“Is that a bird? Is that a plane? No, it’s Superman!” We’ve read or heard this expression so many times ever since we first encountered the Man of Steel in our lives, right? From stopping Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) from implementing his evil schemes to coming to the rescue of the Justice League members and joining them in a serious staredown with the notorious New God and tyrannical ruler of Apokolips, Darkseid, in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, we’ve all come a long, long way. Now, we have James Gunn’s Superman on the horizon.
Superman, one of the most prominent DC superheroes, represents a powerful array of ideals and concepts. But there is one crucial thing that the character has been symbolising since 1938: Hope! The “S” on his chest, or should we say, his very existence as the last remaining survivor of a doomed planet, Krypton, who arrives on Earth to help humanity, strengthens the idea that even in the darkest times, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
Back when Warner Bros. planned to launch the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) in 2013, in direct competition with Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the project they chose to kick things off was Snyder’s Man of Steel. However, that journey, despite showcasing great promise, didn’t last long. Now, once again, Warner Bros. is trying to rewrite its legacy in the world of superhero movie universes with the help of DC Studios’ upcoming project, Superman (played by David Corenswet), helmed by the one and only James Gunn.
The year 2008 turned out to be a revolutionary one for the superhero genre, as two of the very best superhero movies, Jon Favreau’s Iron Man (starring Robert Downey Jr.) and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (led by Christian Bale), came out and changed everything. Not only did these films spark new interest and love among audiences, but they also paved the way for grand superhero franchises like the MCU and the DCEU, and, in many ways, the newly established DCU.
The period of 2008–2019 turned out to be incredibly prosperous for superhero movies. Between those years, films from Marvel Studios and DC dominated the global box office, raking in a combined total of approximately $30.8 billion. Marvel Studios’ MCU, which kicked off with Iron Man in 2008, delivered 23 blockbuster hits by 2019, including Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War, amassing an impressive $22.6 billion worldwide.
Meanwhile, DC’s lineup, spanning both DCEU entries like Aquaman and Wonder Woman, and standalone smashes like The Dark Knight trilogy and Joker, earned around $8.2 billion across 17 major releases. This era cemented the superhero genre as a cinematic powerhouse, transforming comic book icons into billion-dollar franchises.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, and everything changed for theatrical releases, particularly for superhero franchises. It felt like the pandemic emerged as some sort of bad omen. After 2019, the superhero genre’s box office draw declined due to a confluence of factors: significant oversaturation from a constant influx of films and streaming series diluted their “event” status, leading to widespread superhero fatigue among audiences.
This was exacerbated by inconsistent quality and a perceived lack of narrative innovation in many post-Endgame releases, alongside a post-pandemic shift in viewing habits favouring at-home streaming unless a film offered undeniable cinematic spectacle. Moreover, interconnected storylines across multiple platforms created a sense of “homework” for casual viewers, further diminishing the urgency to see every instalment in theatres.
As a result, the phenomenon called “superhero fatigue” was born, and it has plagued the releases of many recent superhero movies, including MCU’s Thunderbolts*, which, despite earning strong critical and audience response, struggled at the global box office, earning nearly $370 million and ultimately emerging as a box-office flop.
And there’s only one movie that can not only save the struggling superhero genre but also re-spark the audience’s interest in it, and that’s James Gunn’s Superman.
There’s no denying that Gunn’s Superman is the most important superhero movie release in the last six years. One of the key reasons it could save the genre lies in its expected opening weekend domestic gross. According to multiple online reports, the film is projected to mint nearly $154–$175 million domestically (U.S. and Canada) in its opening weekend. Keep in mind, these are just the domestic figures.
This scenario becomes even more compelling when you realise that Thunderbolts* managed to collect only $76 million domestically in its opening weekend, and $86.1 million globally, for a worldwide opening of $162.1 million, nearly equal to Superman’s projected domestic total alone. Imagine how much the upcoming David Corenswet starrer could earn internationally if it manages to earn a strong critical reception ahead of its grand release on July 11.
Yes, the ongoing Superman lawsuit from co-creator Joe Shuster’s estate could complicate the movie’s release in certain countries. In April, a U.S. court dismissed the lawsuit, seemingly clearing the path for the upcoming Warner Bros./DC Studios movie. However, the legal battle quickly reignited as Shuster’s attorney refiled the copyright case in a New York state court, now seeking an injunction to block Warner Bros. from “exploiting Superman” in the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia—countries where the estate disputes copyright ownership under specific local laws.
This new legal challenge theoretically jeopardises the global rollout and potential box office success of the film, especially given the importance of these markets and prior frustrations with content availability. While Warner Bros. is likely to prevail, the ongoing legal tug-of-war continues to loom over the film as its July 11 release date approaches.
As the superhero genre stands at a crossroads, James Gunn’s Superman arrives with the potential to offer a much-needed reset. It’s not just another entry in a crowded field, but a chance to return to the things that made these stories resonate in the first place: character, hope, and timeless ideals. While challenges like market fatigue and legal hurdles still linger, the film’s promising projections and renewed creative vision suggest that audiences may be ready to believe in heroes again. And if there’s one hero built to restore that faith, it’s Superman. Stay tuned for more updates.