into his catboy past and life after Cat Sick Blues.

Hopalong Animal Rescue: The Power of Fostering(2019)

The power of fostering animals in need is undeniable. Hopalong Animal Rescue, based in Oakland, CA, demonstrates this every day. This short film chronicles Tina Quon and Gary Moore, a couple who have dedicated their life together to fostering dogs in need of forever homes. Their pit bull, Nulo, plays a pivotal role, teaching young puppies how to grow into well-behaved, loving adult dogs. Together, they have fostered over 60 dogs – and counting. This documentary shows the ways in which Tina, Gary, and Nulo – along with Hopalong's larger network of over 600 foster homes throughout the Bay Area – have touched so many lives in profound and deeply moving ways.

7 Vidas(2025)

A community of cats lives in the Soledade Cemetery Park in Belém. "7 Vidas" follows these animals through a fictional letter written by one of them to his former owner. With real images of the cats among graves and trees, the film builds a sensitive narrative about abandonment, freedom and memory, revealing the poetry hidden in the coexistence between life and death.

Wildcat(2022)

Back from war in Afghanistan, a young British soldier struggling with depression and PTSD finds a second chance in the Amazon rainforest when he meets an American scientist, and together they foster an orphaned baby ocelot.

Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine(2014)

An intimate portrait of Matthew Shepard, the gay young man murdered in one of the most notorious hate crimes in U.S. history. Framed through a personal lens, it's the story of loss, love, and courage in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

Katzen im Haus(1980)

In twelve short episodes, which are interwoven into the course of a day, the film depicts situations that arise from keeping and caring for two cats for a family with six children in a suburban home. In addition to aspects of animal care, the film also addresses social problems and conflicts that arise from dealing with the animals in this family.

Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces(2007)

A documentary about the legendary Japanese filmmaker.

Couch Man(2023)

In Asheville, NC, five individuals find their place in longboard world. This is an action documentary crafted with a broad audience in mind, appealing to more than just the downhill community.

The Cats of Gokogu Shrine(2024)

An ample community of cats has set up home around the Shinto shrine in Ushimado. Some local residents take care of them, others are disturbed by their mess. Kazuhiro Soda observes their co-existence with kindness, precision and occasional involvement.

If it Won’t Hold Water, it Surely Won’t Hold a Goat(2014)

"If it Won’t Hold Water, it Surely Won’t Hold a Goat" is an intimate meditation on the subversive nature of goats and their effect on the people who spend time with them. Centered on the story of the legendary Goat Man - a nomadic figure who spent most of his life walking the roads of Georgia with a wagon pulled by a herd of goats - this experimental documentary weaves together an interview with a goat farmer, footage of the daily rituals Johnson enacted with her own herd, and a poem about the Goat Man’s experimental and spectacular life.

Il parle avec les loups(2001)

American Coup: Wilmington 1898(2024)

The little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898 — the only coup d’état in the history of the US. Stoking fears of 'Negro Rule', self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Black residents were murdered and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.

Inside the Mind of a Cat(2022)

Cat experts dive into the mind of the feline to reveal the true capabilities of the pouncing pet in this captivating and cuddly documentary.

A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story(2026)

In 1915 a young, charismatic Japanese man with a mysterious past entered into the Appalachian culture of Asheville, North Carolina, is suspicioned a spy, targeted by the Klan, but perseveres with a passion for photography and the mountains he adopts, bringing to life Great Smoky Mountains National Park & the Appalachian Trail.

Klansville U.S.A.(2015)

Investigates the reasons North Carolina, long seen as the most progressive state in the South, became home to the largest Klan organization in the country, with more members than all the other Southern states combined, during the 1960s.

Cutest Cat Capers(1995)

There are 64 million cats in the USA today and now there is a special video for all those cat lovers! CUTEST CAT CAPERS features cats and kittens of all shapes, sizes and breeds. Our funny feline friends will make you laugh as they have fun in numerous situations while just being cats! To make your video experience even better, CUTEST CAT CAPERS was produced with a great soundtrack so sit back, grab the popcorn and enjoy the fun. It's the kind of video you will want to share with friends and family over and over again. 30 minutes. Color.

Warp Weft Water Weeds(2025)

Elizabeth Bradford draws inspiration for her paintings from a profound connection to nature through direct observations while hiking or kayaking primarily in the Appalachian Mountains and foothills where she resides.

Catstanbul(2025)

We take a closer look at Istanbul’s cats, their history, and their place in civilization during a short tour of the Cihangir neighborhood with Gündüz Vassaf, the author of The Cat in Istanbul.

The Maroons

A film about the Maroons—freed or escaped slaves that created their own communities during slavery. Both stories are examples of Gerima’s driving motivation—sankofa, reclaiming the past in order to move forward.