Clayface Officially Joins 3 Other Horror Movie Masterpieces With A- CinemaScore Record

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU has just set a record with the release of Clayface. The body-horror, gothic film, which was released on October 23, has officially received its CinemaScore, and the rating is simply stunning.

Per CinemaScore, the horror film debuted with a rating of A- on the website. To put this into perspective, only 4 other movies have gotten a grade of A (post-COVID), and James Gunn even shared the news on his Threads feed.

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners remains the only horror movie to have gotten an A CinemaScore. On the other hand, recent horror flicks like Obsession, Weapons, and now Clayface are in the same club with a score of A-.

Although Clayface became the fourth movie in recent years to get a grade of A-, its CinemaScore rating also set a personal record for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU as well as Zack Snyder’s DCEU.

Clayface Sets a CinemaScore Record for the DCU

A still from Clayface | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Alongside making a name for itself as one of the best horror movies of 2026, Clayface has also joined another club with its CinemaScore, and this time, it hits home.

Following the setback that James Gunn’s DCU received after the performance of Supergirl, the film’s A- CinemaScore rating has put the movie in the same league as Gunn’s 2025 flick Superman.

In fact, the film also joined previous DCEU movies in terms of CinemaScore by obtaining the same grade as Aquaman and Man of Steel. To highlight just how good the movie is, even Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson’s The Batman received a score of A- (and that is one of the best movies of all time).

With the film set in Gotham City, the darker and grittier aesthetics are something for fans to look out for. Naturally, the success of Clayface has just proven that DCU fans are ready for what’s more to come in the Gods and Monsters chapter.

Clayface‘s Success Proves DCU Fans are Ready for Darker Movies

Tom Rhys Harries in a still from Clayface | Credits: Warner Bros.

The film had a decent Friday opening of $10.4 million (via Deadline) and is on track to have a $24-$25 million opening. Critics lauded and praised the film for showcasing a dreadful Gotham City as well as the stellar acting of Tom Rhys Harries’ Matt Hagen.

Following a dark narrative where a vanity-obsessed star turns monstrous and loses the love of his people, Clayface‘s success just proved to the world that DCU fans are ready for darker and grittier stories set in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s universe.

This is a big deal for the DCU since the universe has spent years balancing family-friendly tone against the brooding identity fans associate with Gotham. If the trend continues, upcoming DCU projects like The Brave and the Bold can also be a bit free to embrace mature themes, atmospheric dread, and character-driven darkness, something that DC Comics is known for.

Would you want a darker, grittier DCU? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Clayface is currently screening in theaters.