Superman just bled millions—Gunn’s DCU launch is a money pit, and Peacemaker’s ratings are DOA! 🦸‍♂️💸

Corenswet’s Man of Steel soared to $616M but cratered short of profit, while Cena’s vigilante sequel ghosts streaming charts—fans ditch the “woke” lectures for real heroes. Gunn’s regret? Epic. Is the DC dream dead on arrival?

Grab your cape and rage: What’s killing the comeback? 👉

James Gunn’s bold reboot of the DC Universe was supposed to soar like its titular hero, but two months after Superman‘s July 11 liftoff, the numbers paint a picture of clipped wings and quiet regrets. The Man of Steel’s $616 million worldwide haul—respectable on paper—has been exposed as a financial fizzle, falling $42 million short of true profitability according to Forbes’ deep dive, while Peacemaker Season 2’s invisible act on streaming charts has left HBO Max execs scrambling. Gunn, the architect of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy triumphs, hyped his DC vision as a fresh start free from Zack Snyder’s brooding shadows, but early stumbles in Chapter One: Gods and Monsters have fans and analysts questioning if the wound is self-inflicted. With Superman barely breaking even and Cena’s anti-hero sequel DOA in viewership, is Gunn’s multiverse gamble already grounded, or just hitting turbulence on the way to Krypton?

Superman, Gunn’s $225 million passion project starring David Corenswet as the boy scout from Smallville, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as a scheming Lex Luthor, blasted off to a $125 million domestic opening—the second-biggest 2025 debut behind A Minecraft Movie‘s $162.7 million. International markets added $95 million in week one, pushing a global $232 million start that had Warner Bros. popping champagne. The film, a vibrant origin tale blending Kryptonian heritage with Metropolis mayhem, earned a 7.1/10 on IMDb and praise for its “fun, colorful, earnest” vibe, per Wikipedia’s consensus. Corenswet’s earnest Clark Kent, Brosnahan’s sharp-witted reporter, and Hoult’s oily villain drew raves, with the pup Krypto stealing hearts in a nod to comic lore. Gunn’s direction—infused with Guardians-esque humor and heart—positioned it as the anti-Snyderverse: hopeful, not hopeless.

But the flight path veered. By October 8, Forbes’ Paul Tassi crunched the receipts: After theaters’ 50/50 split, home video sales, and ancillaries, Superman landed $42 million shy of the $700 million benchmark for a clear win in today’s market. Warner Bros. insiders whispered $125 million in profits to trades, but Tassi called bluff, noting the $150 million marketing tab and post-pandemic realities where break-even demands double the budget. Deadline’s July 21 update pegged a second-weekend $57.2 million drop (-54%), better than Batman v Superman‘s -69% plunge but trailing Deadpool & Wolverine‘s legs. The Numbers confirmed a $354 million domestic close, with global at $616 million—eighth for 2025, behind juggernauts like Jurassic World Rebirth ($530 million) and Lilo & Stitch (nearing $1 billion). X users piled on: @TPPNewsNetwork’s October 8 post (“Forbes Claims James Gunn’s Superman Lost Money”) snagged 400 likes and 83 reposts, with replies like @Ozule’s “Gunn is just securing extra money” amid limbo for projects like The Authority.

The underperformance stings deeper in context. Gunn’s Superman was the DCU’s make-or-break: First theatrical salvo in a 10-year slate, it needed to eclipse Man of Steel‘s $668 million to signal revival. Instead, it mirrored The Batman‘s $772 million but lacked the cultural quake, with ComicBook.com’s October 8 breakdown calling it “complex”—profitable ancillary-wise but no franchise firestarter. World of Reel’s October 8 report slammed Warner’s spin: “This wasn’t the stalwart launch… the superhero genre isn’t the muckraker it used to be.” SuperHeroHype’s July 16 opener recap noted the $125 million domestic hit projections but flagged international softness, blaming “overstuffed” plots and CGI gripes (one IMDb review: “Visually impressive back in 2006… now a green screen TikTok filter”). Hoult’s $2 million payday dwarfed Corenswet and Brosnahan’s $750K each, but bonuses hinged on that elusive $700 million milestone—missed, per estimates.

