Movies

‘Superman’ is back on the big screen. Can it revive DC?

BBG News

Superman possesses extraordinary abilities such as outrunning trains, supporting towers during disasters on oil rigs, and traveling globally to reverse time. However, his most formidable task could be preserving the DC movie series.

In more recent times, the iconic superhero franchise owned by Warner Bros., which plays a significant role in the film industry, has been facing some difficulties.

Movies such as “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash” and “Joker: Folie à Deux” did not perform well at the cinema. Despite having a profitable collection of popular superheroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman, the studio has yet to regularly challenge Walt Disney Company’s Marvel Studios in terms of box office success.

Under the fresh management team of filmmakers James Gunn and Peter Safran, DC Studios is pinning high hopes on their upcoming “Superman” movie, set to be released in cinemas this coming Thursday. The aim is not just to resurrect the Superman franchise but also to rejuvenate the entire DC universe.

Opting for the flying alien refugee from Krypton as the catalyst for DC’s fresh chapter was a daring move on the part of Gunn, the screenwriter and director of the latest movie.

Despite the fact that Superman is universally recognized, his humble demeanor and seemingly endless powers have posed a challenge when it comes to making him relatable for contemporary audiences. His global image as a super-powered Boy Scout embodying American values has often made him seem less cool compared to Batman, the brooding billionaire vigilante who resonates more with today’s viewers.

Hollywood Inc.

The newly revived dinosaur-slayer series featuring Scarlett Johansson has amassed an impressive $147 million at the box office in the United States and Canada.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I’ve long admired the Marvel Universe, but recently, I find myself excited about DC’s potential comeback. After all, they’ve handed over the reins of their kingdom to James Gunn – a man whose creativity and vision have breathed new life into characters that were once thought stale. Superman, our most iconic figure, has been struggling to find his footing, but I have faith in Gunn’s ability to bring him back to glory. He understands the heart and soul of these characters, and I can’t wait to see what he does with them.

The film titled ‘Superman’ is projected to earn between $130 million and $140 million in its first weekend across the U.S. and Canada, given its reported production cost of around $225 million. This prediction comes from industry analysts. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has garnered an 85% approval rating. Critic Amy Nicholson from The Times expressed that while it wasn’t the emotionally uplifting ‘Superman’ she hoped for, she is intrigued to see where the story will lead him in future installments.

From nearly the outset of his work on “Superman”, Gunn’s efforts have been under close online scrutiny. Fans and critics have voiced their opinions extensively about the trailers, often expressing dissatisfaction over the significant focus given to Krypto the Superdog (a character modeled after Gunn’s own dog, who also has a tendency to bite feet), or the choice of David Corenswet, an actor not widely recognized, as the superhero icon.

Warner Bros. hopes that “Superman” will help sustain its success at the box office, following a streak of successful films such as “A Minecraft Movie,” “Sinners,” “Final Destination: Legacy,” and “F1.

Just prior to its launch, “Superman” faced criticism from conservative commentators due to comments made by Gunn regarding Superman being likened to an immigrant. This character, created by a Jewish writer-artist team in the late 1930s, was portrayed as “the story of America,” despite being an extraterrestrial from the planet Krypton.

Gunn stated during the film’s premiere that it seems to be a movie emphasizing kindness, which is a universal theme that everyone can identify with.

That appeal is what Warner Bros. and DC Studios are counting on.

In Paul Dergarabedian’s words, “Achieving past victories is crucial in establishing a brand, especially for DC as they introduce one of their most significant characters ever. This step is vital to ticket sales, the future of DC, and how the public views DC as a whole.

DC Studios did not respond to requests for comment.

Superman returns

This summer, we have the long-awaited standalone “Superman” movie directed by Gunn, which marks the return of this iconic character to the big screen after over a decade. The film’s release follows a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows in Superman’s cinematic history.

In 2013, Zack Snyder’s film “Man of Steel,” featuring Henry Cavill as the titular character, presented a more serious and somber take on Superman’s narrative, even showing him killing a villain, which sparked debate among viewers. Despite receiving mixed reactions from critics, this movie garnered approximately $670 million worldwide at the box office.

In 2016, “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” was released, featuring Cavill’s return as Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman. Despite being criticized by critics, the film made over $874 million worldwide. The following year brought the even more critically disliked “Justice League,” a commercial and critical failure for the studio. Interestingly, fans on social media demanded that Warner Bros. release the Snyder cut of Superman’s portrayal by Cavill, which they eventually did after intense online pressure.

Hollywood Inc.

Theater operators are eagerly anticipating more substantial offerings from Apple, as they frequently encounter a shortage of engaging content, particularly suitable for adults. The prospect of ‘F1’ has sparked some optimism.

To a large number of people, the epitome of Superman movies is the 1978 production titled “Superman,” featuring Christopher Reeve in the lead role and helmed by director Richard Donner.

Schumer recalls a touching scene where Clark Kent bid farewell to his adoptive mother after his father’s demise and ventured on a quest to discover his real identity, which was set against the backdrop of vast wheatfields that transitioned into a blue sky. This cinematic pan from the golden fields to the open sky represented Superman’s hopeful gaze toward the future. Eventually, Schumer went on to watch the movie an impressive 10 times in the cinema.

In the 1980s, “Superman II” was still popular, but the subsequent parts three and four of the series veered away from their original tone and turned out to be rather over-the-top or cheesy, as Schumer put it.

As a movie critic, I find it fascinating how DC and Warner Bros. have given directors like Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, and Matt Reeves significant creative freedom, unlike Marvel under Kevin Feige’s centralized control. This approach has allowed the Caped Crusader, Batman, to evolve and showcase various facets of his character, as stated by Schumer.

