Superman’s Controversial Streaming Success Exposes Big DCU Problem They Need To Fix

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Without a doubt, Superman proved to be an indispensable asset for DC Studios as they launched their Universe franchise. With favorable critiques and word-of-mouth recommendations propelling it forward, director James Gunn’s reboot was a triumph at the box office, amassing more than $600 million globally. It clinched the title of highest-grossing comic book film of that year, gradually moving up the all-time rankings throughout its run. Interestingly, Superman made its way to Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) roughly a month after it premiered in cinemas. Given the box office returns, one would have thought it would also be a major hit at home, but that wasn’t entirely the case.

The television service provider Samba TV reports that Superman was viewed in around 527,000 American homes within the first three days of its release on digital platforms. Considered alone, this number suggests a robust performance. However, compared to Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which reached 618,000 households in six days, and Thunderbolts*, with 449,000 views, Superman’s initial success was surpassed.

Unfortunately for Superman, interest appears to have waned after its strong debut; from August 15th through September 7th, the film was watched in a total of 1.3 million households. This indicates that the movie may not have had substantial longevity in the home media market.

*Thunderbolts’ actual title is unspecified in the original text.

Should DC Studios Be Concerned About Superman‘s PVOD Performance?

Instead of waiting for Superman’s big screen debut in cinemas during the summer, the film was released early on digital platforms in mid-August. This move was met with controversy because Superman had been performing well at the box office throughout the summer. The intention behind this decision was to allow viewers to stream Superman at home before the release of Peacemaker Season 2, which is described as a direct sequel to the movie. By doing so, it could have boosted Superman’s successful Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) debut, as fans eagerly caught up with the story ahead of Peacemaker’s return to HBO Max. However, once audiences had watched Superman to prepare for Peacemaker, rental numbers declined.

The quick release of Superman on digital platforms so soon after its theatrical debut makes one ponder whether its initial three-day performance would have been stronger if not for this early digital release. When Superman premiered on Premium Video On Demand (PVOD), interest was high given it was a notable summer release, but as time went by, viewership dwindled. This suggests that Superman may have struggled to keep audience engagement and generate positive word of mouth, which would be an unfortunate development for DC Studios. As the kickstarter movie for their film lineup, Superman’s success in both theatrical performance and home media markets is crucial, as it indicates sustained interest in watching these films long after they leave theaters.

DC Studios aims to establish its own distinctive franchise, modeled after Warner Bros.’ reliable tentpoles, similar to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. This shared universe encompasses various films and characters. To achieve such longevity, the DCU needs to create movies with a sustained impact like the Infinity Saga installments. It will be intriguing to observe how characters like Supergirl and Clayface perform in Premium Video On Demand (PVOD) next year. Given that even a successful Superman movie might face momentum issues, it’s reasonable to question how lesser-known characters will fare using the same benchmarks.

In simpler terms, when discussing the topic, it’s worth considering that the quick release of Superman on Premium Video On Demand (PVOD) might have negatively impacted its figures in the long run. This is because the movie was still popular in cinemas when it became available digitally, leading some viewers to delay a rewatch until later. Others may have intended to watch Superman again at home but preferred to stream it for free on HBO Max instead of paying for PVOD. The initial surge in views might primarily be due to people who missed the movie in theaters and wanted to catch up before Peacemaker returned. Since Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to Superman, is scheduled for 2027 release, it seems the studio is satisfied with the outcome.

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2025-09-10 19:49