Gunn’s response? Stoic, but cracks show. In a GQ August profile, he downplayed pressure: “I can do whatever I want.” Yet, as Man of Tomorrow (July 2027) gears up with Luthor-Supes team-up against cosmic threats, insiders whisper budget scrutiny. X’s @AxelTalksFilm (October 8, 1.6K likes) quipped on Snyderverse sell-off dreams: “Seeing ‘sell Snyderverse to Netflix’ in October of 2025,” tying it to DCU’s “nosedive.” @CordWainerBird9 (October 6) raged: “Superman lost money, Peacemaker’s ratings cratered… Gunn can’t help but insert his personal politics.”

Enter Peacemaker Season 2, the DCU’s live-action TV spearhead, meant to bridge Superman‘s VOD rush (early drop to funnel viewers). Premiering August 21 on HBO Max, the eight-episode arc plunged Cena’s Chris Smith into multiverse mayhem: An idyllic Earth-2 tempts him with a heroic family, clashing with A.R.G.U.S. ops and Checkmate teases. Gunn wrote all, directed five, retconning Season 1 into canon with a “Justice Gang” nod. Critics swooned (95% RT, “grown-up” evolution), praising Cena’s vulnerability and Brooks’ Leota shine. But audiences? Ghosted.

Nielsen’s September 1-7 Top 10? Blank. SambaTV charts? Crickets. Cosmic Book News (October 3) blasted: “Ratings tank proving Gunn’s Superman doesn’t matter.” That Park Place (October 6) called it a “non-factor,” with no episodes charting despite Season 1 bundling. The finale (“Full Nelson,” October 9) tanked hardest: Series-low 6.8/10 on IMDb, per Forbes (October 11), slammed as a “montage-filled nothing burger” overhyping Man of Tomorrow setups. Reddit’s r/PeacemakerShow (October 10, 1.2K upvotes) erupted: “Worst episode… Gunn peaked with Guardians.” RT audience dipped to 85%, with reviews like “Boring ass finale… not good TV” (GeekTyrant, October 10). Gunn’s mea culpa in Deadline (October 11): “I would not have used [it] to set up a movie… the show deserves better.” No Season 3 (Variety, October 10), just cameos ahead—Peacemaker joins Checkmate, per Gunn.

X amplified the wound: @TPPNewsNetwork’s October 8 Superman loss post (400 likes) linked to Peacemaker‘s “preachy” fascism-Christianity parallels alienating fans (Slate, August 21: “Gunn’s id unleashed”). @Starman6986 (October 6): “DCU failed… Superman lost 100 mil, mediocre show never charts.” r/television (October 10, 791 upvotes): “Irresponsible tying kids’ fare to R-rated rants.” Gunn’s podcast breakdowns drew “complacent” jabs (IMDb News), with no Deadpool crossover despite Reynolds chats.

The DCU’s early bleed? Systemic. Superman‘s shortfall echoes The Flash‘s 2023 $271 million disaster; Peacemaker‘s flop mirrors The Acolyte‘s cancellation. Gunn’s “whatever I want” (GQ) birthed Guardians gold ($845 million), but Brightburn (2019) warns of indulgence. FandomWire (October 11) predicts 5% HBO Max churn from fatigue, with Waller (2026) now make-or-break. Broader 2025: Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.3 billion) thrives on irreverence; DC’s “edgy” bet backfires amid boycotts.

Gunn presses on: Creature Commandos animated (2025), Supergirl (2026). But X’s @BallsofDragon1 (October 9): “Gunn’s DCU failed… nosedive.” @MoviesThatMaher (October 9, 6 likes): Sequel anyway, but “embarrassing.” As October’s shadows lengthen, the Fortress of Solitude feels drafty. Gunn’s regret? A pivot, or prelude to purge? Fans on r/DCU (500+ comments): “Overhyped… a letdown.” Nail the heroism sans sermons, and DCU rebounds. Overplay the id, and it joins the Phantom Zone. The cape flutters—profit elusive, but the fight’s just begun.