SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Hits Back At Claims The Movie Needs To Make $650M To Be Considered A Success

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Hits Back At Claims The Movie Needs To Make $650M To Be Considered A Success

Superman director and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has responded to claims that the first DCU movie needs to make $650 million at the worldwide box office to break even and be considered a success...

By JoshWilding - Aug 10, 2025 11:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

As of now, Superman has grossed $569 million at the worldwide box office. Updated international figures (which we're hoping will land either today or tomorrow) should see the first DC Studios movie soar beyond $600 million, but its momentum is slowing.

With a Digital release set for August 26, Superman will almost certainly end its run beneath 2013's Man of Steel ($670 million), a solid result for a brand that was nearly damaged beyond repair by flops like Black Adam, The Flash, and Joker: Folie à Deux

The trades have reported that Superman had a $225 million production budget before a $125 million marketing spend, adding weight to reports from last year which suggested it cost upwards of $330 million in total. If those figures are correct, Superman will, at best, turn a meagre profit, and at worst, barely break even. 

When filmmaker James Gunn was asked on Threads about Superman needing to make $650 million to be deemed a success, he replied, "Absolutely false. Anyone saying that doesn't have an understanding of the film business - and we would be idiots to make a first-in-a-franchise film that would need to make that much to be profitable."

$500 million was previously thrown out as a number that would make Warner Bros. Discovery executives happy, so there's a chance Superman has netted a small profit for DC Studios. Still, even after outperforming all of this year's MCU titles, the DCU reboot is by no means a mega-hit.

That may not matter in the long run. After the past few years, a well-reviewed, well-received DC movie has done a huge amount to help the brand, and the fact that it hasn't flopped is a massive win in and of itself. All eyes will now be on Supergirl and Clayface to see how they perform, though it's unclear what DC Studios' next big budget blockbuster will be.

You can see Gunn's response in full below. 

Superman, DC Studios' first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures.

In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.  

"Superman is an indescribable joy," we said in our review"A beautiful, moving thrill, David Corenswet is the perfect Man of Steel in a movie packed full of ideas. Fortunately, under James Gunn’s expert direction, all of those work, creating a rousing experience that flies higher than DC has in a very long time."

The movie stars David Corenswet in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

Also appearing are Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, and Milly Alcock.

Superman is now playing in theaters.

SUPERMAN Outgrosses All But One DCEU Movie In North America After Passing $600 Million Worldwide
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SUPERMAN Outgrosses All But One DCEU Movie In North America After Passing $600 Million Worldwide

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harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 8/10/2025, 11:07 AM
JFerguson
JFerguson - 8/10/2025, 11:22 AM
@harryba11zack - fascinating. Idiotic use of AI. But fascinating
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 8/10/2025, 11:37 AM
@harryba11zack - lol ...It Is really a bomb
dragon316
dragon316 - 8/10/2025, 12:32 PM
@JFerguson - ai makes stuff look cartoony you older in video games cgi movies
jst5
jst5 - 8/10/2025, 5:02 PM
@harryba11zack - Can't disagree....Superman and FF4 are just not very good movies.You try and get through one watch and never go back to them.

rkshuttleworth
rkshuttleworth - 8/11/2025, 6:49 AM
@jst5 - You have too much superhero mind rot
jst5
jst5 - 8/11/2025, 8:26 PM
@rkshuttleworth - Oh they were simply not good movies...
Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 8/10/2025, 11:09 AM
I do feel like this movie had a higher marketing budget than most. On the other hand, while the cast is amazing it isn't riddled with multiple actors needing top tier pay
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/10/2025, 11:54 AM
@Wahhvacado - It was $125M according to the trades.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 8/10/2025, 12:37 PM
@Wahhvacado - I know a lot find figures, real or theoretical, how a film cost more than reported budget and that may be true but as Gunn said that ignores a lot of how the industry works. As in they get grants, tax rebates, licensing deals, free money from investors who do so out of love of film AND as a tax write off thus not wanting or expecting much if anything back etc. Most also ignore all the other ways films make money AFTER the theatrical release run on well recieved movies.

There are many ways we can run the numbers but without full insight into all the fiscal tricks big studios use it remains best to stay simple as in the movie needs to make what the studio states it is happy with and/or 2.5 times officialy reported budget
Laridian
Laridian - 8/10/2025, 2:05 PM
@Wahhvacado - Marketing pays for itself when you have brand deals. I have the Krypto dog biscuits.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 8/10/2025, 11:10 AM

The movie is good. But is it a financial success? Not really. If it makes a little money, that is far below their initial hopes.

