Warning: This article contains spoilers for Superman
James Gunn’sSupermanhas instigated several heated debates online, including several around the old argument centered on Superman’s no-kill rule. For those who haven’t seen the movie yet, this is your last chance to avoid spoilers.
There is ongoing discussion regarding whether David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman goes against his regular rule of not using lethal force against his enemies and actually kills Ultraman. In the movie, the Man of Steel defeats Ultraman by sending him into a black hole, which many have said means he knowingly sent his evil clone to its death. However, others have argued that the character is not confirmed to have died, and could quite easily return.
Opinions on the scene have varied, with some pointing out that Superman said that going into the black hole in the pocket dimension would kill him, therefore sending Ultraman in there would do just that. Others have countered this by saying there is no way the villain is dead and will be back in a future project as Bizzaro.
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Others have focused on other characters that Superman takes down, including many who are left injured but not dead. One X user even asked if people had watched the right Superman movie or hadstrayed into Snyder’s divisiveMan of Steel, where Henry Cavill’s Superman killed Michael Shannon’s General Zod. However, regardless of whether Ultraman is dead or not, some have pointed out that while Superman has a “no-kill” rule, it is one that can be broken in times of unavoidable need.
‘Superman’ is Soaring To New Heights at the Box Office
Whatever small grumbles have surfaced aboutSuperman, they have been far outweighed by the praise that has been piling up for the DCU’s first feature film, whichcontinues to hold a 94% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has also secured an 82% rating from critics, which does not best Christopher Reeve’s first two Superman movies but far surpasses Snyder’sMan of Steel.
What is more, the film’s box office performance looks set to beat initial expectations after setting new records with its $22.5 million previews haul, and following it up with a $55 million opening day total. This sets the movie up for an opening weekend domestic gross of up to $140 million, possibly higher depending on how the super-positive reviews impact the rest of the weekend.
Regardless of how the next few days pan out, James Gunn’s new vision for the DCU is clearly on the right track, and gives fans hope that this time around, the DC franchise may be a more successful and consistent performer than its predecessor.Supermanis just one movie, and the big test will be to see how movies likeClayfaceandSupergirlperform next year, but for now, it is 1-0 to James Gunn as he has so far proven many of his doubters wrong.
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.”
