Henry Cavill is due to begin filming his Highlander reboot with Russell Crowe soon, but before the cameras roll, the most iconic movie from the action star has returned to streaming charts. Cavill stars alongside Crowe and Amy Adams in Man of Steel, the 2013 Superman film that has surged back into the conversation thanks to the recent release of James Gunn’s Superman. Man of Steel is currently streaming on HBO Max, and the film has returned to the top 10 in more than 25 countries, including the United States. Man of Steel earned a “rotten” 57% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75% on the audience-driven Popcornmeter, and it also wrapped up its box office run after grossing $670 million against a $225 million budget.
It’s hard not to credit Man of Steel’s delayed streaming success to the release of Superman, which earned over $200 million during its opening weekend at the box office. After watching Superman, it’s only natural to rush back and watch what came before for a quick comparison. James Gunn’s version of the Man of Steel has been much better-received from critics and audiences thus far, but only time will tell if it will earn as much at the box office. When Cavill first made his debut as Superman in 2013, director Zack Snyder had a vision that culminated with him facing off against an ultimate baddie like Darkseid. While the two do come face to face in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, those few moments are the only ones that will exist between them in the DCEU. Man of Steel also stars Michael Shannon and Kevin Costner.
Fans Aren’t Ready to Say Goodbye to Henry Cavill’s Superman
Some of Zack Snyder’s most passionate fans are not quite ready to accept David Corenswet as the new Superman in the DCU. At the start of Superman’s opening weekend, a van was spotted driving around with graphics encouraging moviegoers to boycott James Gunn’s Superman movie and hold out for Man of Steel 2. This strategy didn’t work, as evidenced by Superman’s opening weekend box office haul. While Cavill’s portrayal of Superman will always be available to watch through films like Man of Steel, Batman vs. Superman, and Justice League, it would be surprising to ever see him return as the character.
Man of Steel is one of the most popular movies in the world on HBO Max. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Cavill’s future projects.
https://collider.com/henry-cavill-man-of-steel-superman-streaming-success-july-2025/