Why Warner Bros. Is So Confident in ‘Clayface’ After Letting Reactions Out Nearly 2 Weeks Early

Few studios are under as much pressure right now as DC Studios. After ‘Superman’ grossed $618 million worldwide, the DCU’s second film, ‘Supergirl’, struggled badly, opening to mixed reviews and earning just $126.4 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $170 million to $186 million.

That film, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, drew near-universal praise for its lead but frustration over its script and tone. Its box office tracking was repeatedly cut ahead of release, and the final result was widely labeled a box office bomb, raising questions about the franchise’s direction.

Against that backdrop, Warner Bros. is clearly feeling much better about its next release. The studio lifted the social media embargo for ‘Clayface’, DC Studios’ first body horror comic book movie, almost 2 weeks ahead of its theatrical debut.

That kind of early reveal is often a sign of confidence, and so far it appears to be paying off. Reactions from critics and fans have been overwhelmingly positive, a sharp contrast to the more divided early buzz around ‘Supergirl’.

Directed by James Watkins from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, the film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a rising actor who transforms into the shapeshifting Batman villain. Early viewers have described it as a genuine hard-R horror film loaded with brutal, gruesome scenes.

And yeah, extremely confident they have something special, WB lifted social media embargo for #DCStudios’ first body horror CBM #Clayface almost 2 weeks ahead of its debut, and it seems to be a winner! Critics & fans’ reactions overwhelmingly positive, raving about the film written by #MikeFlanagan & directed by #JamesWatkins – way different from what we saw with #Supergirl where you could tell by the reactions alone something was off – calling the DC film a fantastic, gruesomely loaded with brutal scenes as an authentic hard R which holds nothing back, and even so still find time to be funny to offset a bit of the darkness, marking a completely different tone introduced into the DCU. Lots of praise to #TomRhysHarries’ performance and to the romantic aspects of it, said to be An ode to the classic gothic romances of old and a genuine villain-origin story, not the anti hero gimmick. Some are going as far as calling it the biggest surprise of the year and one of the best horrors of 2026. #CLAYFACE debuts at US #BoxOffice on OCT 23, with traditional THU Previews on OCT 22.

— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) October 14, 2026

Collider’s Steve Weintraub called it fantastic and praised Harries for a performance that is both charismatic and chilling. Critic Peter Gray described it as dark and violent with little levity, while still calling it an exciting addition to the DCU.

Despite its darkness, several viewers noted that the movie still finds room for humor. Phase Hero host Jenna Anderson said it blew her away, calling it inventive and surprisingly funny and earnest.

New clip from ‘CLAYFACE’. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/ppBSr3feMN

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 14, 2026

Others highlighted the film’s emotional core, praising its tragic angle and gothic-romance streak. Many described it as a true villain-origin story rather than a softened anti-hero tale, with journalist Chalice Williams calling it one of the best horror films of the year.

A few dissenting voices did emerge. One critic from The Movie Podcast praised the body horror and Harries’ performance but felt the story made for an odd third entry for a DCU still finding its identity.

ComicBookMovie also noted that the first wave of reactions came largely from fan-oriented outlets. Full reviews from trade critics will offer a clearer picture once they arrive. What stands out most is just how different ‘Clayface’ feels from what came before. Where ‘Supergirl’ divided audiences with its unconventional take on a superhero story, ‘Clayface’ embraces full-blown horror and seems to be winning people over in the process.

The final trailer for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’ has been released. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/ecTMB97Sto

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 24, 2026

James Gunn has long said the DCU wouldn’t have a single house style, previously calling ‘Clayface’ a complete horror film. With a reported budget of around $40 million, the film also carries far less financial risk than its predecessor.

Gunn has already confirmed that this won’t be the last time audiences see the villain. Speaking on the red carpet, he said he can’t wait for fans to see what the studio has planned for the character.

That confidence, combined with the strong early buzz, suggests DC Studios sees the film as a potential turning point after a rocky summer. ‘Clayface’ debuts at the U.S. box office on October 23, with traditional Thursday previews beginning October 22. If the early word of mouth holds, it could give the DCU the boost it badly needs.

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