Why comparing Superman’s box office to Man of Steel doesn’t make sense

by

According to many, James Gunn’s interpretation of Superman is extremely successful. Yet, it might not reach the earnings of Man of Steel – but if you’re fixated on this discrepancy, you might be missing the essence of what makes it a hit.

As a gamer, I can tell you, it’s no ordinary gig sharing the game design table with Peter Safran. Together, we’ve breathed life back into one of the most divisive franchises from the last 15 years. We’ve got a fresh take on Big Blue, and we’re cooking up a new Wonder Woman and Batman, plus more iconic DC characters. It’s an exciting journey!

These events transpired during a significant downturn for comic book films: the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has struggled since Endgame without the support of nostalgia (*hinting at* Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine), the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) faltered until it ceased to exist, and there’s been a lingering feeling of superhero film exhaustion (or, as Gunn and others have described it, “a lack of quality movie enthusiasm”).

It’s yet uncertain if Superman and the Fantastic Four will successfully rekindle public enthusiasm, as time will tell. Gunn’s movie might not be headed for a billion-dollar earnings (it has made $406 million thus far), but it is considered successful – therefore, it’s no longer appropriate to boast about Man of Steel’s box office performance.

Man of Steel still failed where Superman succeeds

In a nutshell, one might expect Man of Steel to be an overwhelming success due to its release during the golden age of superhero films. It followed closely on the heels of two blockbusters – The Avengers earning over $1.5 billion and The Dark Knight Rises grossing $1.084 billion in the previous year.

Under Zack Snyder’s leadership, who achieved success with 300 ($456 million) and created a highly anticipated, expensive, and controversial interpretation of Watchmen, it was intriguing to consider what his take on Superman might be, regardless of personal preferences.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express my excitement when I recall the time when the legendary filmmaker Christopher Nolan, known for his exceptional superhero movies, stepped onto the scene as a producer. His influence and the legacy of “The Dark Knight Trilogy” were prominently displayed in the film’s promotion. The trailers that preceded its release continue to be admired, even today, if you take a peek at “Man of Steel Trailer 3” on YouTube, you’ll find countless recent comments praising it.

Subsequently, the film earned more than $670 million globally, making it the highest-earning Superman movie to date (for now). However, critical reception was not particularly favorable, as evidenced by its 57% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Despite this, in the 12 years since its debut, it has cultivated a devoted fanbase. Nevertheless, its audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is 75%, which is lower than Superman’s impressive 92% certified fresh rating.

In an effort to improve its underwhelming performance, Warner Bros decided to produce Batman vs Superman instead of a standalone Superman sequel. This move was aimed at leveraging the widespread appeal of Batman to reignite and potentially recover public interest in the DC Extended Universe.

Regardless of raking in $874 million, it wasn’t successful. It experienced an unprecedented 81.2% decline on its second Friday in cinemas (essentially, extremely poor) and received a low 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was overshadowed by the success and box office earnings of Captain America: Civil War, which amounted to $1.15 billion that year. This paved the path for 2017’s “Justice League,” a film that turned out to be a cinematic catastrophe, leaving lasting harm on the brand.

It seems that Superman has resonated strongly with viewers, and for the first time in years at DC, there’s a noticeable buzz about upcoming events; take a look at social media posts about Supergirl – many of them receive tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of likes and millions of views. Every day, discussions about a potential crossover with Robert Pattinson’s Batman and anticipation for The Batman Part 2 are rampant online.

In simpler terms, while Superman might earn less money compared to Man of Steel in the short term, the significance of its role as the starting point for a young DC Universe and its status as an excellent film in its own right could outweigh its financial performance in the long run.

Read More

2025-07-21 14:48