Technology

Superman is a box office hit, but the hard part comes next

Published

7 months ago

July 14, 2025

Superman is a box office hit, but the hard part comes next

Over the weekend, DC Studios’ new Superman feature became this year’s third-biggest box-office debut in the US. The movie’s success is a sign that theatergoers might actually not be quite as tired of superheroes as people tend to think, and that’s particularly notable for Warner Bros., given the studio’s plan to build a new cinematic universe of DC Comics adaptations for the big screen. But making interconnected film franchises work is easier said than done. And even though Superman is putting up numbers, DC might have a much harder time doing the same with its next couple of cape movies.

Though it fell short of A Minecraft Movie’s and Lilo & Stitch’s domestic opening weekends, Superman raked in $125 million stateside and another $95 million internationally, making it WB’s strongest superhero debut since Matt Reeves’ The Batman in 2022. You can see those numbers reflected in the sheer amount of Superman hype (some of which has been weird and gross) that has overtaken social media since the movie first premiered. Because of Superman’s success, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn is reportedly thinking about a couple of spinoff series revolving around Edi Gathegi‘s Mister Terrific and Skyler Gisondo‘s Jimmy Olsen. But before any of that comes to fruition, the studio first has to sell the public on its next two big tentpole features due out next year: Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl and James Watkins’ Clayface.

Following the disaster that became known as the DCEU, WB was in desperate need of a fresh start and a vision for how it could use DC characters in ways that audiences would actually like. That need led to the creation of DC Studios with Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran guiding the whole endeavor. Though Gunn had worked on previous DC projects, his DC Studios’ appointment felt like a power move on WB’s part that spoke to its desire to push back against Marvel’s box-office dominance. And while it seemed a little odd that Gunn wanted to launch his new DC Universe with an animated Creature Commandos streaming series for (HBO) Max, it was easy to understand the logic behind his plan to make a new Superman the franchise’s centerpiece.

Superman has always been a pillar of the DC Comics brand and embodied much of what makes the company’s characters compelling across different mediums. In a universe full of gods, alien monsters, and supervillains, Superman represents hope and humanity at its best. He’s a near-indestructible powerhouse, but he’s also just a dork from Kansas who loves his family and believes in the importance of journalism. He’s got a bunch of superfriends, but he also has major beef with deranged billionaires who can’t wrap their minds around the concept of immigrants being people who make valuable contributions to society.

Those basic beats have defined Superman stories ever since the character first appeared back in 1938. And part of what makes Gunn’s new film so excellent is the way it weaves all of those ideas together into a colorful, optimistic joyride that feels nothing like WB’s other recent takes on the Man of Steel.

Some of Superman’s success can also be attributed to the basic fact that he’s a character whose lore most people are familiar with — something the movie acknowledges by glossing over Clark Kent’s tragic backstory and dropping you right into his life as an established superhero. But the same can’t exactly be said for Superman’s cousin, Kara / Supergirl, and B-tier Batman villain Clayface.

Thanks to CBS’s Supergirl and HBO Max’s Harley Quinn animated series, Kara and Clayface have had pretty big presences on the small screen in recent years. But the characters have always had somewhat lower profiles compared to DC’s other heroes and villains. Viewed through one lens, DC Studios following Superman up with Supergirl and Clayface reads as a calculated move to avoid following in the examples of the MCU and DCEU, which were both fleshed out with a series of features focused on the kinds of A-list characters you see on lunchboxes and bookbags. But the upcoming features also feel, at least on paper, informed by the way that studios like Marvel and Disney have gotten into the habit of expanding their genre franchises with ill-conceived spinoffs.

That’s kind of the general vibe you get from the full slate of DC Studio’s projects that are currently in development, which includes a stop-motion movie about two of Batman’s Robins, a True Detective-style Green Lantern show for HBO Max, and a feature about Bane and Deathstroke. A sequel to The Batman — which predates the DCU and exists in its own continuity — is also due out in 2027. And at some point down the line, the studio intends to introduce a new Bruce Wayne who will presumably link up with Superman and Wonder Woman (whose reboot is also in the pipeline) to form some sort of Justice League.

