A New Era for Superman and DC Studios
James Gunn’s Superman has made a powerful return to the big screen, marking a significant milestone for both the iconic superhero franchise and DC Studios. The film launched with an impressive $122 million in North America and $95 million overseas, bringing its global debut to an estimated $217 million. This success is not only a win for the movie itself but also a crucial step forward for DC, which has faced challenges in recent years.
As both the writer-director of the film and co-head of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, Gunn is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in revitalizing the brand. His work on Superman is the first superhero film to cross $100 million in North America since Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine opened to $211 million in 2024. It also marks the first DC title to reach that figure in eight years, since Wonder Woman debuted to $103.3 million in 2017.
The film surpassed Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel, which had a domestic opening of $116.7 million, to become the biggest domestic launch ever for a solo Superman film. While Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice still holds the record for the highest DC opening at $166.6 million, Superman is proving to be a strong contender in the franchise’s history.
This achievement comes at a time when the superhero genre is facing what many call “superhero fatigue.” However, Superman managed to break through, becoming the third Hollywood film of 2025 to open above $100 million, following A Minecraft Movie and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch. Crossing the century mark in the post-pandemic era is no small feat, especially for a genre that has struggled with audience engagement.
Gunn, known for his work on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, brings a fresh perspective to the role of Superman. While Superman may not surpass the $146.5 million opening of Guardians of the Galaxy 2, it could claim the title of his second-highest domestic opening, behind the original Guardians from 2013.
Before its release, Superman was under intense scrutiny, with fans and critics alike eager to see how the film would perform. Even former President Donald Trump joined in on the excitement by posting a meme of himself as the new Man of Steel. Despite high expectations, Warner Bros. and DC were more conservative in their forecasts, predicting a $100 million-plus opening. The competition was fierce, with Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth and Apple’s F1: The Movie also vying for attention.
According to exit polls, 68% of Superman ticket buyers were male, and nearly two-thirds of the audience was between the ages of 18 and 34. The film also saw strong support from Imax, Dolby Cinema, and other premium large format (PLF) screens, with nearly 50% of the gross coming from these venues.
Critics and audiences have embraced Superman, with an A- CinemaScore and a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s diverse cast, including David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, has contributed to its appeal.
As the film continues its run, it is expected to maintain strong word-of-mouth and box office performance. With a solid foundation and positive reviews, Superman is setting the stage for a promising future for DC Studios.
Box Office Competition
While Superman dominated the weekend, other films also made waves at the box office. Jurassic World Rebirth continued its successful run, surpassing the $500 million global mark after its second week. In North America, it earned $40 million, bringing its domestic total to $232.1 million. The film also performed well in China, where it is on track to become the top-grossing Hollywood title of the year.
Meanwhile, F1: The Movie remained competitive, dropping just 50% in its third weekend to $13 million. It has amassed over $136 million domestically and more than $375 million globally.
Family-friendly films like How to Train Your Dragon and Elio rounded out the top five, showing the variety of content that resonates with audiences.
With Superman setting a new benchmark for DC and the superhero genre, the film is not only a box office success but also a symbol of hope for the future of comic book adaptations.
