It’s an old Hollywood adage: Even the most down-on-its-luck studio is “just one hit away” from redemption.
What about five hits?
After one of the worst box office runs in Warner Bros.’ 102-year history — setting off frenzied speculation about the firing of senior studio leaders — the studio suddenly found a colossal hit in April (“A Minecraft Movie,” now nearing $1 billion in global ticket sales). Three more blockbusters followed in quick succession (“Sinners,” “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” “F1: The Movie”).
Warner Bros. delivered its fifth consecutive No. 1 movie over the weekend. “Superman,” which received strong reviews, will take in roughly $122 million in theaters in North America from Thursday through Sunday, analysts estimated. The film — a high-risk effort to reboot DC Studios, Warner’s long-floundering superhero division — was on track to sell another $95 million in tickets overseas.
“A hell of a run,” David Zaslav, the chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a phone interview. “We’re organized, and we’re on the attack.”
Mr. Zaslav lavished praise on James Gunn, who directed and wrote “Superman.” Mr. Gunn also runs DC Studios with Peter Safran. “Our biggest strategic opportunity was that DC was underdeveloped,” he said. “Now we have Gunn and Safran firing with a 10-year plan. ‘Supergirl’ has already been shot. They’re working on Wonder Woman. They’re working on Batman.”
Criticism of “Superman” by right-leaning media figures before the film’s release did not appear to dent ticket sales. (They deemed it “Superwoke” after the movie’s director called the extraterrestrial superhero “an immigrant” and noted that “it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.”)
