Box Office: ‘Superman' Saves the Day for DC Studios With $122M Domestic Opening, $217M Globally
James Gunn's Superman, one of the summer's most anticipated tentpoles in the U.S., flew to a solid box office debut of $122 million domestically from 4,135 theaters and $95 million from 79 markets overseas for an estimated global launch of $217 million. Its somewhat tepid start internationally isn't a surprise, considering the original creators of the comic book hero cast him as an uber American patriot and savior, a patina that has never entirely worn off (don't forget that Zack Snyder's 2013 film was titled Man of Steel, not Superman). Indeed, on the newest film's opening day, President Donald Trump posted a meme of himself on social media clad in tights and a cape.
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The movie is a seminal moment in rebooting both DC Studios — which has struggled badly in recent years — and one of Hollywood's most iconic comic book film franchises. Gunn is in a unique position, being both the film's writer-director and the co-head of the Warner Bros.-owned DC, which he was tasked to run alongside Peter Safran by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. Superman, costing $225 million to produce before marketing, is their inaugural release.
'What we always hoped to achieve with Superman was winning back the trust of our DC fans and indeed they have enthusiastically embraced our first entry in an exciting new theatrical universe,' said Warners global distribution president Jeff Goldstein. Added Zaslav separately, 'Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films Supergirl and Clayface in theaters and the series Lanterns on HBO Max, all part of a bold ten-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn't be more excited for what's ahead.'
Superman successfully fended off the dreaded superhero fatigue that has plagued the domestic box office to become the first comic book movie in an entire year to cross $100 million. The last to do so was Marvel Studios and Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool & Wolverine, which launched to a jaw-dropping $211 million in summer 2024.
And among all releases, Gunn's movie is only the third Hollywood title of 2025 to launch north of $100 million alongside fellow Warners tentpole A Minecraft Movie, which opened to $162.8 million, and Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch, which sewed up $146 million in its debut. Crossing the century mark is no small feat for any movie in the post-pandemic era, and particularly for the troubled superhero genre.
DC has been hit hard in particular. Superman is among only three DC titles that have opened to $100 million or more in eight long years after Wonder Woman, which started off with $103.3 million in 2017, and Matt Reeves' The Batman, which debuted to $134 million in 2022, not adjusted for inflation. (The latter was a standalone film, and not part of the DC Extended Universe, as was Wonder Woman).
Another tidbit: Gunn's pic beat Man of Steel ($116.7 million) to rank as the biggest domestic launch ever for a solo Superman pic. In 2006, Bryan Singer's Superman Returns unfurled midweek in North America for a six-day start of $84 million, including $52.5 million for the three-day weekend. Snyder's follow up to Man of Steel was the 2016 mash-up Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which scored the biggest domestic DC opening of all time when earning $166 million over Easter weekend.
Until now, Gunn was best known for being the mastermind behind Marvel's blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The second Guardians boasts his biggest domestic opening at $146.5 million. Superman isn't likely to beat that record, but it did supplant 2013's Guardians threequel ($118.2 million) to rank as his second-best, not adjusted for inflation.
Superman is banking on a long run thanks to strong word-of-mouth, with critics and audiences alike embracing the film. The pic earned an A- CinemaScore from moviegoers, the same grade given to Man of Steel and ahead of Superman Returns' B+. The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is a stellar 94 percent, while the critics' score is a pleasing 82 percent. The event title is also playing to an ethnically diverse audience, another key advantage.
Heading into the weekend, Superman's opening had been the subject of intense scrutiny. While tracking services predicted a domestic debut of $130 million or more, Warners and DC were more conservative in forecasting $100 million-plus due to a crowded marquee and the dreaded comic book factor. Even rival studios agree the marketplace is presently oversaturated with male-skewing fare, between Universal's Fourth of July blockbuster Jurassic World Rebirth and F1: The Movie, from Apple Original Films in partnership with Warners.
