The new DC Universe is here to stay, as the franchise’s 2025 superhero streaming record shows. James Gunn’s DCU has already released three projects, all of which were penned and directed by Gunn himself. That has helped elevate the level of the franchise’s first few releases, with all DCU projects so far being received well by fans and critics alike.
2025 is an important year for the franchise, with the first live-action movie and TV show in the DCU paving the way for upcoming DC releases. Both projects were successful, and that has now translated into a streaming record for DC in the new franchise’s first full year. While Marvel Studios had more releases than DC in 2025, the latter holds an impressive record.
DC Is Dominating HBO Max Movie And TV Show Charts
As the first movie in the DCU, a lot was riding on Gunn’s Superman. Thankfully, the project delivered, with a respectable $615.8 million box office run that has since led to a sequel, Man of Tomorrow, being announced for a 2027 release. On the TV side, Gunn had Peacemaker switch universes, with season 2 of the John Cena series set in the DCU.
Superman‘s theatrical run has translated into streaming success for the movie. Gunn’s Superman is currently leading HBO Max’s movie charts, being the most-watched film globally on the streaming service as per data from FlixPatrol. When it comes to TV shows, DC is also the streamer’s global leader, with Peacemaker season 2 leading HBO Max’s Top Ten TV Shows list.
DC’s HBO Max Feat Is A First For Superhero Projects In 2025
DC has the top-performing movie and series on HBO Max globally. That is no small feat, and it becomes even more impressive when compared to what the Marvel Cinematic Universe has accomplished in 2025 on streaming. So far, both of the MCU’s movies to be released on Disney+ have become #1 on the platform globally. However, there is a catch.
As it so happens, none of Marvel’s 2025 movies led the charts at the same time that an MCU TV show did so for that category on Disney+. For instance, when Ironheart debuted on Disney+ in June, Captain America: Brave New World had already been dethroned on Disney+’s movie chart, with films like Snow White and Lilo & Sтιтch (2002) surpᴀssing it.
At the moment, the animated Marvel Zombies leads Disney+’s Top Ten TV Shows list, but Thunderbolts* is only the third most-watched movie on Disney+ globally, with Elio and Lilo & Sтιтch (2025) ahead of it. DC is the only superhero studio to have streaming hits in both categories simultaneously, though The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Wonder Man could still allow Marvel to catch up.
