The highly anticipated DC Studios film, "Superman," helmed by director James Gunn and featuring David Corenswet in the iconic titular role, achieved significant viewership success following its debut on HBO Max. Within its initial 10 days on the streaming platform, which began on September 19, the movie garnered an impressive 13 million views. This remarkable performance positioned "Superman" as HBO Max's most-watched movie debut over a 10-day period since the blockbuster "Barbie" premiered in 2023.

Warner Bros. Discovery reported that the release of the new "Superman" movie also had a ripple effect on other related titles available for streaming. Immediately before and after the film became available on HBO Max, several other Superman-centric titles experienced notable spikes in viewership. During the week spanning September 15-21, for instance, "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" saw a substantial 670% increase in streaming activity compared to the preceding week. Similarly, "Superman: The Movie" experienced a 155% jump, "Superman Returns" climbed by 120%, and "Man of Steel" recorded a 40% rise in viewership during the same period, underscoring the renewed interest in the character.

Prior to its streaming success, "Superman" had a successful theatrical run, having been released in cinemas in July. The film proved to be a box office hit, raking in more than $600 million globally against its production budget of $225 million. Critics also largely praised the movie, which achieved a respectable 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Owen Gleiberman, chief film critic for Variety, offered a predominantly positive review, noting: “Watching ‘Superman,’ we register the layered quality of the conflicts, and we’re drawn right inside them.” He further commented, “Gunn constructs an intricate game of a superhero saga that’s arresting and touching, and occasionally exhausting, in equal measure.”

The ensemble cast for "Superman" is a notable aspect of its production. Alongside David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, the film stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as the villainous Lex Luthor. The extensive cast also includes Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Neva Howell, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the narrative. James Gunn not only directed the film but also penned the screenplay and served as a producer alongside his co-head of DC Studios, Peter Safran. The list of executive producers includes Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo, and Lars Winther, highlighting the collaborative effort behind this major cinematic release.