With '80s classics Gremlins and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and more modern flicks like The Iron Giant and Underdog, the ever-heartwarming "a boy and his [insert unlikely companion]" premise has become a story told and retold across generations and genres. Whether the sidekick is a dog, robot, alien, or any magical creature, audiences and critics alike adore each iteration (and their lead's unique companions), regardless of the familiar plot structure.