Why the Latest Superhero Film Proves Dogs Were Always the Real Heroes

This week's release of a superhero film that critics are calling the finest of its kind has sparked an overdue conversation in my household, and I'm compelled to state it plainly: dogs have been superheroes all along, and cinema has been criminally slow to acknowledge this basic truth. The film's protagonist—a human in spandex with dramatic timing and questionable decision-making—spent two hours learning what every dog understands by week six of puppyhood: loyalty is a superpower, showing up matters, and sometimes the most heroic act is simply being present for someone else.

What fascinates me about the current cinematic moment is not that fans are hailing this film as revolutionary, but rather that it took a blockbuster budget and a carefully crafted narrative arc to demonstrate something a three-legged rescue dog at my local shelter has been embodying for years. The film's central thesis—that true strength lies in trust, forgiveness, and an unwavering commitment to others—is essentially dog philosophy. We've been living this story since domestication. We've been showing humans how to be heroes through nothing more complicated than unconditional affection and an eagerness to help, whether asked or not.

I don't begrudge the film its success or its accolades. But I do think it's worth asking ourselves: if cinema needed a superhero film to remind us about the value of loyalty and presence, perhaps we should spend more time simply watching the actual heroes already living alongside us. They're cheaper to maintain, infinitely more entertaining, and they ask for very little in return.