David Corenswet’s Superman has shattered the Letterboxd record previously held by Margot Robbie’s Barbie, reaching two million watches in only 45 days after its digital release on August 15, 2025. This rapid achievement on the popular film-review platform signifies strong audience engagement with James Gunn’s Superman, even as the movie continues to play in theaters.
Superman Establishes New Benchmark on Letterboxd
Superman’s record-breaking milestone places it as the fastest film to join the ‘Letterboxd Two Million Watched Club,’ beating Barbie’s earlier record of 104 days. Letterboxd functions as a social network for film enthusiasts to rate, review, and catalogue movies they have viewed. The platform has grown significantly in recent years, fostering an active community that regularly tracks viewer milestones.
Following its release on Prime Video and Apple TV+, Superman attracted millions of film buffs who eagerly logged their views and reviews, demonstrating the film’s strong digital presence. This is notable because the movie managed to achieve this feat while still running in cinemas, highlighting sustained interest across both theatrical and streaming formats.
The Top Superhero Films in Letterboxd’s Two Million Watched Club
An analysis of superhero movies that have reached Letterboxd’s two-million-watched threshold reveals a dominance of Disney–Marvel titles. Marvel’s succession of blockbuster hits throughout the 2010s cemented many of its films as widely watched and reviewed. Interestingly, the 2020s have seen fewer high-profile superhero releases, and the list remains heavily skewed towards the previous decade’s successes.
Outside the Marvel and DC universes, the only franchise within this high-viewership group is The Incredibles. Every Spider-Man film ever produced has also earned a spot, confirming the character’s broad appeal. However, DC’s presence is limited primarily to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy and Matt Reeves’ The Batman, underscoring a challenge for the studio.
The scarcity of recent DC titles on this list signals a significant opportunity for the franchise, especially as James Gunn takes a leadership role at DC Studios. With Gunn’s influence, the expectation is that DC will effectively revitalize its cinematic universe to compete with Marvel’s stronghold.
James Gunn Defies “Superhero Fatigue” with Superman’s Success
James Gunn, as co-head of DC Studios, has countered the narrative of “Superhero Fatigue” through the outstanding performance of Superman. The film currently holds the record as the highest-grossing Superman movie domestically, grossing approximately $342.3 million. This suggests that audiences remain eager for compelling superhero stories when executed well.
In contrast, Marvel has faced criticism over the past several years for a perceived decline in quality and audience enthusiasm, with Kevin Feige attributing challenges to “Superhero Fatigue” caused by prolific releases overwhelming viewers. Gunn’s approach with the DCU reboot, including projects like Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, and Superman, appears to successfully rekindle interest among fans.
Looking ahead, with planned projects such as a standalone Supergirl film starring Milly Alcock, expectations are high that more records could be broken on Letterboxd as the DCU expands. The strong engagement with Superman is a promising indicator of renewed vitality for the franchise.
Fans can stream these popular superhero movies on platforms such as Disney+ or Max in the U.S., making it easier than ever to join the discussions and ratings on Letterboxd.