No one said let's spend a ton of money and hope we break even. This movie is not a financial success.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 8/10/2025, 11:16 AM
@DocSpock - it is a success though. You don't know Their "hopes" so stop assuming shit. It'll still be the highest grossing CBM of the year AND it's the first time DC beat Marvel in over a [frick]ing decade
epc1122
epc1122 - 8/10/2025, 11:22 AM
@DocSpock - while true, we don’t know how much this movie has made through licensing agreements. Sometimes movies like these make money before it’s even released and those numbers are rarely revealed.
epc1122
epc1122 - 8/10/2025, 11:24 AM
@bobevanz - to be fair, that’s domestic numbers and the bar for comic book movies this year isn’t high but people’s viewings have def changed. It still kills me that a movie like Minecraft made more. I tried watching that movie but couldn’t get through it.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 8/10/2025, 11:24 AM
@bobevanz -

I am glad the movie is good, but assuming that their goal or hopes were to barely make a few peanuts is ridiculous.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/10/2025, 12:00 PM
@epc1122 - Those licensing checks are an investment in the film's success. If the movie fails and/or the product doesn't sell or spike (depending on if it's merch or promo) then these investors aren't gonna be investing in the next one.
So i's not so much of a positive thing for those revenue streams either.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/10/2025, 12:02 PM
@bobevanz - "It's the first time DC beat Marvel in over a [frick]ing decade."
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epc1122
epc1122 - 8/10/2025, 12:12 PM
@ObserverIO - to a point that’s true but we also don’t know the numbers if the Superman brand itself is selling in those stores but I’m sure wb is taking that into account to see if this movie is successful. Superman has a pretty strong fan base, at least domestically.
DTor91
DTor91 - 8/10/2025, 12:31 PM
@DocSpock - But it is, in fact, a financial success. Making up stuff yet again.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 8/10/2025, 12:50 PM
@DTor91 -

Nope. Spending 100s of millions and profiting a few peanuts is NOT financial success.
oreilly
oreilly - 8/10/2025, 4:23 PM
@DocSpock - Considering DC's movies in recent years (Joker 2, The Flash, Shazam 2, Aquaman 2 and Black Adam) all basically lost money why is it ridiculous? Having a movie that is profitable, well reviewed and is potentially a building block to bigger and better things is probably a big positive to take away considering recent results.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 8/10/2025, 6:13 PM
@oreilly -

Who says these building blocks will lead to bigger better things? Clayface? Supergirl? Who really knows when Batman?

Fat chance.
oreilly
oreilly - 8/10/2025, 9:47 PM
@DocSpock - 1) A solid building block that makes enough money to make the studio happy can be everything. Batman Begins wasn't exactly a box office giant, but it made enough money to make WB content with making a sequel which resulted in two 1 billion dollar box office smashes for WB!

2) The MCU didn't just catch fire immediately. Iron Man did very well, but Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America didn't exactly light the world on fire. Neither will Supergirl or Clayface. We'll need to wait until this next Superman movie, Wonder Woman and Batman to see the full potential.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/10/2025, 11:11 AM
Haters adding marketing budget but will not consider other sources of profit like merch, digital/physical release, tax reliefs and such 😭
Wallywest001
Wallywest001 - 8/10/2025, 11:15 AM
@vectorsigma - let’s say the budget is 340 million. It’s had a strong domestic release so it may break even. Studios keep about 70% of the ticket sales for the first 2 weeks then it drops down to 50%. International % are much lower. No way 500 mil is the break even point. Break even point is probably closer to 650 million.
kazuma
kazuma - 8/10/2025, 11:23 AM
@Wallywest001 - And again you've ignored his point. Merch is a big selling point for these movies.
epc1122
epc1122 - 8/10/2025, 11:25 AM
@vectorsigma - sorry, didn’t see this before posting mine but definitely agree.
ClungeOfSteel
ClungeOfSteel - 8/10/2025, 11:40 AM
@vectorsigma - let's add merch to discussion on box office performance!

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SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 8/10/2025, 11:49 AM
@vectorsigma - Studios don't exactly promote and brag about final budget costs. Most of the numbers that we read are from leaks and (even worse) "guesstimates". So, it becomes inherently more difficult to accurately state just how much money a movie must make to go into the black these days. 🤔
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/10/2025, 12:17 PM
@F4ntasticClunge - lolz, the topic is success/flop.

So if you read between the lines it is money going in and out and which one is higher.

You are exactly one of the recipients of the message 😭😭😭😭
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/10/2025, 12:20 PM
@SuperiorHeckler - i agree and i believe these studios lie about the real numbers as well.

We all take a guess and im giving a counter arguments to clowns who add budget and marketing to determine that this is a flop BUT dont include other sources of profit.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/10/2025, 12:22 PM
@epc1122 - no worries, we all comment based on context of different threads so all good
ClungeOfSteel
ClungeOfSteel - 8/10/2025, 12:48 PM
@vectorsigma - so in this case then we can count marvels flops as success because they will make money back on merch and Disney+ subscriptions...is that what you're saying? 👀
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/10/2025, 12:52 PM
@F4ntasticClunge - no because 600M > 400M
ClungeOfSteel
ClungeOfSteel - 8/10/2025, 1:35 PM
@vectorsigma - but you need to take into account the merch as the argument is about these films breaking even 👀
AllsGood
AllsGood - 8/10/2025, 11:12 AM
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bobevanz
bobevanz - 8/10/2025, 11:12 AM
@AllsGood - F4 will barely clear 500m. What do you have to say about that bot
AllsGood
AllsGood - 8/10/2025, 11:16 AM
@bobevanz - DCU Superman won the 2025 Smallest Flop Award.

While Marvel Studios Holds All the Cards and Box Office Records. Marvel Studios Deadpool and Wolverine 2024 was Huge Box Office Hit with 1.3 Billion at the Box Office.

Marvel Studios has Made Billions and Billions and Billions 32 Billion and Growing Fast. Next year we have Spider-Man New Day coming out.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 8/10/2025, 11:17 AM
@AllsGood - blah blah blah you shill
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