‘Superman' Reignites Interest in ‘Man of Steel' and ‘Peacemaker'
According to a recent Deadline report, viewership for Man of Steel, the 1978 Superman, and the Christopher Reeve documentary Super/Man have all received massive viewership spikes in the past week. Where Steel's week-over-week viewership grew by 218% and Superman: The Movie by 322%, Super/Man had the biggest growth at 1,206%. All three make sense: Man of Steel was the last solo Supes movie, and James Gunn's film is courting fans who saw and loved the Reeve films.
Interestingly, this knockback effect has also hit Peacemaker, Gunn's TV spinoff for The Suicide Squad. The show's second season arrives in August, and in light of the film's cameos featuring John Cena's titular antihero and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., viewership grew 91% week-over-week for season one. Deadline's report only mentions that show and three films, so it's difficult to know how or if other pieces of Superman media like Creature Commandos and the unconnected Superman & Lois and My Adventures with Superman—or heck, even Smallville and Superman Returns—got spikes of their own.
Regardless, it's certainly another point in the win column for Warner Bros. and the superhero himself. Between this and the news of rising interest in adopting dogs, it's safe to say Superman's impact extends beyond making money. (Which it continues to do.)
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Tyrant
7 minutes ago
- Geek Tyrant
James Gunn Confirms 9 DC Projects in Active Development but THE AUTHORITY Might Be in Trouble — GeekTyrant
James Gunn recently teased what's happening at DC Studios, and while there's a lot to be excited about, one highly-anticipated project might be stalling. In a recent TikTok interview with Straw Hat Goofy, Gunn enthusiastically listed several DCU projects that are actively moving forward. 'We got some really cool stuff happening. We got Supergirl coming out in a year, we got Lanterns coming out [in] probably less than a year. That's some good stuff, that's some really good stuff… 'We're making Clayface right now, and that is, oh man, the script by Mike Flanagan [is] so, oh, so good. Straight horror. And we're working on The Brave and the Bold , Wonder Woman , The Batman 2 with Matt Reeves, we're working on that, we're working on Sgt. Rock .' That's a total of seven projects Gunn rattled off without hesitation. Add to that some 'Krypto shorts… little cartoons for kids that are really fun' and a second season of Creature Commandos , which Gunn calls a 'real big priority,' and that brings the current count to nine. But what about The Authority ? When asked about the status of the WildStorm team's DCU debut, Gunn's response was... less enthusiastic. 'The Authority, that's… That's not going so well?' He said that with an awkward pause and laugh, and that might speak volumes about where that project currently stands. As for The Brave and the Bold , Gunn recently gave a small update. 'There's really no new updates,' he said. 'I mean, we're working on a script. We have a screenwriter who's hammering away at it. I'm very involved, and so, you know, we'll see what happens next. I wish I had more news for you, but I don't.' One project Gunn didn't explicitly mention but is definitely coming soon is Peacemaker Season 2, which drops in August. The whole TikTok clip played with a running gag where John Cena, fully suited up as Peacemaker, is completely ignored by Gunn. which is a fun nod to the next chapter that's just around the corner. There might be more unannounced projects still cooking behind the scenes, but as it stands, DC fans have a lot to look forward to. Just maybe don't hold your breath for The Authority anytime soon.
