During a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on Netflix and the Warner Bros. Discovery deal, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that the James Gunn-directed Superman reboot did not perform as expected. This underperformance prompted Warner Bros. to shorten the movie’s theatrical window before its streaming release, highlighting challenges faced by the project. The discussion occurred in early February 2026 and brought attention to industry practices surrounding theatrical release schedules.
Senator Cory Booker Questions Netflix on 45-Day Theater-Streaming Window
At the hearing, Senator Cory Booker questioned Sarandos about whether Netflix would uphold the standard practice of a 45-day exclusive theatrical release before a movie becomes available on streaming or video-on-demand (VOD). Sarandos affirmed the commitment to this exclusive window but added nuance when discussing its enforcement:
BOOKER: “I want to ask a direct question: Will this be a fully exclusive 45-day theatrical window?”
SARANDOS: “Fully exclusive to theaters, yes.”
However, Sarandos acknowledged that in practice, the length of the window often adjusts based on a film’s theatrical success. He included James Gunn’s Superman as an example where the window was shortened due to underperformance:
SARANDOS: “It is the industry standard for self-enforcement. However, routinely movies that underperform, the window moves a little bit… and Superman was a little shorter window, and Sinners, a little longer window, but they still could refer to it as a 45-day window.”
Superman’s Early VOD Release Signals Major Setback
Sarandos’s statement marks one of the first public admissions by a top executive that the Superman film did not meet financial and audience expectations. Warner Bros. Discovery moved quickly to release Superman on VOD just 35 days after its theatrical debut, falling short of the typical 45-day window. This decision was notable given the film’s reported production budget exceeding $350 million and its role as the flagship installment for James Gunn’s reboot of the DC Universe.
The abbreviation of its theatrical run raises questions about the viability of the reboot strategy, which has since been scaled back and renamed the James Gunn Superman Family Saga. Industry observers also noted Warner Bros.’ scheduling of the Minecraft sequel release just two weeks following Gunn’s next DC film, Man of Tomorrow, in 2027, suggesting a cautious approach to their film slate moving forward.
Industry Reaction to Superman’s Performance
The film’s struggle contrasts with other releases, such as the movie Sinners, which maintained a longer theatrical window, underscoring Superman’s underwhelming box office impact. The candid acknowledgement from Sarandos highlights the ongoing pressures studios face in balancing theatrical and streaming strategies amid evolving audience behaviors and expectations.
Superman 2025 underperformed… this is coming from Ted Sarandos himself 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/cHiKvji36S
— Daniel Dami Biu, Social Media Commentator
What’s Next for James Gunn and the DC Universe
The challenges surrounding Superman’s release have injected uncertainty into James Gunn’s vision for the DC franchise. The underwhelming performance may influence Warner Bros. Discovery’s future release plans and investment decisions. Fans and industry insiders alike are watching closely to see how Gunn’s upcoming film Man of Tomorrow performs, especially with heavyweight competition scheduled closely in the studio’s calendar.
Overall, this episode illustrates the growing tension between theatrical exclusivity and streaming strategies, as well as the high stakes involved in rebooting iconic franchises under shifting market conditions.
Superman 2025 underperformed… this is coming from Ted Sarandos himself 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/cHiKvji36S
— Daniel Dami Biu (@damiebi10) February 3, 2026
