James Gunn Thanks Fans for Soaring ‘Superman’ Success This Weekend

A few days ago, James Gunn’s Superman released worldwide kickstaring the live-action portion of the DCU. David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent / Superman, alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced.

In the film, Superman must prove to the world that he is their protector after billionaire Lex Luthor conducts a plan to turn public opinion against him.

So far, Superman has grossed $217 million worldwide, $122 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $95 million internationally. While its opening weekend topped the box office and marked the second-biggest opening for a Superman film, the total so far falls short of early expectations.

The film needs at least $500 million to break even and around $700 million to be seen as a true success. International performance has been weaker than expected, partly due to Superman’s strong American identity not resonating as well overseas.

Superman received mostly positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, 83% of critics liked it, and audiences gave it an A− grade. Many praised its heart, humor, and focus on Superman’s values, calling it a fresh and hopeful take on the character.

Critics liked the performances and how the movie avoided a heavy franchise setup. However, some felt the plot was cluttered, the ending too focused on CGI battles, and the tone uneven. Overall, people found it enjoyable but not perfect.

Despite these mixed first impressions, James Gunn turned to social media to thank fans for supporting the movie.

Although minor, there was some controversy before the movie’s release. A small group of fans loyal to the DCEU (Snyderverse) attempted an organized review-bombing campaign. Gunn responded, saying they were only helping the film by giving it free publicity. The campaign failed, as reflected in the positive reviews from major sources.

A fresher controversy that could have impacted the film’s performance came when Gunn described Superman as “ultimately an immigrant story,” noting that Superman is “literally an illegal alien.” Some fans aligned with Trump’s political movement took offense, labeling the film as “woke.” While this didn’t significantly affect the opening weekend, it’s unrealistic to say it had no impact at all.

Superman now plays in theaters worldwide.