This is an archive of Batman-News.com from 2010 to 2025. For the latest news, check out BatmanNews.com

15 Years of Coverage (2010-2025)

Batman News Archive

'Suicide Squad' helped Time Warner exceed earnings estimates; DC TV is a $1 billion business

By

Chris Begley

·

on 'Suicide Squad' helped Time Warner exceed earnings estimates; DC TV is a $1 billion business

Time Warner, the corporate parent company of Warner Bros. and DC Comics, held its third quarter earning results today, and there was a lot of good news to report! Suicide Squad helped the company make even more money than it was anticipating to this quarter.

“We had a strong third quarter, which keeps us on track to exceed our original 2016 outlook and underscores our leadership in creating and distributing the very best content," said Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes.

"In film, Warner Bros. had a strong quarter led by Suicide Squad and has the number 1 release of the fall in Sully, while anticipation is off the charts for J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which hits the big screen on Nov. 18."

Bewkes also mentioned the success of DC Comics' Rebirth event this summer, and said that DC television shows (like Gotham, Supergirl, Arrow, etc.) make the company $1 billion in revenue a year.

Last month, AT&T announced that it would acquire Time Warner in a $85.4 billion deal. The deal is expected to close late next year.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter (1), (2)

This is an archive of Batman-News.com from 2010 to 2025. For the latest news, check out BatmanNews.com

74 comments

  1. residentgrigo Avatar
    residentgrigo

    I am glad to have so much (mosty well done) variety, as i still remember the 90s and beyond... It´s fair to say that we live in a Golden Age for comic adaptations. It may not last forever but i will grab all i can while the going is still good. Nice to see Rebirth acknowledged too, after the mess that was 2015 for them.
    https://uproxx.files.wordpr...
    The Spidey cameo is topical, lol Sony. You nearly managed to cook a top 3 golden goose.

    1. The walking Cuban Avatar
      The walking Cuban

      Wonder if homecoming will be Tony stank's 5th billion dollar film. If so, wonder if Spiderman can pull it off without him after that. IW making a bill is guaranteed.

      As for batman, JL may be the return to the billion dollar club

      1. Theshadowbat Avatar
        Theshadowbat

        Don't discount spider man popularity, he is the biggest box office superhero on its own.

        1. The walking Cuban Avatar
          The walking Cuban

          That's hard to gauge. Batman did it in 2 solos, though arguably it's thanks to joker, but I still count em. Still, that's changed obviously.

          IM made a bill in 3 ensembles, but just one solo. But it's not like saying Hawkeye made it happen lol, rdj all the way.

          And Spiderman is only in that club thanks to Civil War.

          I'd say batman and Spiderman are now toss-ups, could make a bill, we'll see, but Iron Man puts popcorn in faces.

          1. Theshadowbat Avatar
            Theshadowbat

            I don't remember Joker being in TDR. People give Joker far too much credit. If anything Harley Quinn is a bigger brand, going by comic sales. Batman sells, and Spiderman too. 5 Spiderman movies each doing massive numbers, none billion dollar but can you complain. Iron man had a massive boost after Avengers, Iron man 3 was the follow up. before that he was barely cut 600 M.

          2. The walking Cuban Avatar
            The walking Cuban

            Thought about that after I typed it, what I mean is, he brought tdk way up from begins, and though he was not in Rises, the coattails were still there for Bats and Bane to ride.

            True about comics but I am a cbm fan and cannot agree or disagree with things I don't know much about, so I'll just say, sure why not.

            Yes, Avengers was the catalyst for Iron Man's future success, but even by phase 1 standards, both IM movies were on top. Even now, from Antman to GotG, though almost all are higher than previous IM films, none come close these days. Next year? GotG may change that.

          3. residentgrigo Avatar
            residentgrigo

            Harley is the bigger solo brand by default (it started this decade) as DC is smart enough to not spin-off Joker. That would become such a can of worms really quickly.
            His mystery and keeping him a pure villain wouldn´t survive too long.

          4. The walki G Cuban Avatar
            The walki G Cuban

            Can't argue with that, Harley seems like Deadpool as far as how I think the gen audience sees em. Like they're this generation's jokers

      2. Zoom Avatar
        Zoom

        Its already shocking that you have to say "maybe" instead of "will be" when talking about a freaking Justice League movie.

