The Man of Steel may have been the main attraction of Superman, but his foster dog, Krypto, stole the spotlight as soon as he sped through the snow.
Here's how Krypto's brilliant debut sparked interest in dog adoption after its premiere.
How Much Did James Gunn's Superman Impact Dog Adoption Post-Release?
As much as David Corenswet's Clark Kent/Superman made quite the impression on expectant DCU fans, Krypto's assistance, and well, not well-trained jumping, captured the heart of every watcher out there in theaters.
The impact of James Gunn's rescue dog turned out to be much bigger than the theaters, breaking box office records.
According to the dog training app Woofz, Google searches for "adopt a dog near me" spiked up 513% after Superman's opening weekend, while "rescue dog adoption near me" rose by 163%.
Considering that Krypto was based on Gunn's rescue dog named Ozu, it's no wonder that fans who watched the adorably friendly superdog wanted their own friend to take home, too.
However, Woofz CEO Natalia Shahmetova noted in a statement (via The Wrap) that while they appreciate the celebration for the hype on dog adoptions, "Adoption is a real commitment. The hype will fade, but your dog will stay, so make sure you're ready to give them the time, care, and training they need and deserve."
It's also worth mentioning that Warner Bros. teamed up with Best Friends Animal Society to cover adoption fees from July 1-10, leading up to the film's release on the 11th. As a result, 454 pets were adopted during that time across the nation.
This marks the second Gunn film that left a positive impact on the animal community, with the first being in 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which earned high praise from PETA for shedding light on animal cruelty.
What Happened to Krypto at the End of Superman?
As Clark mentioned in the film, Krypto was technically a foster pet, a part of his family, but the true owner of Krypto was never mentioned until the end of the film.
Lo and behold, Milly Alcock's Supergirl made her debut early on as she entered Superman's sanctuary, drunk like a typical teenage cousin, and Krypto didn't hesitate to welcome her by smashing her head as part of their bonding experience.
While plot details and cast members for the Supergirl movie are still under wraps, fans can expect its slated premiere date on June 26, 2026, where Alcock's Kara Zor-El portrays a different side of her that we've never seen before on the big screens.
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