James Gunn Links ‘Anti-American Sentiment’ to Superman’s Global Box Office Struggles

Since its release on July 11, 2023, James Gunn’s latest film, Superman, has garnered significant attention, amassing over $250 million at the US box office. Despite this success, the film has yet to reach the $1 billion threshold internationally, a milestone achieved by other recent Hollywood releases, including Lilo & Stitch and A Minecraft Movie. Gunn, who directed the film and serves as co-head of DC Studios, attributes this disparity to what he describes as rising anti-American sentiments affecting global audiences.

Superman’s International Performance

The new Superman film, which features a cast that includes David Corenswet as Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, is currently in its second week of theatrical release. According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, the film has taken in only $173 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to approximately $426 million when combined with its domestic earnings.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn elaborated on the challenges faced by the film. He noted, “Superman is not a known commodity in some places. He is not a big, known superhero in some places like Batman is. That affects things. And it also affects things that we have a certain amount of anti-American sentiment around the world right now. It isn’t really helping us.”

Gunn highlighted that the film is performing better domestically, but he remains optimistic about international numbers, stating, “We’re definitely performing better domestically than we are internationally, but internationally is also rising and having really good weekday numbers in the same way we are.” He mentioned that positive word-of-mouth is contributing to its success in several countries, particularly in Brazil and the United Kingdom.

What Lies Ahead for DC Studios

The Superman film represents a pivotal moment for DC Studios as it embarks on a reboot of its cinematic universe. Gunn cast Corenswet in June 2023, marking a new chapter following the tenure of previous Superman actor Henry Cavill. The film also stars Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced, who collectively form the Justice Gang.

Looking ahead, the next project in the DC Studios lineup is set to be Supergirl, scheduled for release in 2026, featuring Milly Alcock in the lead role. As the studio navigates the complexities of global markets and audience perceptions, the success of Superman will be closely watched as a barometer for future projects and potential adjustments in strategy.