A man with a black face mask shaped like the letter T. The man is also a black, red, and white motorcycle jacket with matching pants and standing in front of a pherical space ship.

DC Studios

Most of DC Studios’ far-off films and series feel like the kinds of projects you would expect a studio to lead with — ones with instantly recognizable characters whose stories are well known enough to get audiences curious and excited about how they could be done differently. Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, who gets a brief and fantastic Superman cameo, seems a bit better suited to keep the franchise’s current momentum going. But given that we’re so early in this DCU’s existence, a body horror like Clayface, about an actor who becomes a murderous mud monster, feels like a tougher sell (even if Mike Flanagan is writing the script).

It’s easy to imagine Supergirl and Clayface revealing that what audiences have grown weary of isn’t comics-inspired narratives, but sprawling, interconnected franchises more concerned with growth than being made up of good movies. That energy is what dragged the MCU into its flop era and made most of Disney Plus’ Star Wars series slogs to get through, and DC Studios clearly doesn’t want to wind up in a similar position. Turning Clark’s cousin and a lesser-known DC villain into box-office juggernauts might be an even bigger challenge — but Superman at least shows that Gunn and Safran know where to start. And if the studio plays its cards right, this really might be the start of a new golden age for DC.

Related Topics:analysis comics dc comics Entertainment film tv-shows

Click to comment

Technology

Sonos’ Super Bowl sale knocks hundreds off its audio gear

Published

1 hour ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Sonos’ Super Bowl sale knocks hundreds off its audio gear

Sonos isn’t exactly synonymous with the Super Bowl, although the brand discounts its gear every year around this time like clockwork. It’s knocking 20 percent off many of its marquee products, including soundbars and standalone speakers — all of which can be paired together to improve sound quality and to put audio in more places at home.

Through February 16th, the company is keeping its prices in place on the Era 100 and the larger Era 300 speakers, the Beam and Arc Ultra soundbars, as well as its selection of wireless subwoofers. To put the prices in context, some of these discounts match — or beat — the current costs of Sonos’ certified refurbished gear.

The Era 100 very well may be the best, most feature-packed smart speaker around in its price range. In our 2023 review, we praised its stereo sound playback and improved bass response over its predecessor, the Sonos One. Notably, it supports Bluetooth playback (in addition to Wi-Fi connectivity) as well as line-in audio via USB-C, in case you’d rather plug in a wired audio source. While this model typically sells for $219, it’s currently available for $179 through Sonos, as well as Amazon and Best Buy.

The Era 300 is Sonos’ modern spin on the Sonos Five, offering bigger sound than the Era 100. Its specialty is spatial audio, which sounds incredible when you find a song that’s been mixed just right (the thing is, not all Dolby Atmos tunes are mixed equally). Like the Era 100, this model offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless connections, as well as line-in via USB-C. Our review notes, however, that stereo playback is an area where the Era 300 actually falters compared to its predecessor. But given its improvements overall (and since the Five that launched in 2020 is no longer on sale), the 300 is a great speaker to consider if you really want to feel immersed in your music. It’s $379 during the sale period at Sonos and Best Buy, down from $479.

Jumping to soundbars, the second-gen Beam is down to $369 from its original $499 price. While it’s definitely not the most feature-packed soundbar that you can get at around this price, its ability to tie-in with other Sonos products, plus its improved soundstage over the first-gen model might make it worth considering for you. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos is its marquee feature, although we noted in our review that it’s a virtualized effect since it lacks upward firing speakers that truly enable the vertical sound effects to shine. Note that it’s lacking in physical connectivity compared to most other models, with just a power plug, an HDMI eARC port, and an ethernet jack. In the event that you wish to connect the Beam to your TV or receiver via optical audio, you’ll need to purchase this $25 HDMI-to-optical adapter.

The Arc Ultra is a much better soundbar than the Beam, and carriers a larger $899 price (down from $1,099). Our reviewer noted that the bass improvements in this model are such that it can stand on its own without the purchase of a wireless subwoofer. It also boasts more immersive sound quality, plus Bluetooth connectivity, which was missing in the original Arc. The Arc Ultra’s sound can be further enhanced by connecting other Sonos speakers to the mix, although its older Play:1 and Play:3 speakers are ineligible to join the speaker family for surround sound.

