Update:After the runtime forSupermanreportedly made its way online earlier this week, director James Gunn addressed the claim. On Threads, Gunn responded to a fan who asked if the upcoming DCU film was indeed two hours and two minutes, making it among the shortest films featuring the Kryptonian. Gunn not only debunked the reported runtime, but revealed that the film is nearly finished with post-production.
“That’s not correct. It’s almost totally locked - meaning we’re just finishing a couple VFX shots over the weekend - but that’s not the running time.”
The original article, as follows:
James Gunn’sSupermanis breaking a recent DC superhero movie trend, and it mayworry some longtime fansof the franchise. The runtime has reportedly been revealed, and if it turns out to be accurate, the upcoming DCU film will be among the shortest in the character’s history on the big screen. Starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan,Supermanwill fly into theaters later this summer on Jul. 11.
According to international distributors, which have received updated theatrical information on the film,Supermanwill be 122 minutes long, or two hours and two minutes. The runtime puts it remarkably close to Marvel Studios’Thunderbolts*, which wastwo hours and six minutes. However, the 122-minute number makes the film the second shortest among live-action interpretations of the iconic DC superhero. Of course, this is not indicative of the movie’s quality by any means, but that won’t stop DC fans from worrying a bit. Check out the runtimes for the previous live-actionSupermanfilms:
Don’t Worry Zack Snyder Fans, James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Is Taking the Best Elements From His DCEU Films
The recent full-length trailer for ‘Superman’ showcases James Gunn’s use of a concept briefly explored in Zack Snyder’s DC films.
The company that surrounds Gunn’sSupermanon that list is not necessarily very encouraging, but the 122-minute runtime, at the very least, breaks a recent trend started by the now-defunct DCEU. FromMan of SteeltoBatman v. Superman, it seems his appearances on the big screen got longer and longer with each installment.Supermancan now reset that status quo with a less meaty runtime, and usher in a new era for the DC Universe. Typically, a shorter runtime can sometimes indicate a studio is not as confident in the film. However, as we’ve seen in the past, it’s not like longer movies fared much better with critics and audiences alike.
How Does ‘Superman’ Compare With Other James Gunn Movies?
James Gunn’s latest foray into the superhero genre comes after spending several years at Marvel Studios directing theGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy. However, this filmography also includes other acclaimed titles, includingSuperandSlither. The consistent theme? It seems the runtime has little to do with the quality of the film, but how much time Gunn simply needs to tell the story he is passionate about. The upcoming DCU feature will likely be his shortest title in many years, but it’s still par for the course for his superhero origin films. Check out howSupermanstacks up againstthe rest of Gunn’s filmography below:
Superman, in many respects, could be most likeGuardians of the Galaxy, which put the obscure Marvel superhero team on the map. The 2025 summer blockbuster centers on the most iconic hero of all time, but it also introduces a bevy of lesser-known characters and shares an identical runtime. IfGuardians of the Galaxyis the bar, then DC fans have nothing to worry about.
Source:X, James Gunn via DC Films News(X)
Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.' rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill’s departure from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.”
