They Surf, They Sniff, They Save Lives: Superhero Dogs Take Over Fernbank’s Giant Screen

If you’ve ever looked at your dog and wondered what they’d do in an emergency—besides panic, bark at nothing, or try to lick their way out of it—you might want to spend an afternoon at Fernbank. Starting June 28, the museum is bringing back Superpower Dogs, a film that’s basically an IMAX-sized love letter to dogs who do way more than steal socks and beg for cheese.

This isn’t your usual “talking animals with celebrity voiceovers and hijinks” kind of dog movie. It’s narrated by Chris Evans, sure, but don’t expect Captain America in a cartoon kennel. The documentary drops you straight into real-life rescue missions, with real-life dogs who put humans (and rhinos, and elephants) before themselves.

And these aren’t just any dogs. One of the stars is Halo, a spunky pup training with a top-tier disaster response team. Picture a Labrador bounding into earthquake rubble with more confidence than most of us have parallel parking. Then there’s Henry, a stoic avalanche rescue dog out of British Columbia, who might just be the most qualified snow expert this side of the Canadian border.

But it’s not all cold climates and collapsed buildings. Superpower Dogs makes a quick stop in Italy, where Reef, a Newfoundland lifeguard (yes, you read that right), helps patrol the coastline with the Italian Coast Guard.

Meanwhile, over in California, Ricochet the golden retriever balances therapy work and surfing—because of course she does. And rounding it out are bloodhound brothers Tipper and Tony, sniffing out poachers in Africa with noses so powerful they probably know what you had for lunch yesterday.

It’s all filmed with that glossy, immersive IMAX sheen, the kind that makes dog fur look like velvet and waves look like they’re about to crash over your seat. But it’s not just pretty to look at. The film leans into the science—how dogs’ senses work, how they train, and why their bond with humans runs deeper than the average pet-owner guilt trip over not going to the park enough.

Here’s the thing: Fernbank didn’t have to bring this film back. But they did, because apparently we can’t get enough of watching dogs be better people than, well, people. And honestly? Fair.