If you’re considering either the Bean or the Arc Ultra (or if you already own one of its soundbars), their performance will benefit greatly with the addition of a Sonos subwoofer, of which the company makes two models. The Sub 4 is its high-end option, which is $759 during the sale period (down from $899). Anything this close to $1,000 is extremely expensive for a subwoofer, especially considering that most companies include one with their surround sound systems. The Sub 4 is able to lay horizontally or sit vertically — however suits your room best.

For almost half the cost of the Sub 4, you can get the Sub Mini. It’s $399, down from $499. You may be thinking that even this one is still pretty costly, and I agree. Although, it’s a product that Sonos loyalists were begging for, as before it there was no other choice than to spring for its more expensive subwoofer. In our review, we deemed it unworthy for filling large rooms with bass, but totally sufficient in most other ways. Something cool about its design is the force-canceling effect that reduces floor vibrations, which could be great if you’re worried about disturbing neighbors or other people in the house.

Technology

Under Armour data breach claims trigger alerts for millions of users

Published

2 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Under Armour data breach claims trigger alerts for millions of users

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Sportswear and fitness brand Under Armour is investigating claims of a massive data breach after customer records were posted on a hacker forum.

The breach became widely known after millions of people received alerts warning their information may have been compromised. While Under Armour says its investigation is ongoing, cybersecurity researchers reviewing the leaked data say it appears to include personal details potentially linked to customer purchases.

According to breach notification service Have I Been Pwned, the dataset contains email addresses linked to approximately 72 million people, prompting the organization to notify affected users directly. The scale of the exposure has raised new concerns about how consumer data can be misused long after a breach occurs.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.

THIRD-PARTY BREACH EXPOSES CHATGPT ACCOUNT DETAILS

Millions of Under Armour customers were alerted after stolen account data surfaced on a hacker forum, bringing the breach into public view. (Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

What happened in the Under Armour data breach

The stolen data is reportedly linked to a ransomware attack that occurred in November 2025. At the time, the Everest ransomware group claimed responsibility and attempted to extort Under Armour by threatening to leak internal files. In January 2026, customer data from that incident appeared publicly on a popular hacking forum. Soon after, breach notification service Have I Been Pwned obtained a copy of the data and alerted affected users by email. According to reports, the seller claimed the stolen files came directly from the November breach and included millions of customer records.

What data was exposed

The leaked dataset reportedly includes a broad range of personal information. While payment card details have not been confirmed, the exposed data is still valuable to cybercriminals.

Compromised information may include:

Researchers also found email addresses belonging to Under Armour employees within the data. That increases the risk of targeted phishing and business email compromise scams.

Under Armour’s response so far

“We are aware of claims that an unauthorized third party obtained certain data,” an Under Armour spokesperson told CyberGuy. “Our investigation of this issue, with the assistance of external cybersecurity experts, is ongoing. Importantly, at this time, there’s no evidence to suggest this issue affected UA.com or systems used to process payments or store customer passwords. Any implication that sensitive personal information of tens of millions of customers has been compromised is unfounded. The security of our systems and data is a top priority for UA, and we take this issue very seriously.”

Why this breach matters

Even without passwords or payment details, this breach still poses serious risks. Names, email addresses, birth dates and purchase history can be used to create highly convincing scams. Cybercriminals often reference real purchases or account details to gain trust. As a result, phishing emails tied to this breach may appear legitimate and urgent. Over time, exposed data like this can also be combined with other breaches to build detailed identity profiles that are harder to protect against.

How to check if your passwords were stolen

To see if your email was affected, visit the Have I Been Pwned website. It is the first and official source for this newly added dataset. Enter your email address to find out if your information appears in the leak. When done, come back here for Step 1 below.

Ways to stay safe after the Under Armour data breach

If you received a breach alert or believe your information may be included, taking action now can reduce your risk later.

1) Change reused passwords and use a password manager

If you reused the same password on other sites, change those passwords right away. Even if Under Armour says passwords were not affected, exposed email addresses are often used in follow-up attacks. A password manager makes this easier. It creates strong, unique passwords for each account and stores them securely. That way, one breach cannot unlock multiple accounts.

