John Oliver criticises DC superhero films and Trump-era Justice Department

John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight, criticised DC superhero films during Sunday night's episode, targeting productions from the same parent company that owns his own programme. In the same broadcast, Oliver focused on the Department of Justice under Donald Trump. According to Variety, the department—under former Attorney General Pam Bondi, nominee Todd Blanche, and District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Pirro—has allegedly become a vehicle for legal retaliation at Trump's request. Variety identified Blanche as Trump's former personal lawyer, who defended him in the hush-money trial involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Oliver's critique centred on the structure and conduct of the Justice Department during this period. The episode aired on Sunday. A report by Variety senior correspondent Marlow Stern, published on 9 August 2026, also noted other cinematic developments, including the acquisition of Ann Oren's film Object A by ScopeLabs ahead of its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival.