James Gunn's Perspective on Superman's Global Performance
James Gunn, the filmmaker and co-CEO of DC Studios, has shared his thoughts on why the latest Superman film might not be performing as strongly in international markets. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he suggested that political sentiments against the United States could be playing a role in the movie's global box office results.
Gunn noted that Superman is not as widely recognized in certain regions as other superheroes like Batman. This lack of familiarity, combined with current anti-American feelings around the world, might be affecting the film's reception outside the U.S. "Superman is not a known commodity in some places," he said. "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."
Despite these challenges, Gunn remains optimistic about the film's performance. He mentioned that while the movie is doing better domestically, its international numbers are also showing improvement. "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 explained. The film has been particularly well-received in the U.K. and Brazil, according to Gunn.
A Positive Reception and Future Prospects
Gunn expressed satisfaction with the overall success of the film. "Everything’s been a total win. Having the movie come out and be something that has been embraced by people everywhere — this is just the seed of the tree that Peter [Safran] and I have been watering for the past three years. So to be able to have it start off so positively has been incredibly overwhelming," he added.
The director emphasized that the film's message of kindness is central to its appeal. Ahead of the movie's July 11 premiere, Gunn made headlines when he described Superman as "the story of America" — highlighting the character's immigrant background and the value of human kindness. This statement sparked controversy, with some conservative outlets labeling the film "Superwoke."
Gunn was puzzled by the backlash. "I’ve heard people say it was woke, and then I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s not. I am curious as to what in the movie is considered woke," he told Entertainment Weekly. He clarified that his intention was to focus on the importance of kindness, which he believes has been lost in modern society.
The Message of Kindness
Gunn elaborated on his views, stating, "That’s the thing we can all act upon, is kindness. And so what does that lead to? Well, does that lead to the way you vote? Sure. Does that lead to everything? Yeah. Does it lead to how many people are dying from road rage? Yes. All those things are affected if people just start to value kindness."
He argued that kindness was once a core American value and that the film aims to remind audiences of its importance. "It wasn’t about anything other than that," Gunn concluded. His comments reflect a broader conversation about the role of values in storytelling and how films can influence public discourse.
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