Topline
Whether “Superman,” DC’s new blockbuster that made a splash at the box office this weekend, serves as a metaphor for Middle East unrest has animated political figures on the right and left—from Ben Shapiro to Hasan Piker—despite the director denying any direct reference.
Director James Gunn denied the movie is a metaphor for conflicts in the Middle East. (Photo by Samir … More
Key Facts
Left- and right-wing “Superman” viewers have debated whether the conflict between fictional nations Boravia and Jarhanpur, in which Superman stops the more powerful Boravia from invading the poorer and largely defenseless Jarhanpur, is a metaphor for Israel and Gaza.
Hasan Piker, a left-wing Twitch streamer and YouTuber some tout as the left’s answer to Joe Rogan, suggested Sunday night that Boravia could be an analogue for Israel, noting the fictional country is depicted as a military power and ally of the United States, while comparing its attempted takeover of Jarhanpur to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Piker objected to an earlier video by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who said the conflict portrayed in the movie does not compare to Israel and Gaza because it “does not match up to the facts” and can only be seen that way by those with “left-wing brain.”
Shapiro said he does not think the movie has a political agenda, denying other theories the movie is pro-immigration, or offers commentary on Russia and Ukraine, saying these interpretations are caused by “politics on the brain.”
Conservative YouTuber Tim Pool also disagreed that the movie was a metaphor for the conflict in Gaza, pointing out the two countries are portrayed in the movie as a wealthier Eastern European nation and a poorer South Asian nation.
What Has The “superman” Director Said About The Movie’s Political Meaning?
Writer-director James Gunn has denied the movie is about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though he has admitted it has political undertones. “When I wrote this the Middle Eastern conflict wasn’t happening. So I tried to do little things to move it away from that, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the Middle East,” Gunn told Comicbook.com. Gunn said the movie depicts an “invasion by a much more powerful country run by a despot into a country that’s problematic in terms of its political history, but has totally no defense against the other country,” which he said “really is fictional.” Gunn admitted the movie is “about politics,” but said the movie is largely about morality and kindness. Gunn told previously sparked controversy after telling The Sunday Times Superman is an “immigrant that came from other places,” stating “Superman is the story of America.”
What Have Critics Said About The Politics Of “superman?”
Film critic G. Allen Johnson wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle it is “chilling how many scenes reflect current reality,” calling the Boravia-Jarhanpur conflict “very reminiscent of the Israel-Hamas conflict.” William Bibbiani, a critic for The Wrap, said Gunn may have written a fictional conflict between made-up nations for the film, but “but we know he’s talking about” the war in Gaza. Mashable critic Siddhant Adlakha said the movie has “unavoidable parallels” to Israel-Hamas.
Why Has “superman” Faced Right-Wing Backlash?
“Superman” has been branded as “woke” by some conservative critics over Gunn’s immigration comments. A Fox News chyron that aired last week called the movie “Superwoke,” as guest Kellyanne Conway said people “don’t go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology onto us.” Superman, however, has long been described by fans and critics as an immigrant. Central to his story is his birth on the dying planet Krypton and his arrival as an outsider to Kansas, and the creators of the comic, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, are children of European Jewish immigrants. Frank Miller, a comic book artist who has written Superman comics, said in 2019 he aimed to “portray Superman as the ultimate immigrant” in his comic series, “Superman: Year One.”
How Is “superman” Faring At The Box Office?
“Superman” had a big opening weekend, grossing $122 million at the domestic box office and $217 million worldwide. The movie’s success is a win for DC Studios, which has not had a box office hit in years. The studio faced back-to-back flops with “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash” and “Blue Beetle,” as well as the critically panned “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” which had a moderate box office performance. “Superman” received positive reviews, scoring an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of DC’s better-reviewed films in recent years. “Superman” continues a hot streak for the summer box office, which has seen consecutive hits including “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” “F1” and “How To Train Your Dragon.”
Further Reading
Superman’s An Immigrant? Director James Gunn Faces Right-Wing Backlash For Claim (Forbes)
‘Superman’ Makes Huge $22.5 Million Debut—Can It Revive The DC Film Franchise? (Forbes)
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