James Gunn’s Superman is flying to HBO Max sooner than fans might have expected. It has been over two months since the DCU film opened in theaters and became one of the biggest hits of the summer movie season, bringing in $353 million domestically and $615 million worldwide. On August 15, 2015, after a month in theaters, it became available to rent or purchase on digital video on demand. Now, a month later, Superman has set its HBO Max premiere date.
Gunn recently confirmed that Superman will debut on HBO Max on Friday, September 19, 2025. That is 70 days after its theatrical release and 35 days since the movie’s PVOD release date. The co-president of DC Studios confirmed the news on X with a photo of Superman actor David Corenswet posing in front of a television with the Superman banner on the HBO Max app, which can be seen below:
‘Superman’ Might Tie-in with the Final Three Episodes of ‘Peacemaker’
While 70 days from theatrical release to streaming may seem like a short amount of time, this is the new normal. Disney tends to hold its films for the longest period in terms of both digital and streaming release dates, as seen with Lilo & Stitch, which did not arrive on Disney+ until 103 days after its theatrical debut. However, it is worth noting that Superman will make its debut on HBO Max in a shorter time frame than Final Destination: Bloodlines, which was 78 days after its theatrical release date, and Sinners, which hit the streaming service after 80 days in theaters.
Superman will now debut on HBO Max the day after Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 5. The fifth episode of Peacemaker is notably the last one critics were allowed to watch, as the final three episodes of the season were withheld due to concerns of possible spoilers. James Gunn confirmed that Superman was released on paid video digital on demand so quickly in the first place due to the release of Peacemaker Season 2. Therefore, Gunn and Warner Bros. might want the film ready for fans to stream in preparation for or after any of the final three episodes of the season.
This certainly lends some weight to the fan theory that either Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor or David Corenswet’s Superman will appear in Peacemaker Season 2. Not only are two of Lex Luthor’s henchmen, Otis Berg (Trrence Rosenmore) and Sydney Happersen (Stephen Blackehart), confirmed to appear in Peacemaker Season 2, but one line from the trailer has Rick Flag Sr. saying he needs to visit a prisoner at Belle Reeve, the same prison Lex Luthor was sent to at the end of Superman. Meanwhile, David Corenswet shared a photo of himself in the Superman suit alongside John Cena, who was wearing one of his outfits from Peacemaker Season 2, hinting that it wasn’t just a sit-down visit between the two actors. Superman’s arrival on HBO Max might seem rather soon, but it is now perfectly timed to tie in with the final episodes of Peacemaker.