Forbes
9 minutes ago
- Forbes
Horror Movie ‘Weapons' Earns Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score
Topline 'Weapons,' a new horror movie opening in theaters next week, earned a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from its first reviews, after the movie's eerie marketing campaign—including a video of more than two hours of surveillance footage—went viral online. "Weapons," from director Zach Cregger, opens in theaters next week. (Photo by Alberto E. ...for CinemaCon) Getty Images for CinemaCon Key Facts 'Weapons' has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on its first 11 reviews, meaning all critics so far have given the movie a positive review. 'Weapons,' which opens in theaters Aug. 8, is a horror film about an entire classroom full of children vanishing in the middle of the night, except for one, according to distributor Warner Bros. The movie was written and directed by Zach Cregger, who previously wrote and directed the horror movie 'Barbarian' (2022), which was also well-received and has a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. 'Weapons' stars Josh Brolin as the father of one of the missing children and Julia Garner as the children's teacher. Deadline projected 'Weapons' could earn $25 million or more in its opening weekend, a solid start for an original horror movie. What Are Critics Saying About 'weapons?' Lyvie Scott, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic for Inverse, said 'Weapons' is 'haunting and cerebral as it is almost cartoonishly funny,' praising the movie's balance of 'gory shocks' and 'visceral physical comedy.' Chris Evangelista, a critic for the horror movie website SlashFilm, said the film 'taps into very modern fears without laying it on too thick,' stating the movie portrays paranoia and fear parents may feel after watching cable news. Evangelista called 'Weapons' 'one of the best horror movies of the year' and said Cregger is 'one of the most exciting voices in the genre right now.' In a five-star review for the horror publication Dread Central, critic Josh Korngut praised the cast performances and called the movie 'near-perfect,' calling it 'shocking, original, and grotesquely funny all at once.' Some critics, including Rotten Tomatoes-approved Matt Neglia, felt the movie lost steam at the end, stating Cregger 'missed an opportunity to tell a story that is more emotionally rich and relatable' and opted for a 'facile solution.' How Did The 'weapons' Marketing Go Viral? 'Weapons' garnered attention in the spring for a marketing campaign some movie publications compared to that of the 'Blair Witch Project' for its use of found footage and its realistic portrayal of the marketing materials. Warner Bros. published a video of surveillance footage on YouTube, titled '2025_░_░_06: which portrays children running through town in the middle of the night. The video is exactly two hours and 17 minutes long, similar to the time the children disappear in the movie: 2:17 a.m. The studio also published an online website, which is fashioned like a local news outlet and contains news articles about the children who disappear from town in the film. Surprising Fact The bidding war to secure the rights to 'Weapons' was reportedly intense, with multiple production companies making offers. New Line Cinema, a production company owned by Warner Bros., won the auction in January 2023 after making a $38 million offer, with Cregger earning $10 million and the ability to decide the final cut, a deal the Hollywood Reporter called 'unprecedented' for a filmmaker who had only directed one movie before. Other companies that made bids include Universal Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions, the production company owned by horror director-producer Jordan Peele. Deadline reported Peele parted ways with his management shortly after losing the auction. Further Reading Summer Box Office Opening Forecasts For 'Fantastic Four', 'Weapons', 'Freakier Friday' & More (Deadline) New Line Wins Intense Auction for 'Weapons,' the New Movie From 'Barbarian' Filmmaker Zach Cregger (Hollywood Reporter)
Newsweek
9 minutes ago
- Newsweek
'WWE: Unreal' Reveals Secret WrestleMania 41 Plans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The new Netflix docuseries, WWE: Unreal, has pulled back the curtain on the original creative plans for this past April's WrestleMania 41. In a series of shocking revelations, the show has unveiled the initial card for the event, which was significantly different from what fans ultimately saw on screen. The series, which premiered on July 29th, gives fans an unprecedented look into the WWE writer's room. It showcases how injuries, creative shifts, and other variables completely change the course of WWE's biggest show of the year. The original planned card for WrestleMania 41 as revealed on 'WWE: UNREAL': • Cody Rhodes v John Cena (Undisputed Title) • Roman Reigns v Seth Rollins • GUNTHER v CM Punk (World Title) • Rhea Ripley v Bianca Belair (Women's World Title) • Bad Bunny v Dominik Mysterio •… — Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) July 29, 2025 The Original Main Event The biggest change revealed was the originally planned main event. The docuseries confirms that the initial plan was for a massive one-on-one match between former Shield brothers, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. As fans know, this match did not happen. The final main event of Night One was changed to a triple-threat match that also included CM Punk, which culminated in Paul Heyman's shocking betrayal and a victory for Seth Rollins. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match A Completely Different Card The main event was not the only major change. The docuseries revealed several other marquee matches that were on the original card but were ultimately scrapped or altered. These included a powerhouse dream match for the Women's World Championship between Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. The original card also featured Nia Jax defending the WWE Women's Championship against Jade Cargill. John Cena (L) sits on the top rope during his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. John Cena (L) sits on the top rope during his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo byOther planned bouts included a supernatural faction war between the Wyatt Sicks and The Judgment Day, and a hoss fight between Bron Breakker and Drew McIntyre, with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as the special guest referee. The original card also featured two massive multi-person ladder matches for the Intercontinental and United States Championships, which were later changed to standard singles and tag team matches. The Ever-Changing Road to WrestleMania The "Road to WrestleMania" is the period from the Royal Rumble in January to the Showcase of the Immortals in April. It is historically the most volatile and fluid creative time of the year for WWE. The revelations in WWE: Unreal provide a fascinating glimpse into this process, showing fans the "what if" scenarios that were on the table and illustrating just how quickly plans can change in the world of WWE. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
