Bing the Great Dane Celebrates ‘The Friend’ Opening Weekend at Dog-Friendly Screening (PHOTOS)

As the heartwarming human-animal movie “The Friend” expanded nationwide over the weekend (tallying $1.69 million to land in the top 10 at the box office), the film’s star Bing the Great Dane was guest of honor at a dog-friendly screening in L.A. on Friday night.

The special screening capped a nationwide press tour for the 150-lb. Great Dane and his owner Bev Klingensmith, which also included an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” alongside human star Naomi Watts. But this event, sponsored by the American Humane Society and held at the Dog Ppl canine social club in Santa Monica, Calif., was all about the dogs.

“We didn’t know anything like this existed, so it’s like we made a movie that could only really fully be appreciated here,” David Siegel said as he and co-director Scott McGhee introduced the screening before an assembly of about 50 furry friends and their humans, all ready to have a doggone good time.

“I think this is the largest dog audience our film has ever had, so I hope the dogs enjoy the movie too,” cracked McGhee as a few pups in the audience barked their approval. (Or their impatience for the show to begin. Or that they were bored, hungry, tired or wanted to play. Only their owners could translate… )

Based on the bestselling novel by Sigrid Nunez, “The Friend” follows Iris (Watts), a writer whose life is upended when her friend and literary mentor (Bill Murray) bequeaths her his beloved Great Dane, named Apollo (Bing). It’s a touching drama about love, friendship, grief and healing as Iris and Apollo form an unlikely bond.

“We examine love and romance all the time, but friendship is such a powerful thing, and later in life, that becomes so clear how important it is to have those relationships,” Watts told Variety in an interview last fall.

Bleecker Street acquired the film after it debuted at last year’s Telluride Film Festival, then screened at TIFF. The film was also awarded the American Humane Society’s “No Animals Were Harmed” certification for the production’s humane treatment of animal actors on set.

Scroll for more photos of the good boys and girls who attended:

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