        1. The walking Cuban Avatar
          The walking Cuban

          Fully, man, I thought BVS was on lock for beating civil war, now I think gotg 2 will beat JL. Crazy

  2. B Sharp Avatar
    B Sharp

    So between Gotham, Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash, LoT, and Lucifer make a billion. Thats averaging 200 mil per show... I had no idea network TV shows generated that much ad revenue. No wonder they can afford to pay Maury Povich to read the same sentence over and over.

    1. Halberdier17 Avatar
      Halberdier17

      You forgot one of the best DC/Vertigo properties on TV now, iZombie. That series is so good even if it is barely like the source material.

    2. BatmanNewsChris Avatar
      BatmanNewsChris

      You are NOT the father!

      1. The walking Cuban Avatar
        The walking Cuban

        Oh yes we poppin champagne like we won a champi-on-ship GAME.

    3. JAG2045 Avatar
      JAG2045

      Does it also include DVD/Blu ray sales out of interest?

    4. Tom of Steel Avatar
      Tom of Steel

      Preacher , Lucifer , Gotham , LOT , Supergirl , Arrow , iZombie , Powerless , Flash and soon Krypton are the DC shows . So 9 DC shows made a billion ... PLUS BvS made $875 at the box office and the off of the BvS dvd/blu ray sales they have have made $65+ million and Suicide squad made $ 745 million and the soundtrack made a ton of $$ and all the bvs , SS , tv show merchandise $$$$ , all the $$$ they make off of the animated films and DC comics REBIRTH has been #1 for like 4 months ... it's safe to say 2016 belongs to DC

  3. Sense Avatar
    Sense

    https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

    1. Tres Swygert Avatar
      Tres Swygert

      Still love Futurama - wish that show was still on.

      1. Canucks Fan Avatar
        Canucks Fan

        I do too but they did end it perfectly i thought the new episodes were surprisingly emotional especially the one with the tone from nibblers fob

        1. Tres Swygert Avatar
          Tres Swygert

          I agree with you, they did end the series beautifully. No question. It would be awesome if they came back even for a direct to DVD film like they did last time.

          That show had so much depth in the storytelling and characters, way better than the Simpsons' recent episodes.

  4. Kerk Lastnameless Avatar
    Kerk Lastnameless

    It's good to hear that the TV shows are successful. With time, perhaps the entire DCU will just move to TV, and they'll increase the budgets, and that's where the real story will be told.

    1. El Maybe Avatar
      El Maybe

      Imagine how amazing a Batman TV show exploring the bat family and all of it's great rogue gallery with a cinematic care and budget like the recent Daredevil show would be. They could do everything they possibly want with Batman in these series and then bring him to the big screen in any special occasion he's needed like the Justice League.

      1. Kerk Lastnameless Avatar
        Kerk Lastnameless

        So long as it's not Gotham.

        1. El Maybe Avatar
          El Maybe

          Hell no! I said with a cinematic care and budget more or less like the Daredevil one ;)

      2. Foomankru Avatar
        Foomankru

        Can't agree more. I'm 5 behind in Gotham and just can't take it anymore. But I tried. I'm ready for it to be done. Having a Daredevil type Batman show would be amazing but we'd have to wait for that. At this point, I'd be ecstatic about a CW Batman show. For me, Supergirl is crushing it thus far and if they can have Superman in that universe, why not Batman.

    2. Kerk Lastnameless Avatar
      Kerk Lastnameless

      I have a JD and last I checked, my IQ was 130. So no, I'm not too slow. They are shit.

    3. Kilgrave Avatar
      Kilgrave

      This years DCEU films were pure garbage. Love the tv shows besides gotham, and rebirth is killing it. Dont get your panties in a knot and call others "slow" for not liking letdown movies

  5. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    It's all about the money

  6. Edivaldo Avatar
    Edivaldo

    DC i$ huge.

  7. TheHummuss Avatar
    TheHummuss

    I hope one day that WB and DC realize what they truly have, drop the DC Cinematic Stuff, and just handle their heroes on a mini-series basis on HBO (which Warner Bros owns). I would love to have 4-10 episode arcs for random DC heroes with the occasional team up in Justice League (maybe make Justice League the cinematic movie). It would be fresh, edgy, and just close enough to the source material to appease fans and packs enough of a surprise to keep that same fan engaged.

    I can only imagine how it would be if we could actually live through the lives of Kent, Wayne, Allen, Diana, Curry, and Jordan/Stewart/Cruz/Baz/Raynor/Gardner/whatever. I mean look at what TV is doing now compared to 20 years ago. I mean if Game of Thrones (as well as Marvel/Netflix) is pulling off spectacles on the small screen, I could only imagine what some DC writers would cook up for possibly 10 hours of story rather than 2.

