James Gunn's Superman is trying to make history at the Academy Awards after 4 decades

James Gunn's Superman might create history at the 2026 Academy Awards, as the film has been submitted by Warner Bros. for consideration at next year's Oscar race. Twenty nominations have been submitted, including Best Picture, Best Actor for David Corenswet and Best Director for James Gunn. Producers Peter Safran, p.g.a., and James Gunn, p.g.a., are submitted for Best Picture, while Gunn is also noted for Best Adapted Screenplay. Joining them are Rachel Brosnahan and Isabela Merced for Best Supporting Actress. The Best Supporting Actor category featured Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, and Nathan Fillion.

The technical nominations for Superman include Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Make-Up And Hairstyling, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score.

If Superman gets considered for an Oscar nod, it would be the character's first time in the last four decades to run for an Oscar, since 1979.

Warner Bros. is submitting six films in total for this year's Oscars race, with the others being Mickey-17, Sinners, Weapons, One Battle After Another, and A Minecraft Movie.

More details about Superman

Superman is James Gunn's entry into the DCU as he reboots the studio, and the Superman franchise in particular, with David Corenswet wearing the cape this time. Alongside Corenswet, the cast includes Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. The story finds Superman intervening in a global conflict orchestrated by billionaire villain Lex Luthor, played by Hoult and then facing the fallout: the public’s trust shaken, his personal life and heroism in flux. With the support of his reporter-ally and newfound superhero friends, he fights to reclaim that trust and discover what kind of hero he truly wants to be. A pleasant surprise in the film was the inclusion of Krypto, the super-dog who belongs to Supergirl

The official synopsis of the film reads,

Guided by human kindness in a world that sees goodness as old-fashioned, Superman is forced to reconcile his heritage as the Kryptonian Kal-El with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas, which challenges his selfless determination to use his power for good as humanity’s protector.

The film also teases the first look at Milly Alcock's Supergirl, as a post-credits scene shows her visiting Superman to get her dog back.

Gunn took quite some major inspiration from the celebrated comic book run All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, borrowing its tone of hope and mythic scale. Corenswet described his version of Superman as both a public figure and a quiet presence, someone physically imposing yet striving to be understated.

Superman brought in global earnings of $616 million, landing it among the top films of the year. Corenswet's performance won a lot of praise, with fans looking forward to his future in the DCU.