DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn shocked fans this week by announcing that Superman will hit digital platforms on Friday, August 15 — just over a month after its theatrical debut.
In a post on social media, Gunn urged fans to “catch it while it’s still in theatres,” hinting at an imminent end to the film’s big-screen run. The film has been in theatres for six weekends and is close to crossing $600 million at the global box office.
The Peacemaker Connection
Why release Superman digitally so soon? Gunn explained the decision in an interview with ScreenRant. “Well, it’s very complicated, but the truth is it is because of Peacemaker,” Gunn said.
He revealed that Peacemaker Season 2’s release on HBO Max was moved forward to August 21, a change beyond his control. Gunn wanted as many fans as possible to watch Superman before the new season dropped.
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“I originally thought Peacemaker was going to be coming out next month,” Gunn said. “There were 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 they wanted to, even those people who couldn’t get to a theatre before Peacemaker. And that’s the reason for it.”
Why It Matters for the DCU?
The link between Superman and Peacemaker Season 2 is critical. Trailers for the HBO Max series tease the return of the “Justice Gang” introduced in Superman.
Gunn told The Hollywood Reporter:
“… Superman leads into this show, and then we have the setting up of all of the rest of the DCU in this season of Peacemaker, it’s incredibly important. Lots of guest stars coming up, lots of characters that are showing up that we’ve already met in Superman. I don’t think there’s anything that I’ve ever done that I love more than this season of Peacemaker, so I’m so excited for people to see it.”
Box Office Debate
With a likely final tally of around $600 million worldwide, Superman is already the highest-grossing Superman film in U.S. history, earning over $331 million domestically. It is also the biggest superhero movie of the year so far.
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Enough for Warner Bros.?
Rumours have circulated that Superman needs at least $700 million to be considered a success. Gunn dismissed that claim in a GQ profile of star David Corenswet.
“This is not the riskiest endeavour in the world,” Gunn said. He called the $700 million figure “just complete and utter nonsense,” while admitting there is still some pressure. “Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it’s not as big as people make it out to be.”
Future of the DCU
Superman marks the beginning of Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe. The next wave includes:
- Supergirl starring Milly Alcock (2026 release)
- Clayface starring Tom Rhys Harries
- Lanterns TV show (2026 release)
These projects will build on the foundation Superman has set for the franchise.
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Home Release Details
The Superman digital edition arrives in North America on August 15. The 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD versions will be released on September 23.
Special features include:
- Krypto Saves the Day!: School Bus Scuffle (5:32)
- Adventures in Making Superman Featurette (60:00)
- Icons Forever: Superman’s Enduring Legacy (6:05)
- Lex Luthor: The Mind of a Master Villain (5:18)
- Kryptunes: The Music of Superman (6:31)
- Paws to Pixels: Krypto is Born (5:54)
- Breaking News: The Daily Planet Returns (5:23)
- The Ultimate Villain (5:30)
- The Justice Gang (10:37)
- A New Era: DC Takes Off (4:53)
Coming Soon to Digital:
- Director’s Commentary with James Gunn
- Gag Reel
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Deleted Scenes
With Gunn’s strategy, Superman’s digital release is more than just a home-viewing option — it’s a calculated move to bridge the story directly into Peacemaker Season 2 and keep the DCU momentum rolling.
