Superman Soars at the Box Office: A New Era for DC Studios
The highly anticipated return of the Man of Steel is here! James Gunn’s Superman has made a striking entrance, debuting with an impressive $122 million at the North American box office and $95 million internationally, bringing its total global launch to $217 million. This film marks a pivotal moment in the reboot of DC Studios, which has faced significant challenges in recent years, and revitalizes one of Hollywood’s most iconic superhero franchises.
In his dual role as the film’s writer-director and co-head of DC Studios, alongside Peter Safran, Gunn finds himself in a unique position to guide this beloved character into a new chapter. Notably, Superman is the first superhero film to surpass $100 million in its North American opening since Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine in summer 2024. It also stands as the first DC film to achieve this milestone in eight years, following Wonder Woman’s debut in 2017, which earned $103.3 million.
Moreover, this latest installment has outperformed Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel, which garnered $116.7 million, making it the biggest domestic opening for a standalone Superman film (not adjusted for inflation). For context, Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice holds the record for the largest DC opening, with $166.6 million during Easter weekend in 2016.
Superman is only the third Hollywood film of 2025 to launch with over $100 million, following Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft Movie and Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch. Achieving such a milestone in today’s post-pandemic landscape is no small feat, especially for the superhero genre, which has seen mixed results recently.
James Gunn, previously known for the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, has successfully transitioned to the DC universe. While Superman may not surpass the opening of the second Guardians, which earned $146.5 million, it does rank as his second-best opening, ahead of the Guardians threequel.
Before its release, Superman was the subject of extensive speculation and excitement, even drawing attention from figures like former President Donald Trump, who shared a meme of himself as the new Man of Steel. Tracking predictions had hinted at a possible gross exceeding $130 million, while Warner Bros. opted for a more cautious estimate of $100 million or more. Despite concerns about market saturation with male-centric films, Superman attracted a diverse audience, with 68% of ticket buyers being male and nearly two-thirds of viewers aged between 18 and 34.
The film benefited significantly from premium formats like IMAX and Dolby Cinema, with nearly 50% of its gross coming from these high-demand screenings. The strong word-of-mouth suggests a promising run ahead, as both critics and audiences have responded positively. Superman received an A- CinemaScore from moviegoers, matching the score of Man of Steel and outperforming Superman Returns, which earned a B+. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts an impressive 94% audience score and an 82% critics’ score.
Featuring a talented cast that includes David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, the film is poised to appeal to a wide range of viewers. Other notable cast members include Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner.
As Gunn takes the helm of DC Studios, this film marks the beginning of an exciting new era, with other projects in the pipeline, including an HBO series focused on Green Lantern and a Supergirl film set to release in 2026.
In other box office news, Jurassic World Rebirth continues to perform well, surpassing the $500 million mark globally, while F1: The Movie and How to Train Your Dragon also maintain strong positions in the rankings.
Stay tuned for more updates as the summer box office season unfolds!
Note: This article was updated on July 13 at 8:34 a.m. with revised weekend estimates.
