James Gunn Addresses 'Woke' Claims and Anti-American Sentiment Affecting Superman's Box Office Performance

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, director James Gunn addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding his latest film, Superman, which has been criticized by some conservative commentators as 'woke.' Gunn's remarks come amid the film's successful domestic box office performance, which has grossed $235 million in the United States after just two weekends. However, the film's international earnings, totaling $171 million, suggest a discrepancy that Gunn attributes to various factors, including perceived anti-American sentiment abroad.

Gunn expressed confusion over how Superman has been labeled as 'woke,' stating, 'I’ve heard people say it was woke, and then I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s not. I am curious as to what in the movie is considered woke.' He elaborated that the film is fundamentally about kindness, a value he believes has been overshadowed in current societal discourse. 'The center of the movie for me is kindness,' he emphasized. 'That was always the center of the movie for me, and it wasn’t about anything other than that.'

The controversy began when Gunn referred to Superman as an 'immigrant' story, a point that garnered criticism from right-wing media outlets. Fox News and Dean Cain, an actor known for his portrayal of Superman, expressed concern that Gunn's comments could negatively impact the film's financial success. Despite the backlash, Gunn's brother, Sean Gunn, defended him, stating that embracing the immigrant narrative is inherently American. 'Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people that we support in this country are immigrants, and if you don’t like that, you’re not American,' Sean Gunn remarked.

While the film's domestic reception has been robust, its international performance raises questions about global audience reception. Gunn noted, 'Superman is not a known commodity in some places. He is not a big known superhero in some places like Batman is. That affects things.' Furthermore, he acknowledged that existing anti-American sentiment in certain regions could be contributing to the film's underperformance abroad.

The director remains optimistic, stating that positive word-of-mouth is helping improve international ticket sales. 'We’re definitely performing better domestically than we are internationally, but internationally is also rising and having really good weekday numbers in the same way we are,' Gunn explained. He mentioned that countries like Brazil and the U.K. have shown particularly strong interest in the film, indicating that the audience response may vary significantly by region.

As Gunn reflects on the film's journey, he emphasizes the importance of patience and audience connection. 'This is just the seed of the tree that Peter and I have been watering for the past three years. So to be able to have it start off so positively has been incredibly overwhelming,' he concluded.

Superman is currently playing in theaters across the United States, distributed by Warner Bros. and DC Studios. The film's ongoing box office performance will likely continue to be a focal point in discussions surrounding its cultural impact and future prospects.