Superman 1978 when adjusted for Inflation was a Billion Dollar Movie. Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises, Avengers, and Iron Man 3 all made a Billion Dollars MoS had no excuse except the audience didn't like it enough. No Way Home cane out before The Batman and made a Billion Dollars. No Way Home is really the Benchmark for when the Pandemic quit affecting cinema.
If you're WB you see there's an issue and start trying to right the train.