According to exit polls, 68 percent of Superman ticket buyers were male, while nearly two-thirds of the audience were between the ages of 18 and 34. While fanboys are known for rushing out on opening weekend, older moviegoers are likely to bide their time and avoid the crowds, if they venture out at all. And gender-wise, the makeup of the audience should even out to some degree.
Nearly 50 percent of the worldwide gross came from Imax, Dolby Cinema and other PLF screens, including 47 percent in North America. Imax turned in a notable $30 million.
Superman stars David Corenswet in the titular role, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Rounding out the cast are Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific.
Righting DC has been a top priority for Zaslav and his decision to put Gunn and Safran was certainly unorthodox. Righting DC, which had hit hard times, has been a top priority for Zaslav and his decision to put Gunn and Safran was certainly unorthodox.
Gunn and Safran took over the reins of the superhero label in 2022 with the assignment 'to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world,' Zaslav said in his statement. 'I remember my first meeting with James three years ago. He spoke about growing up in Missouri and how the characters of the DC Universe weren't just stories to him, they were like his family. His personal bond with these DC heroes was powerful and I knew then that James was the right person to bring them to life. His love for the DC world runs deep, and it shines in every frame of his work.'
Superman is also a win for the entire Warner Bros. film empire. Motion Picture Group chiefs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca have made a a remarkable comeback with such hits as A Minecraft Movie and Ryan Coogler's Sinners. Superman is the sixth WB title to open in first place this year, a feat no other studio has achieved thus far.
But it isn't the only studio celebrating. Elsewhere, Universal and Amblin's blockbuster Jurassic World Rebirth stomped past the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office in only its sophomore outing. In North America, it came in second with $40 million from 4,224 locations for a domestic tally of $232.1 million. It fell less than expected, or 57 percent. Overseas, it took in $68.1 million for an early global cume of $529.5 million. Rebirth came in well ahead of Superman in China, where it is only days away from becoming the top-grossing Hollywood title of the year so far after earning another $10.8 million this weekend for a cume of $62.7 million.
Rebirth continues to exceed expectations after posting a five-day domestic launch of $147.8 million over the long July Fourth corridor, including $92 million for the July 5-7 weekend, which is considered the official opening number. Still, Jurassic's overall start towered over Superman's, underscoring how Steven Spielberg's dinos provide the perfect summer escape.
Joseph Kosinski's F1: The Movie also has plenty of gas left in the tank despite losing Imax screens to Superman. It dropped just 50 percent in its third weekend to roughly $13 million from 3,412 cinemas for an estimated domestic tally of $136 million and north of $375 million globally.
Universal and DreamWorks Animation's live-action blockbuster How to Train Your Dragon stayed high up on the chart in its fifth weekend as it roared past the $550 million mark globally. It placed fourth in North America with $7.8 million from 3,825 locations for a domestic tally of $239.8 million. Overseas, it added $13 million to its coffers for a foreign total of $320.9 million and $560.8 million globally.
Pixar's ill-fated Elio rounded out the top five domestically with $3.9 million from 2,730 theaters in its fourth weekend as it crossed $100 million in worldwide ticket sales, including $63.7 million in North America and $53.6 million overseas. At this pace, the film is likely to be one of the lowest-grossing titles in the history of the storied animation studio.
Read David Zaslav's memo in full below:
'Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world. James and Peter's commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired.
'I remember my first meeting with James three years ago. He spoke about growing up in Missouri and how the characters of the DC Universe weren't just stories to him, they were like his family. His personal bond with these DC heroes was powerful and I knew then that James was the right person to bring them to life. His love for the DC world runs deep, and it shines in every frame of his work.
'This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn's passion and vision came to life on the big screen. Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films Supergirl and Clayface in theaters and the series Lanterns on HBO Max, all part of a bold ten-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn't be more excited for what's ahead.'
July 13, 8:34 a.m.: Updated with revised weekend estimates. July 14, 11: 20 a.m.: Updated with statement from David Zaslav.July 14, 11: 50 a.m.: A previous version of this story incorrectly characterized DC's box office track record. THR regrets the error.
This article was originally published July 12 at 9:23 a.m.
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