The film semi-failure in the world explained by James Gunn, and it’s not stupid

James Gunn believes that his Superman could be more successful outside the United States. For example, if there was not this (big) problem.

Superman by James Gunn is, in absolute terms, success. Furthermore, After A nice start to $ 125 million on American soil (for scale: Thunderbolts* had started at 74 million. Therefore, Jurassic World : Renaissance At 92 million, if we do not count on the weekend from 5 days to 147 million), the film was rather well well, with a fall in attendance of only 54% in the second weekend in the United States.

The film with David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult therefore makes a completely honorable course. However. Nevertheless, he does not break the barrack either, and especially not internationally, where its performance is more timidespecially in the face of that of Jurassic World. In addition, James Gunn returned to this lukewarm, for which he has a not so stupid explanation, if not sufficient.

Where is Superman when the world is super bad?

And Superman get away with the honors, he stayed behind behind Jurassic World internationally. Furthermore, According to Box Office Mojothe second market of the two films is the United Kingdom. Furthermore, or Gareth Edwards’ film started there at 12.5 million, compared film semi-failure world explained james to 9.4 million for Superman. Therefore, In France, dinosaurs took off at 6.2 million and Superman at a small 3.6 million (even though France is the 2nd European market for the Gunn film, but only the 5th for Jurassic World).

The comparison could be extended with most countries where the two films have been released. Therefore, It appears that Superman Already lost in the showdown of the blockbusters of the summer against one of his most formidable competitors. Nevertheless, even if the director James Gunn chose to see the glass half full in an interview with Rolling Stone :

“It is sure that it goes much better at the domestic market than on the international market. But it still starts to wake up abroad, with weekend figures as good as those here. It means that word of mouth is very good. both in the United States and elsewhere, film semi-failure world explained james and it is the most important. In parallel, there are countries where the film has a very good performance, like in Brazil and in England.”

Obviously, James Gunn emphasizes the positive, even if it means exaggerating it a little. But how to explain that the non-American public is as not very receptive to Superman especially Among the Hollywood. productions of the moment? In the same interview, the director analyzed the situation in an interesting way:

“Superman is not an institution everywhere. In some countries, he is not a major superhero like Batman. It plays. And what is also playing is that the world knows. at the moment, a certain disenchantment of America, which does not help us frankly. So we have to let film semi-failure world explained james the thing infuse. But. once, on our side, victory is total: to have managed the film and that the public that peter [Safran, coproducteur avec Gunn, ndlr] And I have planted three years ago and wet since. ”

James Gunn is therefore due to relativize what may appear as an international halftone receptionby recalling that the bet of the film (relaunch a version of Superman which had nothing to do with that of Zack Snyder. Henry Cavill, still very fresh in the memory of the fans) was far from being won in advance.

On the other hand, the director also talks about coldness towards a hero with such American-American codes : if the absurd controversy around the so-called too “political” or “woke” dimension of film semi-failure world explained james the film (surely worn by people who have never read a comic Superman of their lives) has made a lot of noise, it probably overshadowed a more real problem.

Superman. with his costume in the colors of the United States flag, his ultra-Hollywood physique and his speeches all rights taken from the declaration of independence, is not Not necessarily a character who can identify the public of any country. Unlike a character like Batman. Superman’s nationality (even nationalism) is at the forefront of his adventures, his words, his look, all that he is.

All this in fact a less easily exportable productespecially when the United States is talking a lot about them, and not in the good sense of the word. If the defenders film semi-failure world explained james of the film have largely rented Its colorful. positive and funny sidecognitive dissonance between this representation and the terrifying news that reaches us from North America every day, where Trump’s policy is fascinated at high speedcan be difficult to swallow.

A reluctance to adhere to such American codes in these troubled times is probably not enough to fully explain the fact that the James Gunn Superman does not fly as much as that of Zack Snyder. but it surely has a real impact. Will it be the same for the future Supergirl of Craig Gillespie planned for 2026?