Superman's $122 Million Box Office Take

A New Dawn for DC Studios

James Gunn’s “Superman” made a strong debut, earning $122 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales over the weekend. This marked a significant moment for DC Studios as it aimed to usher in a new era for its superhero franchise. The film was seen as a crucial test for the newly appointed leadership of DC Studios, with Gunn and Peter Safran taking charge of the cinematic universe.

The pressure was high for “Superman,” especially after a string of underperforming films from DC. Titles such as “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “The Flash,” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” struggled at the box office, leading to concerns about the future of the brand. However, “Superman” was positioned as a fresh start, showcasing Gunn’s unique vision and creative direction.

Gunn, known for his work on “Guardians of the Galaxy,” brought an unconventional approach to the iconic character. His irreverent style contrasted sharply with the more serious tone of previous Superman adaptations. Despite this, the film managed to secure a strong opening, making it the third-largest debut of 2025 and the first DC title to surpass $100 million in its opening weekend since “Wonder Woman” in 2017.

Warner Bros. celebrated the success, noting that “Superman” was their fifth consecutive film to open over $45 million. Jeffrey Goldstein, chief of distribution for Warner Bros., highlighted the importance of regaining the trust of fans and reinventing the brand.

While the domestic performance was impressive, the international reception was more mixed. In 78 markets, the film grossed $95 million, with China contributing only $6.6 million. David A. Gross, from FranchiseRe, pointed out that the international performance was a minor setback, attributing it to the perception of Superman as a quintessentially American character.

The film also sparked political discussions, with some right-wing commentators criticizing it as “woke” due to Gunn’s portrayal of Superman as an immigrant. This led to online debates and even a post from the White House featuring Donald Trump as Superman.

In terms of storytelling, Gunn took a different approach compared to Zack Snyder’s previous films. He skipped the Kansas origin story, instead focusing on Superman after his first defeat. Rachel Brosnahan played Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult portrayed Lex Luthor.

Although “Superman” did not surpass the $166 million opening of Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” it performed better than “Man of Steel” when adjusted for inflation. The film received positive reviews, scoring 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, the best for the franchise since the original Christopher Reeve films.

Competition was fierce, with “Jurassic World Rebirth” sliding to second place with $40 million. The film faced a steep drop in revenue, while “F1,” Apple Studios’ biggest box office hit yet, came in third with $13 million.