YouTuber Critical Drinker believes James Gunn’s DC Universe is quickly losing steam. He recently posted a video explaining that the franchise hasn’t been doing well, pointing to disappointing box office numbers for *Superman* and a generally weak response to shows like *Creature Commandos* and the second season of *Peacemaker*.
According to Drinker, the initial positive reaction to Gunn’s arrival at DC has disappeared. While there was excitement when he was appointed, it’s now clear that his vision for DC isn’t resonating with viewers.
Superman Flops at the Box Office
As a big movie fan, I was surprised to hear that *Superman* actually didn’t do as well as you’d think. Apparently, according to *Forbes*, it only made around $615 million globally. After you factor in all the production and marketing costs, they only pocketed a little over $300 million, which, shockingly, wasn’t enough to even turn a profit. It’s a bit of a wake-up call, honestly.
He bluntly calls the movie a failure, pointing out that even Forbes acknowledged it didn’t make money. According to Drinker, if even Superman—arguably the most famous superhero ever—can’t succeed under Gunn’s direction, it doesn’t bode well for the future of the entire DC Universe.
Peacemaker and Creature Commandos Fizzle
Regarding television, Drinker dismisses *Creature Commandos* as unimportant and expresses disappointment with Season 2 of *Peacemaker*. He notes that despite a lot of promotion from James Gunn, the show didn’t break into Nielsen’s top ten most-watched programs and quickly lost viewers after its initial release.
Drinker faults the series for including what he sees as unnecessary political commentary and for James Gunn frequently casting his spouse and friends in prominent roles. He believes this combination of favoritism and political messaging has turned fans off instead of generating enthusiasm for Gunn’s DC Universe plans.
Gunn’s Two Big Mistakes
According to Drinker, Gunn’s downfall comes down to two major errors.
Initially, James Gunn didn’t completely start over with the DC Universe. He continued his *Suicide Squad* and *Peacemaker* series, but largely abandoned Zack Snyder’s previous films. According to critic Drew Drinker, this approach left viewers unsure about what stories and characters officially belong in the new DC Universe.
Additionally, Gunn consistently imposed his own creative trademarks on each film. According to Drinker, while Gunn’s signature style—a group of imperfect characters, witty self-mockery, and the use of popular music during action—was effective in *Guardians of the Galaxy*, it feels repetitive and doesn’t fit the tone of *Superman*.
The James Gunn Formula Is Worn Out
According to Drinker, James Gunn’s best work was in the past and he hasn’t improved since. He believes Gunn’s effort to make *Superman* fit his usual style of sarcastic, flawed heroes didn’t succeed.
According to Drinker, Superman didn’t fit with the direction James Gunn was taking, and he believes the DC Universe now seems more like Gunn’s personal passion project than a collaborative effort between creators.
He argues that Gunn isn’t as effective as Marvel’s Kevin Feige, pointing out that Feige understands his own strengths and weaknesses and is willing to delegate to other talented people when necessary.
Paramount Deal Could End It All
Drinker also discussed the possibility of Paramount buying Warner Bros. Discovery. He believes that if this merger were to occur, James Gunn and his DC Universe plans might be quickly cancelled, a scenario we previously reported.
He believes new management won’t accept continued poor performance from a franchise that had great potential but is now struggling under its current director. With upcoming projects featuring *Supergirl* and *Clayface*, he wonders if anything can reignite fan enthusiasm.
“You Only Get One Chance”
Drinker concludes by stating that Gunn has already ruined his initial impression. He points out, “You only get one chance to make a first impression,” and believes this situation could be the end of the line for James Gunn.
The video is already causing a lot of online conversation, racking up over 250,000 views and thousands of comments. Many viewers feel the DC Universe is starting off on the wrong foot.
Watch the video:
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2025-10-14 01:02