# Gunn is done. Is DCCU 2 through? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [November 10, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753 "2026-11-10T01:37:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/62 "2026-11-11T18:17:20Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Lack of commitment and insistence on constant stand alone series while trying to also make a shared universe. Granted their standalone, mostly Batman, movies do quite well. I do love the Nolan-Bale movies. It was also nice they existed in their own little world. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/63 "2026-11-11T18:52:08Z")
It helps the first one came pre-Iron Man. Hollywood is as much about copycats and Warner would have screwed the Nolan movies up by trying. If he even still made them in that alt-universe. I can’t see him wanting to have anything to do with something like that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/64 "2026-11-11T19:18:02Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Point is he shares the same function in comic universes and could in cinematic. Right. He could be DC’s Thanos. > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Black Adam, Blue Beetle, the Shazam sequel, and the Flash pretty much did. They did not come close to breaking even, especially the Flash movie. Black Adam and _Shazam! Fury of the Gods_ both broke even- barely. _The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania_ both lost money, and several other struggled to break even. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > but there’s really no money in DVD sales although there may still be product placement money. Unlike Disney, Warner Bros doesn’t own theme parks so there’s not that revenue source. There is later streaming, international sales, and although WB does not actually _own_ any theme parks, quite a few buy licensing rights, and WB just sold Six Flags, but still have a licensing deal with them. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > I wonder why DC has struggled and Marvel has thrived. Later MCU films have struggled. > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Justice League’s break even point according to Wikipedia is 750m, it was a bomb. > _Justice League_ grossed $229 million in the United States and Canada and $432.3 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $661.3 million.[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_(film)#cite_note-BOM15-10) It had a worldwide opening of $278.8 million.[[139]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_(film)#cite_note-INTopening-142)[[140]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_(film)#cite_note-143) Up against an estimated [break-even](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break-even "Break-even") point of as much as $750 million,[[141]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_(film)#cite_note-BreakEven-144) _[Deadline Hollywood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadline_Hollywood "Deadline Hollywood")_ reported that the film lost the studio around $60 million.[[142]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_(film)#cite_note-DEADloss-145) Due to the film losing the studio money, the movie was deemed a “[box office bomb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_office_bomb "Box office bomb")” or “flop”.[[143]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_(film)#cite_note-BoxOfficeBombBundle-146) But it did well later. So overall it again, barely broke even. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/65 "2026-11-11T19:44:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Mahaloth](#): > > > > I wonder why DC has struggled and Marvel has thrived. > > Later MCU films have struggled. Except for _Spider-Man: Brand New Day_, which at over $2.5 billion world wide is the third highest grossing movie of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/66 "2026-11-11T19:44:21Z")
Your cite that Justice League broke even says that it lost a ton of money. Did you meant to quote something else? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/67 "2026-11-11T19:50:41Z")
In early box office it made $661M. Some people _estimated_ it’s break even @ 750M, but WB disagreed, saying the actual costs were only $300M. However, later money trickled in, so it is likely it made that “guestimate” $750M. But remember, actual costs to make the film were only $300M, not counting marketing. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/68 "2026-11-11T19:55:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > other territories for a worldwide total of $661.3 million.[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_(film)#cite_note-BOM15-10) It had a worldwide opening of $278.8 $661M is the total box office, not “early box office.” Yes, cost of “only $300M” and grossing $661M at the box office is a movie that lost money. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/69 "2026-11-11T19:55:05Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Marvel hit the jackpot by getting Robert Downey, Jr. for Iron Man. He made the character very distinct and memorable and his first movie is really great. Overall, Marvel’s casting, especially during the Infinity Saga films, was consistently outstanding. Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Scarlett Johansson, Chadwick Boseman, Bendict Cumberbatch, etc. all truly came to own their roles. (I’ll add Tom Holland to the list, though I’m not sure how much of the choice of him was driven by Marvel/Disney, versus Sony.) I’m not sure that one can consistently say the same about the DCCU. