James Gunn Thinks Anti-American Sentiment is Kryptonite to Superman's International Box Office - Fair Dinkum?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
James Gunn reckons Superman's international box office is softer than it could be due to anti-American sentiment, which is a bit of a bugger, but he's optimistic about the long game and the overall plan for the DCU. Plus, those rumoured box office targets? Apparently, they're a load of codswallop.
Right, so the new Superman flick is smashing it in the States, but it's lagging a bit overseas. Why the discrepancy? James Gunn, the wizard steering the good ship DC, reckons it's a mix of things. Firstly, and fair enough, Supes just isn't as universally massive as Batman. Batsy's got that dark, brooding appeal that transcends borders. Supes? He's all-American apple pie, and that brings me to Gunn's second point, as reported by IGN South Africa.
"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," Gunn said to Rolling Stone. “So obviously the word of mouth is very positive both here and everywhere else. Which is the thing that we needed to do the most. At the same time, there are certain countries in which it’s really performing well. Brazil and the UK. 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 seems to be suggesting that some of the international slowdown is down to… well, let's just say a certain global perception of the US isn't helping the most American of heroes. He didn't name names, but it's not hard to connect the dots, is it? Think back to some… *interesting* political decisions and global policies over the past few years. It's a bit like trying to sell ice to Eskimos – a tough gig.
But here's the thing: Gunn isn't hitting the panic button. He reckons the word-of-mouth is strong, and that's what matters. He's playing the long game, viewing this film as "the seed of the tree" for his and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran's grand DCU plan. Which, let's be honest, needs a win. And if Superman flops, it might just unravel Gunn's vision quicker than you can say "Crisis on Infinite Earths".
Speaking of pressure, Gunn's also downplaying the financial stakes, noting that some reported numbers are "complete and utter nonsense." Is there pressure? Sure. But it's not "$700 million or bust" level stuff.
So, what does this all mean? Well, it's a reminder that even superheroes aren't immune to real-world issues. It also sounds like Gunn is hedging his bets. Smart move, I reckon. He’s acknowledging the international bump in the road, but focusing on the positives – the word of mouth, the long-term vision. He is likely hoping word of mouth will keep ticket sales rising.
The next films in the DCU include Supergirl and Clayface, so Gunn needs to make sure that Superman resonates with audiences and critics alike, or the new DCU slate may become a little dusty. Bottom line, it's a complicated situation with layers of cultural perception, global politics, and the inherent challenge of rebooting a beloved franchise. But hey, that's showbiz, right?
Tags: Superman, James Gunn, DCU, Box Office, Superhero Movies
Original article: IGN South Africa