‘Woke’ Superman has now made $551 million worldwide, overtaking this controversial right-wing movie
David Corenswet as Superman in ‘Superman’. (Warner Bros)
David Corenswet as Superman in 'Superman'. (Warner Bros)
The new Superman movie, which was described as “woke” by Dean Cain, who played the Man of Steel on TV in the 90s, has taken $551 million (£414.5 million) at the worldwide box office since 11 July, overtaking a controversial 2014 right-wing movie.
James Gunn, who directed the latest film, told The Times: “Superman is the story of America… an immigrant [who] came from other places and populated the country. But for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and something we have lost.”
But, speaking to TMZ, Cain, who appeared in all 87 episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, opposite Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher, warned – wrongly, it now turns out – that making it too “woke” would hurt it at the box office.
Fans of DC Comics will know that Gunn’s comments are far from the first time Superman has been referred to as an immigrant and, what’s more, audience numbers have now put it ahead of Warner Bros’ controversial American Sniper.
‘This movie makes the war about America’
Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, American Sniper was directed by Hollywood veteran, and National Rifle Association supporter, Clint Eastwood. One of the highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time, it was based on the life of navy seal Chris Kyle and his tours of duty in Iraq, and is seen by many as right-wing.
American Sniper has taken $547.6 million (£411.7 million) at the box office worldwide since opening in 2014, but generated significant controversy, partly due to the lack of context surrounding his actions and the dehumanisation and demonising of the Iraqi people.
One critic wrote: “If you want to see a brave American fighting for freedom in this film, that’s what you will end up seeing. If you want to see a narrative of ‘white people are good and brown people are bad’, you will end up seeing that instead.
“The film reflects our own beliefs and biases, and the fact that it does little to challenge these is probably the single greatest reason it has become so controversial. Like many American films before it, this movie makes the war about America.”
Superman is in cinemas now.
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