James Gunn explained why the 'Superman' international box office success is surprising due to the 'anti-American sentiments' internationally.

James Gunn recently spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the mixed reactions to the new “Superman” movie, especially the backlash from conservative groups before it even hit theaters. Fox News and other right-wing outlets called the film “SuperWoke” after Gunn described Superman as an “immigrant” and “the story of America” in an interview with the Times of London.

James Gunn is feeling “incredibly grateful” for the initial box office success of Superman and the positive reception from audiences. The filmmaker and co-head of DC Studios took to Threads on Sunday to express his appreciation after the superhero blockbuster saw an estimated global debut of $217 million .