The leaked data reportedly includes email addresses, birth dates and purchase details, which can be exploited in targeted phishing scams. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.

2) Watch for phishing emails tied to Under Armour

Cybercriminals often move fast after a breach. As a result, emails that appear to come from Under Armour or fitness brands may land in your inbox. Be cautious of messages that claim there is an issue with your account or a recent purchase. Do not click links or open attachments in unexpected emails. Instead, go directly to the company’s official website if you need to check your account. Using strong antivirus software can also help block malicious links and attachments before they cause harm.

ILLINOIS DHS DATA BREACH EXPOSES 700K RESIDENTS’ RECORDS

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

3) Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere you can

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection. Even if someone gets your password, they still need a second step to log in. Turn it on for email accounts first. Then enable it for shopping, fitness and financial accounts. This single step can stop many account takeover attempts linked to breached data.

4) Monitor for password reset attempts and account alerts

After a breach, attackers often test stolen email addresses across multiple sites. That activity can trigger password reset emails you did not request. Pay close attention to these alerts. If you see one, secure the account immediately by changing the password and reviewing recent activity.

5) Be skeptical of messages that reference past purchases

This breach included purchase information, which makes scams more convincing. Attackers may reference real products or order details to earn your trust. Treat any message that pressures you to act quickly as suspicious. Legitimate companies do not demand immediate action by email or text.

6) Reduce your exposure with a data removal service

Over time, exposed personal data often ends up with data brokers. These companies collect and sell profiles that scammers use for targeting. A data removal service can help you request the deletion of your information from these databases. Reducing what is publicly available makes it harder for criminals to build detailed profiles.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

Security experts warn that even without payment data, exposed personal information can fuel fraud long after a breach is discovered. (Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The Under Armour data breach is a reminder that even major global brands can become targets. While payment systems appear unaffected, the exposure of personal data still creates long-term risks for millions of customers. Data breaches often unfold over time. What starts as leaked records can later fuel scams, identity theft and targeted attacks. Staying alert now can reduce the chance of bigger problems later.

If your personal shopping or fitness data were exposed in a breach like this, would you keep using the brand or move on to a competitor? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

It’s a new heyday for gas thanks to data centers

Published

14 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

It’s a new heyday for gas thanks to data centers

The US is now leading a global surge in new gas power plants being built in large part to satisfy growing energy demand for data centers. And more gas means more planet-heating pollution.

Gas-fired power generation in development globally rose by 31 percent in 2025. Almost a quarter of that added capacity is slated for the US, which has surpassed China with the biggest increase of any country. More than a third of that growth in the US is expected to directly power data centers, according to a recent analysis by the nonprofit Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

More gas means more planet-heating pollution

The rush to install more powerful hardware into expanding data centers used for generative AI has led to forecasts of skyrocketing power demand. There’s still a lot of uncertainty about whether AI will become as ingrained in everyday life as tech companies might like, and many proposed data centers could fall flat. Even so, plans to build out more gas plants in the name of AI are stalling efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.

“There is a risk that this capacity could lock in future emissions and become stranded assets if anticipated electricity demand from AI never materializes,” Jenny Martos, project manager for GEM’s Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker, said in a press release.

Already, 2026 is shaping up to be a record-smashing year for gas. If all of this year’s proposed projects cross the finish line, it would be an even bigger jump in added capacity than the record set in 2002. That’s pretty remarkable considering the 2000s ushered in America’s so-called “shale gas revolution,” when fracking suddenly unleashed previously hard-to-reach reserves. Gas is now a cheaper power source than coal and creates less carbon pollution when burned. But gas production releases methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide even though it doesn’t persist in the atmosphere for as long.

Image: Global Energy Monitor

Ramping up electricity generation from gas is also a sharp pivot away from global climate goals. A decade ago, nearly every country on Earth — including its two biggest greenhouse gas polluters, China and the US — signed a historic deal in Paris to limit global warming. The only way to achieve the most ambitious goals set out in the Paris agreement would be to replace fossil fuels with less-polluting alternatives like renewable energy and slash greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by around 2050.

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.