Krypto, Superman's companion dog, boosts pet adoptions after the film's release.

The appearance of Krypto, Superman's dog, in the recent film directed by James Gunn coincided with a notable increase in interest in pet adoption in the United States. The film, starring David Corenswet and released on July 11, 2025, generated an impact that went beyond the cinematic realm, according to reports from the training app Woofz and the specialized media outlet The Wrap.

During the weekend of Superman's premiere, Google searches related to dog adoption increased dramatically.

The phrase “adopt a dog near me” saw a 513% increase, while “adopt rescue dogs near me” increased by 161%. Additionally, searches for “adopt a puppy” grew by 31%.

Particularly striking was the 299% increase in searches for "adopt a schnauzer," the breed that represents the mix from which Krypto is derived in the film. The digital model of this character is based on Ozu , the real dog Gunn adopted during the scriptwriting process.

Ozu, the dog who inspired Krypto, was adopted by James Gunn while working on the script for Superman. The director explained that he came up with the character after experiencing difficulties training his own pet, imagining what it would be like to deal with a dog with superpowers.

Gunn expressed his satisfaction with Krypto's impact on social media: "This movie has been an avalanche of blessings for me. This (dog adoption) might be the best," he posted on his official X account.

Following the growing interest in pet adoption, Warner Bros. has joined forces with Best Friends Animal Society to promote responsible adoptions.

Between July 1 and 10, 2025, the company covered adoption costs at shelters across the United States. According to the foundation's data, 454 animals were adopted during that period.

The campaign also served to raise awareness about the plight of homeless animals: every 90 seconds, a dog or cat dies in the country's shelters, where 4.8 million of these animals are admitted annually.

Natalia Shahmetova, director of Woofz, warned about the need to consider the commitment involved in adopting a pet. “The excitement surrounding the film will wear off, but your dog will stay, so make sure you're ready to give it the time, care, and training it needs,” she said.

This isn't the first time a production directed by James Gunn has generated recognition in the field of animal welfare. In 2023, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was recognized by PETA for portraying the suffering of animals used in scientific experiments through the story of the character Rocket Raccoon.

The Nation (Argentina) / GDA

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from La Nación (GDA), and reviewed by the journalist and an editor.