Early Test Screening Reactions to James Gunn's "Superman" Are Mixed

Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman spoke with several members of a test audience who have already seen the film, and their reactions were disappointing.

According to Richtman, viewers were put off by the excessive amount of silly scenes and Gunn's signature humor, which appears to be overused in this movie. Other well-known insiders, ViewerAnon and MTTSH, also confirmed that the audience response was divisive—some viewers were left unsatisfied. However, Richtman adds a slightly more optimistic note, mentioning that while some disliked the film, others enjoyed it.

Other reports suggest that the studio’s internal reaction has been less optimistic than Richtman’s assessment. While the situation isn’t disastrous, the fact remains: the new film is a polarizing project with a brand of humor that doesn’t work for everyone.

The situation is causing major concern at Warner Bros. Rumor has it that "Superman" carries a budget of around $300 million, meaning the film would need to gross at least $600–700 million just to break even. If the movie underperforms, it could spell immediate doom for the rebooted DC Universe—the studio might pull the plug right after its release.

The studio still has the option of reshooting parts of the film, but that would require a massive additional investment and likely delay the premiere, currently set for July 11, 2025.

Main image: wall.alphacoders.com