Netflix CEO Drops Bombshell: James Gunn’s Superman Reboot Underperformed

Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos has publicly acknowledged that James Gunn’s Superman did not meet expectations, and the admission came during a tense moment in Washington.

Sarandos made the comments while testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of discussions around Netflix and the Warner Bros. Discovery deal. The hearing covered many topics, but attention quickly shifted to how movies move from theaters to streaming.

The source of the information is the Senate hearing itself, which is available on YouTube. The exchange took place about one hour and sixteen minutes into the session, during questioning from Senator Cory Booker.

Booker asked Sarandos whether Netflix-supported films would follow a strict 45-day theatrical release window before appearing on streaming or video-on-demand. This window has become the standard rule across Hollywood.

Sarandos initially gave a clear answer, saying movies would remain exclusive to theaters for that period. He said, “Fully exclusive to theaters, yes.”

The conversation changed when Booker pressed further and asked if that rule is always enforced without exceptions. Sarandos explained that the rule often depends on performance. While talking through the issue, he pointed directly to Superman as an example.

He told the committee, “It is the industry standard for self-enforcement. However, routinely movies that underperform, the window moves a little bit… and Superman was a little shorter window, and Sinners, a little longer window, but they still could refer to it as a 45-day window.”

Superman 2025 underperformed… this is coming from Ted Sarandos himself 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/cHiKvji36S

— Daniel Dami Biu (@damiebi10) February 3, 2026

That statement confirmed that Superman was treated differently because it did not perform as hoped. Shortly after its release, Warner Bros. moved the film to video-on-demand just 35 days after it hit theaters, cutting its theatrical run short.

The early shift stood out because Superman was meant to be a major launch point for Gunn’s new DC Universe. The movie reportedly cost more than $350 million and was expected to anchor a long-term franchise plan.

While Sarandos described the decision as normal industry behavior, his comments marked the first time a major executive openly linked Superman’s shorter theater run to weak performance. By comparing it to another title that stayed in theaters longer, he made it clear the studio was reacting to results.

Superman premiered at the TCL Chinese Theater on July 7, and opened nationwide on July 11 through Warner Bros. Pictures. It was the first entry in the DCU’s Chapter One, called Gods and Monsters.

The film earned $617 million worldwide and finished as the tenth highest-grossing movie of 2025. Reviews were mostly positive. Many critics liked its tone and energy, though some felt it tried to do too much at once. The cast, including David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult, received strong praise.

Even so, the business response suggests the studio expected more. Since then, Gunn’s larger DC reboot plans have reportedly been scaled back, with the focus narrowed to a “Superman Family Saga” as Warner Bros. Discovery explores a possible sale.

A sequel titled Man of Tomorrow is still planned for 2027. A TV spin-off centered on supporting characters, including Jimmy Olsen, is also in development for HBO Max.

This situation shows how tough the movie business has become. Even a famous character like Superman is not safe if numbers do not line up with expectations. Big budgets leave little room for error, and studios now move fast when a film stumbles. What do you think about Superman’s performance and the shorter theatrical window? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.