With the global box office for Superman surpassing $580 million, fans were caught off guard when the film was announced to release on digital platforms just 35 days after its theatrical debut. James Gunn has clarified that the early digital release is not a reaction to box office performance but is linked closely to the upcoming Peacemaker Season 2.
Peacemaker Season 2 Drives the Streaming Schedule
In an interview with Screen Rant, Gunn expressed his disappointment about Superman’s shortened run in theaters but emphasized that the timing was influenced by external factors related to the Peacemaker series.
“Well, it’s very complicated, but the truth is it is because of Peacemaker. I originally thought Peacemaker was going to be coming out next month. There was a lot of things that are beyond our control, so that Peacemaker is coming out now, and, at the end of the day, I wanted everyone to be able to see Superman that wanted to, even those people who couldn’t get to a theater before Peacemaker. And that’s really the reason for it.” —James Gunn, Director
Aligning Superman with Peacemaker’s New Season
Peacemaker Season 2 is set to premiere on HBO Max on August 21, and the early digital availability of Superman provides viewers with a chance to catch up on the film before the new episodes air. Gunn has indicated that the series directly continues the storyline introduced in Superman, making the timing strategically beneficial for viewers to experience both in close proximity.
Despite this explanation, some fans speculate that the expedited digital release reflects concerns about Superman’s box office performance, which has not yet reached $600 million and trails behind other recent superhero films. Nevertheless, Peacemaker’s audience is expected to be smaller compared to Superman’s global reach.
Current Performance of Superman at the Box Office
As of the latest tally, Superman has grossed $583,184,195 worldwide, including $333,784,195 domestically and $249,400,000 internationally. This figure falls short of The Batman’s $772.2 million and also does not match Man of Steel’s 2013 worldwide earnings of $670 million.
