The Man of Steel returned to the silver screen with a vengeance. The first film in James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe, Superman had a lot to prove and it swooped in with intentions of proving all of it - and then some. The film opened to extremely strong reviews and incredible impressive box office numbers, setting the stage for a brilliant debut month.
Superman's performance in the US was particularly impressive as it overperformed in the domestic market and managed to have strong legs in a very crowded July landscape. That made up for its slight underperformance worldwide and proved just how much audiences need the hope, optimism and justice that the Man of Steel stands for.
If you weren't one of the millions who made it out to see the movie in theaters, you'll be glad to know that you won't have to wait too much longer to view the movie in the comfort of your own home.
DC announces Superman's VOD and home media release dates
Warner Bros. and DC Studios have announced when you can watch Superman at home. The James Gunn directed movie will be available in the US on digital from August 15, meaning that you can purchase it on VOD services including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Fandango at Home, and more. If you're waiting for the home media release, however, and would like to add a physical copy to your collection, you can purchase it on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD from September 23.
The press release confirms that the digital release will have special features that consist of: Director's commentary from James Gunn, Gag Reel, and Deleted Scenes. There will also be a host of featurettes focusing on Krypto the Superdog, Lex Luthor, the music of Superman, and the launch of the new DC Universe.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of the special features for Superman Digital, 4K UHD, and Blu-ray:
- Krypto Saves the Day!: School Bus Scuffle – (5:32)
- Adventures in Making Superman Featurette (60:00)
- Icons Forever: Superman’s Enduring Legacy – Featurette (6:05)
- Lex Luthor: The Mind of a Master Villain – Featurette (5:18)
- Kryptunes: The Music of Superman – Featurette (6:31)
- Paws to Pixels: Krypto is Born – Featurette (5:54)
- Breaking News: The Daily Planet Returns – Featurette (5:23)
- The Ultimate Villain – Featurette (5:30)
- The Justice Gang – Featurette (10:37)
- A New Era: DC Takes Off – Featurette (4:53)
The following special features will be coming soon to Digital:
- Director’s Commentary with James Gunn
- Gag Reel
- Deleted Scenes
It's really quite surprising that Warner Bros. and DC have decided to release Superman on digital so early considering it was just released in theaters a month ago, but this is just the most recent example of a studio fast-tracking a digital release. Both How To Train Your Dragon and Jurassic World Rebirth arrived on VOD services earlier than fans anticipated in spite of them performing extremely well at the box office. But clearly the studios see an opportunity to increase the amount of money that they ultimately make by capitalizing on the home audience's love for streaming their favorite movies and TV shows.
Although Superman's performance on VOD services won't be factored into its box office revenue (which is expected to finish north of $600 million), it will still go a long way in showcasing the success that the movie has enjoyed. Given that the buzz for the Man of Steel is still very much alive, the early release on digital services might have been exactly what the DC Universe needs right now. A strong digital performance in a digital age would reinforce audiences' faith in Superman and it would also allow the devoted Super-fans a chance to watch the movie if they didn't get out to theaters to see it throughout the past month.
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