The new James Gunn film Superman has not only brought excitement to cinemas but has also inspired a major surge in dog adoption interest, driven by the popularity of Krypto, Superman’s loyal superdog.
Krypto, featured prominently in the movie, is a playful but brave companion who helps Superman in battle. Though not perfectly trained, the dog’s devotion has struck a chord with audiences. Following the film’s release, searches for adopting dogs have soared.
Data from the dog training app Woofz shows that after the opening weekend, Google searches for “adopt a dog near me” increased by 513%. Searches for “rescue dog adoption near me” also rose by 163%, while “adopt a puppy” went up by 31%.
Interestingly, specific interest in Krypto’s breed led to a 299% spike in searches for “adopt a schnauzer,” as Krypto’s design is based on a mix of Terrier and Schnauzer traits.
Krypto’s character is inspired by James Gunn’s own rescue dog, Ozu, whom the director adopted while writing the film. Gunn joked that his struggles training Ozu inspired the idea of a superpowered but unruly dog.
In the lead-up to the film’s July 11 release, Warner Bros. partnered with the Best Friends Animal Society to cover pet adoption fees from July 1 to 10, encouraging more families to bring home rescue pets. Many new dog owners were featured in Los Angeles as part of the campaign.
This is not the first time Gunn’s work has had a positive effect on animal welfare. His 2023 film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was praised by animal rights group PETA for raising awareness about animal testing.
Superman is now playing in theaters nationwide.
