Trump’s fault?
James Gunn offers an explanation for why his Superman reboot isn’t connecting globally, and according to him, it’s not the movie’s fault.
The Superman box office is currently skewing 58% domestic, which is a bad sign, since big-budget films usually rely more on international markets to be a success.
What does James Gunn say about the Superman international box office?
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Gunn acknowledged the underwhelming international performance but pointed to outside factors, including global perception of the U.S.:
“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 added that Superman is still a win, as its box office is presently at over $409M, and paves the path for the future of the DCU:
“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.”
Gunn’s Superman vs DC
However, does Gunn’s reasoning hold up? Here is a comparison of Superman versus The Batman‘s international numbers and even Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam and Zack Snyder’s Superman movies, including the 2017 Justice League by Whedon:
- Superman (2025): $171.8M international (no China)
- The Batman (2022): $402.9M international
- Black Adam (2022): $225.3M international (also no China)
- Man of Steel (2013): $379M international — which adjusts to $524.8M in 2025 dollars
- Justice League (2017): $432.4M international — over $569M today
- Batman v Superman (2016): $543.3M international — or over $731M today
Of note is that Black Adam, widely seen as a disappointment, has outperformed Superman overseas, and that was without a China release as well, where Johnson is huge. Gunn’s Superman is presently bombing in China and the Asian markets.
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… pic.twitter.com/18WgfIUXg9
— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) July 18, 2025
But Other “American” Movies Are Doing Just Fine
What about other “American” movies?
Gunn’s explanation blaming America raises eyebrows considering the massive global success of Top Gun: Maverick, arguably one of the most patriotic American movies ever made. Tom Cruise’s sequel pulled in over $776 million internationally, and $1.495 billion worldwide. Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning also hit $393M this year.
Or how about Apple’s F1 featuring an American as a Formula 1 driver? Currently over $307M internationally.
Clearly, “pro-American” messaging isn’t automatically box office poison overseas as Gunn suggests.
What’s Really Going On?
Instead of resonating with global audiences, Superman seems to be falling flat, and Gunn’s comments feel more like deflection than insight.
The film launched with a major marketing push, including a “World Tour” and years of hype, marking the beginning of the new DC Universe. However, the foreign audience isn’t showing up. Maybe Gunn putting himself at the center of marketing backfired internationally?
With foreign audiences having a lukewarm reception to Superman, what does that mean for the next DCU movie, Supergirl? What happens when Gunn’s Batman gets introduced?
