James Gunn has offered his perspective on why the latest Superman film is underperforming internationally, suggesting factors beyond the movie itself are responsible. According to Gunn, anti-American sentiment worldwide and Superman’s lesser recognition compared to other superheroes are hindering its global success.
The current box office split shows that Superman is drawing 58% of its revenue domestically, an unusual trend for large-scale blockbusters which often rely more heavily on international markets to ensure profitability. This has raised questions about the movie’s appeal outside the United States.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Gunn discussed the challenges faced by Superman globally, highlighting that
“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.”
—James Gunn, Director
Despite the international challenges, Gunn remains optimistic about the film’s future, pointing out its current $409 million box office total as a solid foundation for the expanding DC Universe. He remarked,
“So I think it’s just a matter of letting something grow. But again, for us, 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 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.”
—James Gunn, Director
How Superman’s Overseas Earnings Compare to Other DC Films
Examining Gunn’s rationale against actual box office data reveals a more complex picture. Superman’s international haul currently stands at $171.8 million, notably without a release in China, a critical market for Hollywood blockbusters. When compared to other recent DC and superhero films, Superman’s overseas earnings appear weak.
- Superman (2025): $171.8 million international (excluding China)
- The Batman (2022): $402.9 million international
- Black Adam (2022): $225.3 million international (no China release)
- Man of Steel (2013): $379 million international ($524.8 million adjusted for 2025)
- Justice League (2017): $432.4 million international (over $569 million adjusted)
- Batman v Superman (2016): $543.3 million international (over $731 million adjusted)
Notably, even Black Adam, which was widely regarded as a box office disappointment, has earned more internationally than the current Superman movie, despite also lacking a China release. Furthermore, Superman’s performance in China and other Asian markets has been particularly weak.
Social media analysis from Luiz Fernando highlights this struggle:
“In #China’s #BoxOffice, received with mixed WOM locally, #SUPERMAN crashes and burns, falling out of the Top10 today, in #12 after grossing horrible $97k on 2nd FRI over 3k screenings (-64k from last FRI), disastrous -95.9% drop from last FRI Opening Day, for a $8.2M cume after 8…”
—Luiz Fernando, Box Office Analyst
Other American Films Showing Strong International Appeal
Gunn’s argument, which partially blames anti-American sentiment for Superman’s international performance, faces scrutiny when considering the success of other American movies abroad. The highly patriotic Top Gun: Maverick amassed over $776 million internationally, totaling $1.495 billion worldwide, proving that strong American themes are not necessarily a weakness overseas.
Similarly, Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning earned $393 million internationally in the same year. Additionally, Apple’s F1 movie, centered on an American Formula 1 driver, has brought in more than $307 million globally. These examples show that pro-American content can perform very well internationally, countering the notion that America’s image is a primary obstacle for Superman.
Analyzing the Real Issues Behind Superman’s Global Reception
Rather than anti-American sentiment alone, other factors may better explain Superman’s lukewarm response abroad. Despite an aggressive marketing campaign, including a World Tour and extensive buildup as the beginning of the new DC Universe, the movie has failed to attract strong international audiences.
Some speculate that centering the marketing heavily around James Gunn himself might have hindered the film’s overseas appeal. Additionally, Superman as a character does not carry the same immediate international recognition or fanbase that characters like Batman do, limiting its draw outside the U.S.
Looking ahead, the international performance of Superman raises doubts about the prospects for upcoming DC Universe films, such as Supergirl and Gunn’s anticipated Batman. How these titles perform overseas will be crucial to DC’s strategy for global market success and overall franchise growth.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic family. He has shared that prayer is still important to him, although he describes himself as somewhat against organized religion.
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. Gunn collaborated with Marvel Studios on the Guardians of the Galaxy movies before he became co-CEO of DC Studios in 2022. After leaving Marvel, Gunn directed The Suicide Squad (2021) for DC. He was re-hired by Marvel to work on Guardians of the Galaxy 3 afterward.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. The CGI-animated version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation was inspired by Ozu’s work. Gunn, who grew up in a Catholic family, still finds prayer important in his life. However, he also described himself as “in some ways, against religion.”
