Superman, the first film in James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe, may not have performed as strongly as early coverage suggested. Comments made this week by Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos point to a softer box office run that led to a shorter theatrical window and an earlier move to digital platforms.
Sarandos testified during a U.S. Senate hearing tied to Netflix’s proposed $83 billion merger with Warner Bros. He defended the deal as a way to compete with large technology companies entering entertainment. In the process, he described how theatrical windows are adjusted when films fall short of expectations.
He said the industry standard is a 45-day theatrical run but added that the window often shrinks for movies that underperform. Sarandos cited Superman as an example of a title that moved to digital faster than planned. “Movies that underperform, the window moves a little bit,” he said.
Superman opened in theaters on July 11, 2025, and arrived on digital platforms on August 15, just 35 days later. Early reports had pointed to an August 26 digital release. The date was moved up while the film was still playing in theaters worldwide. Gunn previously said the decision was driven by scheduling for Peacemaker Season 2, which premiered on HBO Max on August 21. He said he wanted viewers who missed theaters to see the film before the series launched. Sarandos’ testimony suggests box office results were a factor no one was willing to admit last year.
The numbers show the film earned $354.2 million domestically and $262.6 million overseas for a worldwide total of $616.8 million. Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel reached $667.9 million worldwide in 2013 without adjusting for inflation. By that measure, Gunn’s film finished behind its predecessor. Audience response was mixed. Some viewers said the film failed to capture the core appeal of Superman. Critics pointed to a story that showed the hero losing often and relying on others to save him. Others objected to political themes and a villain they saw as modeled on real-world figures.
The film also introduced a large cast of characters, a style Gunn has used before in the Guardians of the Galaxy series. Some moviegoers said the approach felt crowded and distracting in a solo Superman story. Attention is now shifting to Gunn’s next DC project. Early indicators for Supergirl show weak search interest and muted online reaction. Industry analysts say another soft opening would raise questions about the long-term direction of DC Studios.
During the hearing, Sarandos argued that the Netflix and Warner Bros. merger would benefit the industry. He said the combined company would create jobs and give consumers more value. He claimed Netflix created 155,000 jobs and added more than $225 billion to the U.S. economy over the past decade, according to Variety.
He also warned that streaming faces pressure from companies like YouTube, Apple, and Amazon. Sarandos said Netflix holds about 9 percent of U.S. TV viewing and would reach around 10 percent with HBO Max, still behind YouTube. Among premium services, he said the combined share would be about 21 percent, also per Variety.
President Donald Trump has signaled concerns about the merger but said it should be resolved through Congress and the courts. For DC Studios, the outcome of Superman may matter just as much. Box office results and fast digital releases often tell a clearer story than early marketing claims. Analysts say the trend is worth watching.
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English (US) · 