    My dream is Batman (and others) realized as an HBO-like series like Sherlock/Luther. You get some of those wicked stories of his on screen, and it would make Daredevil look like Teletubbies.

    1. grayghost84 Avatar
      grayghost84

      My pitch for a DC HBO show "DC Elseworlds". You could have different actors and directors do their own original takes and stories. You could have Darren Aronofsky/Frank Millers Batman in a hour in a half. How about a random Thomas Wayne Flashpoint adventure. New BTAS episode? Geoff Johns could do a quick introduction at the start of each show.

      1. TheHummuss Avatar
        TheHummuss

        That sounds so awesome! This maybe in store for the next generation of live-action Batman/Superman etc. I'd hope they would do this

  8. residentgrigo Avatar
    residentgrigo

    Ding Ding Ding Ding! Look what reddit just uncovered, the amount of planing that went into the film:
    https://i.redditmedia.com/B...

    1. Batsassin Avatar
      Batsassin

      What planet could it be from?

      1. GaboPSN Avatar
        GaboPSN

        Apokooooolips (I hope)

      2. residentgrigo Avatar
        residentgrigo

        Apokolips? Who knows where Steppenwolf was stationed.

        1. Schuyler Finley Avatar
          Schuyler Finley

          Could be that John Carter guy again. Bastard can't take a hint that no one wants him.

          1. residentgrigo Avatar
            residentgrigo

            The film was ok and we would have no Star Wars if he didn´t lay genre stepping stones.

          2. Schuyler Finley Avatar
            Schuyler Finley

            I liked it, and a YouTuber informed me of just how important Carter is for the superhero and sci-fi genre.

          3. residentgrigo Avatar
            residentgrigo

            Fuck Youtube. Go read a book!

    2. krampe1995 Avatar
      krampe1995

      I love easter eggs like this. You really have to search for them. Not unlike the huge omega symbol and the parademons

    3. Mark Avatar
      Mark

      Is that BvS or SS? Also, I love that it's CNN (Warner Bros. property).

      1. residentgrigo Avatar
        residentgrigo

        The 3rd act of BvS.

    4. El Maybe Avatar
      El Maybe

      You seriously call this planning? Oh man...

      1. El Maybe Avatar
        El Maybe

        Oh my God thank you Maria!!! My life has changed, you're really a godsend :)

  9. Nahuel Benvenuto Avatar
    Nahuel Benvenuto

    they have no excuse to release the complete cut of the movie

    1. The walking Cuban Avatar
      The walking Cuban

      Right, release the edited version!

      Wait what

  10. residentgrigo Avatar
    residentgrigo

    Wanna know how the CW shows (they are the breadmaker) made than billion? Arrow just cast Talia, so Batman with a bow + friends goes on. A 3rd Al Ghul, why even ask... Damian Queen when!?!
    Thank god i stopped. Supergirl though appears to have found itself and the fight club from JLU just showed up, nice. Give S02 a go.

  11. Snoopy and The Red Baron Avatar
    Snoopy and The Red Baron

    Two questions if someone can answer them for me. 1) Is the revenue gross or net? 2) Is $1 billion a significant reaping or rewards for having 5 different TV shows? That's $200 million for each on average, so I have no idea if that's really good for TV. I'm not a finances kind of person so if someone knows what the answers are, I would appreciate it.

    1. Kenny Ok Avatar
      Kenny Ok

      1 billion is good. the walking dead is the 2nd biggest tv show. and it does just about 300 mil annually.

  12. grayghost84 Avatar
    grayghost84

    LOL ya Gotham is bad enough

    1. residentgrigo Avatar
      residentgrigo

      Speak for yourself. 8/10 and the show´s look is top notch.

      1. grayghost84 Avatar
        grayghost84

        I wasn't claiming to speak for anyone but myself. Glad you like it though!

  13. Canucks Fan Avatar
    Canucks Fan

    Batman could easily work on HBO i doubt any new DC show becomes a Netflix show that seems to be Marvel's platform

    You don't really need all that much special fx for Batman plus if they do make a show or even show him on the CW filming in Canada saves them a lot of money heard something like 400k savings per episode for Supergirl since moving to Canada

    1. Kenny Ok Avatar
      Kenny Ok

      nah. that would cheapen him so much. its why they use green arrow who is quite similar

  14. Vine Avatar
    Vine

    Suicide Squad also helped spread the creepy clowns hysteria across USA, Canada, UK, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Cambodia, Australia and New Zealand, GREAT!
    don't know when another would break into Cambridge again

  15. Sense Avatar
    Sense

    Congrats Chicago

  16. Zoom Avatar
    Zoom

    While WB is doing pretty well this year, it`s still nowhere near Disney money who already set a new annual global box office record this year - and Star Wars: Rogue One has not even been released yet. and with all the Marvel, Star Wars, animated movies and the upcoming live action remakes of Disney classics (Beauty and the Beast, Lion King) Disney will , lets face it, rule supreme for the next decade or so.

