Who plays Caramelo in Netflix's latest dog movie? All about the star, explained

Netflix’s Caramelo has become the therapy session no one asked for, but everyone’s grateful to have! Within days of its October 8 premiere, the Brazilian film sprinted into Netflix’s global top 10, wagging its tail behind The Woman in Cabin 10. But the question on everyone’s mind isn’t about plot or cinematography. So, who is that caramel-colored dog stealing the show?

Meet Amendoim (Portuguese for "peanut"), the four-legged star. And no, he’s not CGI or a Hollywood pet. In true underdog (pun intended) fashion, Amendoim was a real rescue. This scrappy little mutt wandered into a production company in Brazil and walked out with a Netflix contract!

Director Diego Freitas revealed Amendoim "showed up at the studio’s door" when he was a few months old. "It was meant to be," he said. That encounter blossomed into a fairy tale that’s breaking streaming records and melting hearts.

How did the stray dog Amendoim become the star of Caramelo?

In a country where the mutts (called vira-lata caramelos) are as iconic as football and samba, Amendoim has more than a cute face. These dogs are Brazil’s heroes: resourceful, loyal, and too smart for their own good. They’ve inspired memes, Carnaval floats, and campaigns to put them on currency.

The new Netflix movie taps into that culture, as it tells the story of Pedro (Rafael Vitti), a chef whose life turns upside down after a cancer diagnosis. Well, that's until he meets a mischievous street dog who refuses to leave his side! The film is powered by Amendoim’s charisma, with scenes that feel so authentic, it’s hard to believe this canine actor was ever untrained.

Off-screen, the impact went beyond streaming stats. Freitas’s production saved such dogs. Nearly 60 rescue dogs appeared in the film, and most found forever homes with cast and crew members by the time filming wrapped. Even Rafael Vitti, who already owned ten dogs (yes, ten!), took another one home.

To celebrate the release, Netflix Brazil partnered with 12 animal NGOs to launch CarameloFilme.com, a platform helping real-life caramelos find homes. Guess what, the movie about a rescued dog is now rescuing others!

The latest dog actor joins Netflix’s hall of fame

It’s not every day that a film about a dog outpaces thrillers and horrors on Netflix’s charts. Yet the movie clawed its way to the top. It currently boasts a whopping 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. So clearly, sometimes all we need is a good cry, a best friend, and some unexpected happiness.

Critics compared Caramelo to Marley & Me and A Dog’s Purpose, but it’s got something uniquely Brazilian at its core. There is a reflection of resilience, humor, and unconditional love. It’s less about teaching dogs tricks and more about what dogs can teach us, even when life goes off-leash.

Amendoim’s eyes and energy have officially made him Netflix’s newest heartthrob. Move over, Lassie. The world’s got a new good boy!

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Keep tissues nearby, trust us. Oh, and to clarify, Caramelo is very much alive by the end of the movie, so tune in to Netflix.

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