Why Releasing Superman Early on Digital Could Be the Right Call

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Some fans are expressing discontent due to Superman’s digital launch only 35 days following its premiere, but it could be argued that Warner Bros. is taking the appropriate action.

Many enthusiasts are becoming ecstatic over the imminent early release on this coming August 15th, Friday. The followers of Snyder are rejoicing, while others are expressing concerns that the early release might be an indicator of potential issues within the recently established DC Universe.

Instead, let’s consider adopting an optimistic perspective on the early digital release of Superman, a move that could potentially prove beneficial.

Domestic Gains at This Stage Are Minimal

If we compare Superman’s current run to The Batman (2022), the numbers tell the story.

In the same timeframe as its initial screening, The Batman could only attract an additional $20 million within U.S. cinemas and subsequently departed from theaters.

Now that the highest-earning weeks for Superman have passed, it’s unlikely we’ll see substantial domestic profit increases.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that this past summer, Superman held the upper hand at the domestic box office, exceeding the earnings of Jurassic World: Dominion.

International Box Office Has Stalled

It appears that interest in Gunn’s Superman has waned significantly in foreign markets, as its international earnings fall well short of The Batman’s impressive $400+ million revenue and there are no indications of a recovery.

As international earnings dwindle, attention turns towards alternative income sources. Digital sales come next, followed by physical releases, and finally, content finds its way onto streaming platforms like HBO Max.

Getting Ahead of the Competition

Releasing the movie early provides an advantage for Superman, since it puts him ahead of the competition in a busy release schedule.

In the upcoming weeks, the Paramount production of “Mission: Impossible” and the Apple/Disney collaborative film titled “F1” will be available for online viewing.

By digitally releasing Superman now, we can capitalize on its domestic market sales and rentals before the big releases come out. Our promotional efforts are already underway and involve a behind-the-scenes documentary that lasts an hour.

Following a Proven Model

Recently, Universal experimented with a similar approach in regards to “Jurassic World Rebirth”. They made it available digitally as early as 35 days post its theatrical release.

The movie earned approximately $7 million within the country a week following its digital premiere, suggesting that cinemas could potentially continue earning late-revenue from showings, even post home-release.

WB appears to be taking a page from that playbook.

Get it while it’s hot

Shifting the release of “Superman” to a digital platform at this juncture might help capitalize on remaining audience interest, and potentially generate revenue, before interest wanes, all while preserving whatever is left of its theater screenings amidst increasing competition.

Full details on the digital and physical release can be found here.

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2025-08-13 20:41