Unfortunately, there aren't too many properly made DC movies that actually do go "big". It's why I am not holding my breath on "Green Lantern". I mean, I can only think of Christopher Nolan's Batman movies and Red(modest hit) as making money and a myraid list of the others (Jonah Hex, Watchmen, Superman Returns, Catwoman, Batman & Robin and Steel) that didn't do well. I'm not even talking about the ones that never got off the launch pad even(Supergirl, Justice League) to name a couple.
The Walking Dead is a different beast all together. Like Locke & Key, it's creator owned and it's not as mainstream commercial as something as one of the big two could put on Happy Meal orders to action figures across the country. It chugs on from it's own momentum it creates from public awareness. It's also our job as a community here to create that momentum too, by recommending it to our friends and family, so they can experience the next level of entertainment from Modern Day comics.
When I hear the budget of Locke & Key's pilot might top $10 million, it makes me feel good, as they are gonna try to make this as big as an event to draw in as much as the mainstream as they can to an unknown property as this is. Mention Locke & Key to a friend, they won't know what you are talking about. Mention it after the promos start popping up. It will be a different story.