James Gunn Says He’s ‘Incredibly Grateful’ For Successful Opening of ‘Superman’: ‘A Hopeful Testament to the Kindness and Quality of Human Beings’

James Gunn is celebrating the success of “Superman,” the long-awaited debut feature of his revamped DC Studios.

Gunn took to Instagram Threads Sunday to revel in the open numbers for his superhero tentpole. “Superman,” released July 11, had the third biggest domestic opening of the year, earning $122 million over the weekend. The film currently sits at a global tally of $217 million.

“I’m incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm and kind words over the past few days,” Gunn wrote. “We’ve had a lot of ‘Super’ in ‘Superman’ over the years, and I’m happy to have made a movie that focuses on the ‘man’ part of the equation – a kind person always looking out for those in need.”

He added, “That that resonates so powerfully with so many people across the world is in itself a hopeful testament to the kindness and quality of human beings. Thank you.”

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav shared a celebratory message of his own for the “Superman” opening, touting the film as “the first step” in “a bold 10-year plan.”

“This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen,” he said. “‘Superman’ is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Clayface’ in theaters and the series ‘Lanterns’ on HBO Max, all part of a bold 10-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult headline Gunn’s “Superman” as the titular Man of Steel and the villainous Lex Luthor, respectively. Other cast members include Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Anthony Carrigan (Metamorpho), Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific), Nathan Fillon (Guy Gardner) and Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl).