James Gunn’s Superman Officially Continues an Unwanted 46-Year Streak That Snyder Couldn’t Break Either

by

Comic book movies rarely win major awards like Oscars, although there have been a few exceptions. Heath Ledger famously won an Oscar for his role in The Dark Knight, and Black Panther and Joker were both nominated for Best Picture. While these instances are rare, the Academy hasn’t completely ignored superhero films. This year, no comic book movies were predicted to be strong contenders, though some hoped the new Superman film might receive nominations. Sadly, James Gunn’s reboot continues a long history of comic book movies being overlooked by the awards circuit.

The 2026 Oscar nominations are out, and Superman didn’t receive any, despite being considered for a few awards earlier in the selection process. This means the film won’t win any Oscars this year, continuing a long streak of losses for the popular DC hero. While the original Superman movie won a special award for its visual effects in 1979, no other Superman film has won an Oscar since. In fact, Superman Returns is the only one to even be nominated, receiving a nomination for Best Visual Effects.

Superman Was Still a Winner for DC Studios Despite Oscars Snub

Honestly, part of me wished the Academy would’ve given Superman some love – especially for the amazing work behind the scenes. But let’s be real, awards weren’t the point. This movie had a much bigger job: launching the new DC Universe. It needed to get regular moviegoers excited about where DC is headed, and in my opinion, it absolutely nailed that. James Gunn and his team really delivered a win for the franchise with this one.

I was so thrilled to see Superman soar at the box office! It really captured the public’s imagination, earning a fantastic 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and becoming the highest-grossing comic book movie of 2025 with over $616 million worldwide. What was especially impressive was how well it held up – audiences clearly loved it, as its second weekend numbers only dropped by a little over 50%! While it didn’t quite reach the billion-dollar milestone, it was still a huge win for Warner Bros., bringing in a solid $100 million profit when you include everything like merchandise and rentals. It’s just a fantastic film, and I’m so glad it did so well.

With the success of Superman, the future of the DC Universe looks promising. James Gunn is already developing the sequel, Man of Tomorrow, which will feature Superman and Lex Luthor joining forces against the villain Brainiac. Currently slated for release in July 2027, Man of Tomorrow is moving forward quickly as Gunn and his team continue to expand the DCU. Given the positive reception to Superman and audiences’ apparent support for Gunn’s vision, Man of Tomorrow has the potential to be even more popular. Superman could serve as the launching pad for the franchise, much like Batman Begins or Iron Man, establishing a strong base for future success.

If James Gunn keeps making excellent films, the Academy might have to acknowledge Man of Tomorrow. Similar to what happened with Batman Begins, which received only one Oscar nomination, The Dark Knight went on to earn eight nominations and two wins. While Heath Ledger’s performance was a major factor for The Dark Knight, the film also received significant recognition for its technical achievements, showcasing the high quality of filmmaking. If Man of Tomorrow excels in all areas, Warner Bros. will almost certainly launch a strong awards campaign.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/feature/supermans-weirdest-mystery-was-never-meant-to-be-explained/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-22 18:10