  17. Unicorn Killer Avatar
    Unicorn Killer

    Flash must make at least 1/3rd of that billion. It has better ratings and popularity.

    1. Zoom Avatar
      Zoom

      wrong, Supergirl is actually the highest rated DC show.

      1. krampe1995 Avatar
        krampe1995

        season 2 of super girl is actually super entertaining so far. They dropped all the girlie stuff, brought in more superheroes and actually nailed superman. Iam really digging the show thus far

      2. Mark Avatar
        Mark

        It was when it was on CBS. On the CW, not so much unfortunately.

  18. Bernard BammyWam Avatar
    Bernard BammyWam

    HOLY! I just saw the WW trailer.. It was so freaking cool.. OMG I WAS
    FREAKING OUT. IT WAS SUPERR BADD ASSS! BUTTT alot of new clips..
    literally almost the whole trailer is new clip. soooo thread carefully
    if you are going to watch it. A lot of new clips.. ITS SO BAD ASS THOUG

    1. Virgil Scott Avatar
      Virgil Scott

      I always thread carefully, especially when I sew.

      1. Bernard BammyWam Avatar
        Bernard BammyWam

        yeah , lmao it's super cool though, there aren't any doomsday moment so it's safe that way. Super cool :) gave me goosebumps . Cannot believe I say that after seeing the 1st one.

        1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks Avatar
          IamTheOneWhoKnocks

          Nice....I got goosebumps in the first one, can't wait to see this one then.

    2. Aheaney15 Avatar
      Aheaney15

      Where?

      1. Bernard BammyWam Avatar
        Bernard BammyWam

        I work a theater, and the hard drive arrived with new trailers, and there it was WW. Since I am a rabid fan, I saw it. Lmao you will honestly love it

        1. Aheaney15 Avatar
          Aheaney15

          That's awesome! I'll take your word for it once it shows up online.

  19. residentgrigo Avatar
    residentgrigo

    Who needs him if Arrow already got half his villains. WTF is Prometheus doing on his show, he is one of the most direct anti-Batman there is... I wouldn´t mind seeing an interpretation of him on LoT or Nightwing / Batwoman as a semi-regular. Spin-off potential and all.

    A HBO Batman show though would excite me more than a film ever could, by a mile even.
    The long form format is what makes Batman canon great, you could go easily go R, and Daredevil just proved that Nolan´s Batman wasn´t the genre´s upper limit. Many great Batman interpretations don´t need a 200+ mil budget either. Year One could be shot guerilla style with a handheld camera and CW budget costumes and still be true to the book. Golden Age and 70/80s Batman was low key too. Early 00s Batman wasn´t that crazy a book either.

  20. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    I don't think that'll be a problem for a long time. I've heard rumors that Fox got first refusal on any Batman shows as part of the terms for allowing the Batman '66 BluRay release to happen, and I'm guessing that Gotham has a lock on the characters for the time being.

  21. Logicallylethal Avatar
    Logicallylethal

    I would love DC TV if it weren't on regular cable. The reason why shows like Luke Cage and Dare Devil are the cream of the crop is because it's on Netflix where they don't face the same limitations as shows on regular cable networks.

    DC deserves a Watchmen series on HBO or Gotham done the right way on Netflix, HBO, FX, etc.

    There's a certain tone and quality that I expect when it comes to DC material. I've given Gotham, Arrow, and Flash a chance...and while I'm as die hard a DC fan as there is...I have to be honest...I prefer watching Luke Cage any day over those shows. And Luke Cage has never been one of my favorite Marvel characters!

    When it comes to DC this is the tone that I'm looking for...

    https://youtu.be/lTY1peDeUqQ

  22. lokifairy Avatar
    lokifairy

    Arrow IS a low budget Batman there is no need for another one.

  23. IgboNation85 Avatar
    IgboNation85

    Agreed.

Browse By Topic

Browse By Year

Browse By Author

This is an archive of Batman-News.com from 2010 to 2025. For the latest news, check out BatmanNews.com