Is Superman’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Good Enough for the Man of Steel?

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James Gunn’s Superman has made a successful debut on Rotten Tomatoes, earning an “Certified Fresh” rating of 82% from 346 reviews. This triumph is crucial for DC Studios, a newly established company, as Superman serves as the cornerstone film for their revamped cinematic universe. Under the creative leadership of co-CEOs Gunn and Safran, Superman bore the heavy responsibility of raising the bar in quality and regaining the confidence of a dubious audience. Consequently, this positive critical reception marks the initial proof that their new artistic vision has potential, offering a solid foundation for the rollout of their interconnected series of upcoming projects. Given its RT score alone, Superman has already set a benchmark for excellence that was long overdue following the troubled final years of the previous saga.

With an impressive 82% rating, Gunn’s “Superman” now stands as the top-reviewed live-action film featuring the character in more than four decades. Its evaluation mirrors that of the cherished “Superman II,” boasting a 88% rating, and the groundbreaking “Superman: The Movie” with its 86%. This significant accomplishment clearly distinguishes the fresh movie from the contentious modern adaptations and aligns it closely with the time period that solidified the hero as a worldwide icon.

After the classical period, contemporary efforts to reintroduce the hero have generally received lukewarm responses from critics. Bryan Singer’s 2006 movie, Superman Returns, garnered a decent 72% rating but was considered a commercial flop and didn’t start a new series. The movies that followed under Zack Snyder’s leadership took a drastically different approach, and while they sparked enthusiasm among fans, their grim portrayal of the character turned off many critics and regular viewers, as evidenced by their low Rotten Tomatoes ratings. However, Superman’s positive reception renews fan faith that the new DC Universe (DCU) can correct Warner Bros. Discovery’s past mistakes in creating a shared universe for DC characters, which was previously known as the DCEU.

Superman’s RT Score Is Miles Better Than the DCEU

Warner Bros. Discovery’s initial effort at a shared DC universe received mixed reviews from the beginning. Movies like Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” garnered controversial ratings of 57% and 28%. This split opinion among critics set a shaky foundation for the series, resulting in subsequent adjustments, varying tones across films, and an overall feeling of creative turbulence that turned off many audiences.

In many cases, even the DCEU’s biggest hits seemed more like exceptions than the norm. For example, “Wonder Woman” was a huge hit with a 93% rating, but the universe didn’t keep up that level of critical acclaim. Its sequel, “Wonder Woman 1984”, dropped to 58% approval. The franchise ended with several critical and financial flops, such as “The Flash,” which received a mixed 63% score before bombing at the box office. This pattern necessitated a complete overhaul, like what “Superman” represents, signifying a new beginning for the DCU, with a clear intention from the start. However, positive reviews are just the initial step Superman must take to ensure the DCU’s continued existence.

Will Superman‘s Positive RT Score Translate into Box Office?

Even with this notable milestone, Superman finds himself in a tough cinematic environment. The superhero genre, which was once a dependable box office juggernaut, seems to be experiencing viewer exhaustion lately. This is evident in the struggles faced by Marvel Studios during Phase 5; films such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (47%), “The Marvels” (54%), and “Captain America: Brave New World” (51%) have garnered poor reviews and underperformed financially. Even “Thunderbolts,” which received positive critical acclaim with a 88% rating, failed to captivate a wide audience, resulting in a commercial flop with only $371 million grossed globally. This indicates that even favorable reviews don’t ensure financial prosperity in the current market.

DC’s history underscores this point: Despite receiving exceptional reviews, as seen in the case of ‘The Suicide Squad’, which boasts a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but only made $168 million globally, there are multiple reasons for its commercial underperformance. Factors such as an R-rating that restricted its audience and a simultaneous streaming release on HBO Max during the pandemic, which adversely affected box office sales, contributed to its lackluster success. However, it’s important to note that the disappointing commercial performance of ‘The Suicide Squad’ is indisputable. In stark contrast, ‘Aquaman’ was a monumental box office hit, raking in over $1.152 billion worldwide with a more modest 65% critical score.

The high 82% rating for the latest Superman movie is undeniably a significant advantage, yet it doesn’t guarantee its final earnings at the box office. Unlike Thunderbolts and The Suicide Squad, Superman benefits from an unmatched brand recognition that other films lack with their lesser-known casts. This iconic status gives the film a substantial edge in drawing a broad audience, increasing its likelihood of transforming critical praise into a commercial hit. Consequently, the high rating serves as the movie’s best bet for success by creating positive hype and convincing viewers of its quality.

Superman is currently available in theaters.

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2025-07-12 23:11