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/70 "2026-11-11T19:59:13Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > $661M is the total box office, not “early box office.” > > Yes, cost of “only $300M” and grossing $661M at the box office is a movie that lost money. > **[‘Justice League’ Box Office Bomb: Warner Bros. Could Lose Up to $100 Million...](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/justice-league-box-office-bomb-warner-bros-lose-100-million-1201900710/)** > > The superhero tentpole is not what the DC Extended Universe needed after "Wonder Woman." > Forbes breaks down numerous reasons why “Justice League’s” return on investment will be in the negative for Warner Bros., citing the tentpole’s humungous budget as a major issue. “Justice League” reportedly cost $300 million just to produce, with an additional $150 million spent on marketing. The film would have to make at least $750 million just to break even, but box office tracking suggests it will struggle to even hit $700 million. The film is currently pacing for a domestic haul in the $230 million range, though that could change if the film drops off quicker than anticipated. That is an estimate, not solid figures. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/71 "2026-11-11T20:03:12Z")
Marvels duds in the last half decade is are: FF4: First steps, Thunderbolts, Captain America: Brave new world, The Marvels, Ant man and the wasp quantumania, Eternals, Shangi-ta and the legend of the ten rings, Black Widow, it’s a roughly 50/50 hit rate post covid (probably affected by streaming etc). MCU probably survives more from the people it brings to Disney+ though. So the idea that MCU is doing better than DC, it’s not a straight shot there. DC does tend to do less movies though, but it doesn’t tend to help that its hits listed before are generally regarded as shit, and nobody’s rewatching them… ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/72 "2026-11-12T00:28:18Z")
I’m not sure I understand why a movie that cost 300 million and spent 150 million in marketing needs to hit 750 million to be profitable. What are the other 300 million for? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/73 "2026-11-12T00:30:23Z")
Exactly. Some film pundits claim you need like twice what it made to make a profit. Very few big films do. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/74 "2026-11-12T00:32:46Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I’m not sure I understand why a movie that cost 300 million and spent 150 million in marketing needs to hit 750 million to be profitable. What are the other 300 million for? Because when movies are shown in theaters only _part_ of the money goes to the studio, with the rest going to the theaters showing it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/75 "2026-11-12T00:32:47Z")
The theaters think they deserve some of the box office revenue. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/76 "2026-11-12T00:36:09Z")
Exactly this. $750 million in box office (ticket sales) =/= $750 million studio revenue. Also, studio accounting is an inscrutable thing, as anyone in the industry whose contract includes a percentage of profits knows. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/77 "2026-11-12T01:01:10Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Exactly this. $750 million in box office (ticket sales) =/= $750 million studio revenue. The Studio gets at least half, more on a heavily pushed film. So, say maybe the Studio got $400M, but a lot of merchandising , etc - so they could have made the $450- barely. Rather than Bomb, more like a broke even. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/78 "2026-11-12T01:13:19Z")
Everything you’ve quoted as a citation on these film breaking even or making money has been the opposite of what you’ve said. Apparently you hope people just don’t read what you link. Maybe you didn’t either and it’s not a deliberate deception I guess. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753/79 "2026-11-12T01:59:38Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Everything you’ve quoted as a citation on these film breaking even or making money has been the opposite of what you’ve said. I agree the writer at Forbes thought that the film would have to make at least $750 million just to break even. But I am not sure about those figures, in any case, the numbers are not terribly far apart. > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Your cite that Justice League broke even says that it lost a ton of money. Was that really a ton of money? They “needed” $750M in Box office, and got $661M, plus whatever in merchandising. So that is where i disagree. The film certainly did not make much profit if any, I agree, and likely lost money. Same year had _King Arthur: Legend of the Sword_ which was a bomb. Of course, since i am no expert, maybe the writer at Forbes was right, and Justice league lost some money. Sure. But it is not on this report- > **[Every Movie That Bombed In 2017 | Bomb Report](https://bombreport.com/yearly-breakdowns/2017-2/)** > > The complete list of every 2017 box office flop. Blade Runner 2049, Valerian, Ghost in the Shell, Geostorm, Lego Ninjago, Suburbicon, mother! and many more. So not a “Big Box Office Bomb”, anyway. Let us agree to disagree. I see your basic point- it was not a box office success, on that we agree. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunn-is-done-is-dccu-2-through/1034753.md?page=3)