"Neither blew the doors off the box office; the last time a superhero movie finished at the very top was 2021, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon. But in this new world where superheroes are merely another part of the movie landscape instead of all that's on the horizon, it's suddenly DC that feels inventive while Marvel gets stuck in cinematic goop."
"James Gunn's reboot won't be remembered as an all-time classic, but it's the only superhero movie in years to feel truly optimistic, in all senses of the word. Its upbeat but unpatronizing attitude is a refreshing alternative to the DCEU's grimdark slogs and the increasingly hollow fluffiness of the MCU, but most importantly, it launched the new DCU with something that resembles a proper vision."
The MCU consistently outperformed the DCEU at the box office until the new DCU launch. James Gunn's Superman outgrossed Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps by nearly $100 million, signaling a reversal. Both films were modest performers, and superhero movies have not topped the charts since 2021, reflecting their integration into the broader film landscape. Gunn's reboot brings an upbeat, unpatronizing optimism that contrasts with the DCEU's grimdark tone and the MCU's formulaic output. The film presents a clear creative vision anchored by David Corenswet's enthusiastic Superman and has started the new DCU with inventive momentum; it is now streaming on HBO Max.
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