The speaker mentioned that while Superman is DC Comics’ main asset, they haven’t always handled it as such. This approach influenced how DC produced movies compared to Marvel.

Critics have pointed out that the studio’s superhero universe seems disjointed due to the absence of a unified concept and structure, as noted by analysts. Instead of maintaining a coherent narrative, the studio chose to fragment its intellectual property across multiple, conflicting storylines, leading to confusion.

They became the joint chairmen and shared CEOs of DC Studios in 2022, which is why they were appointed to these roles.

It came as a puzzling decision that Gunn would be sharing the role of managing DC Studios. Originating from Troma Entertainment, an independent production house renowned for B-grade horror films, he later gained international acclaim by directing Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which was admired for its offbeat humor. Additionally, he has previously worked with DC, having directed “The Suicide Squad” in 2021.

Under their guidance, the aim was to unify the superhero world and initiate a fresh era for the studio. “Superman” will serve as the starting point for several forthcoming DC films, such as “Supergirl,” featuring Milly Alcock, “Clayface,” and “Dynamic Duo,” which focuses on Batman’s sidekicks, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd.

According to Shawn Robbins, who is the head of movie analytics at Fandango and creator of Box Office Theory, he described it as a “key milestone.” It’s meant to mark the beginning of a completely fresh chapter in the world of DC films, and where this new phase might take us.

Selling an American hero

However, despite garnering significant success through toy sales, animated series, and numerous films, the character of Superman poses a challenge when it comes to accurate portrayal.

Schumer recalls the laughter that erupted as Christopher Reeve’s Superman jokingly explained to a skeptical Lois Lane in the 1978 movie that he was fighting for honesty, fairness, and the American ideal, during a period when America was still grappling with the aftermath of Watergate and the conclusion of the Vietnam War.

Schumer remarked that the notion of “truth, justice, and the American way” was considered corny or overly idealistic, even in earlier times. In a way, this sentiment persists today.

From the beginning, Superman has been a quintessential American immigrant story.

Two Jewish immigrant sons, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, unveiled a superhero character in 1938 through “Action Comics #1”. This comic narrated the story of an alien, later known as Kal-El, fleeing his dying planet to reach Earth. The comic became an instant hit, contributing significantly to the rise of the comic book genre and the concept of superheroes, according to Schumer.

In subsequent tales, Superman’s small-town upbringth in Smallville, Kansas, and later relocation to the bustling city of Metropolis echoed the migrations many Americans undertook during that period.

Today, however, there’s debate over whether Superman’s powerful symbol of American identity might deter international viewers, given their growing discomfort with the tariffs and trade policies implemented by President Trump.

Or:

Today, there’s a question about whether Superman’s strong representation of American symbols may not appeal to global audiences who have recently become frustrated with the tariffs and trade policies of President Trump.

Robbins mentioned that the idea of Superman being difficult to accept in certain regions is a valid concern. Ultimately, he suggested, the success of the film among international viewers will depend on how effectively it resonates with them.

One benefit: The movie secured a prestigious IMAX screening – this could increase its box office earnings and transform it into a more anticipated “event.

The film is released at a time when the fiery hot market for superhero movies has begun to taper off, not just in the U.S., but globally as well. Interestingly, even Marvel has experienced lower box office earnings for their movies – although “Thunderbolts*” received positive reviews, it only managed to earn approximately $382 million worldwide on a production budget of $180 million, which is significantly less than its previous films.

There’s a significant possibility for “Superman” to generate substantial earnings internationally. According to predictions made by Cinelytic, an analytics firm within the entertainment industry, using publicly available data, “Superman” could potentially earn approximately $531 million in worldwide box office revenue. The countries with the highest probability of being top earners for this film are expected to be Britain, Germany, France, and Australia.

Speaking in my own perspective, I dismissed queries regarding Superman’s archetypal American symbolism, sharing with The Times of London during an interview that my personal findings from market research indicated that worldwide spectators perceived the Man of Steel as a universal figure, transcending geographical boundaries.

“He is a hero for the world,” he said in the interview.

However, according to Annika Hagley, an associate dean at Roger Williams University’s School of Social and Natural Sciences in Rhode Island, who instructs a class on superheroes and politics, Superman has faced persistent criticism due to his absence of flaws and his inability to explore the American values he embodies.

As time goes by, Superman’s unwavering support for America has remained consistent, regardless of how the United States is viewed, either domestically or internationally, as she stated. This stands in stark contrast to his Marvel counterpart, Captain America, who initially fought against Nazis during World War II but later began challenging the ethical implications of government surveillance, according to Hagley.

Although Superman’s immigrant background offers potential for intricate tales exploring the experiences of newcomers in America, DC Comics has yet to develop his storyline to address these themes, she noted. However, he did alter his motto to the more global “truth, justice, and a better tomorrow” in recent times.

Speaking as an immigrant after 9/11, she remarked, “Superman seems like a potential security risk, yet he’s also lost his charm,” she stated. “Efforts have been made to distance him from America and make him appear more alien, but these changes haven’t resonated with audiences in the same way that Marvel characters have.

Gunn’s “Superman” delves into America’s influence on global politics. In the latest movie trailer, Lois Lane, portrayed by Rachel Brosnahan, interrogates Corenswet’s Superman, expressing concerns that his intervention in a foreign nation’s strife and apparent role as an American representative might lead to further international complications.

“I wasn’t representing anybody except for me,” he interjects. “And doing good.”

Read More

2025-07-10 13:35

Previous post Lewis Capaldi tour sells out in seconds with fans furious at Ticketmaster for ‘crashing as they reached front of the queue’ – as adored Scotsman issues emotional update
Next post First look at Delta Goodrem’s ‘fairytale’ wedding with Matthew Copley in Malta as the pop star walks down the aisle in stunning couture gown that took months to make and is embroidered with deeply personal details