It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's 'Superman' smashing box office records
The new movie, which casts David Corenswet as an intrepid and empathetic Clark Kent, has raked in an estimated $122 million, leading weekend box office charts in the United States and Canada.
Adding $95 million in international markets for global ticket sales, the film's profits were expected to reach a whopping $217 million through Sunday, July 13, Warner Bros. said. The success for both Warner Bros. and DC Studios, its superhero offshoot, comes at a perilous time for the movie industry. "Superman" is one of only three films to debut with more than $100 million in domestic ticket sales in 2025 as moviegoing lingers below pre-pandemic levels.
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The film's power to put viewers in seats as streaming services cut into box office sales represents an important win for what DC hopes to be the opening act of a successful franchise.
Despite a stable of iconic characters including Batman and Wonder Woman, DC has not been able to match the box office power of Walt Disney's Marvel superhero films. But, as Marvel fatigue has crept up among some viewers, DC's fresh take on a beloved classic comes at an opportune time.
The film was written and directed by James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios since 2022. That he stuck the landing bodes well for Warner Bros., who brought him on with hopes that he would bring consistent success to its film and TV projects.
"I'm incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm and kind words over the past few days," Gunn wrote in a post to Threads over the weekend, responding to the box office success.
"We've had a lot of 'Super' in Superman over the years, and I'm happy to have made a movie that focuses on the 'man' part of the equation — a kind person always looking out for those in need. That that resonates so powerfully with so many people across the world is in itself a hopeful testament to the kindness and quality of human beings. Thank you," he wrote.
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His comments echo the sentiments of many reviewers, who remarked immediately not on the sweeping action sequences, CGI or other triumphs of modern movie-making, but on Superman's endearing demeanor.
"Gunn fills his 'Superman' with plenty of action, from the title character's flying jaunts – filmed as searing, windswept experiences – to Superman throwing down with a giant kaiju. But what makes the movie, and Supes himself, endearing is how the dude tackles any and all problems with empathy and sincerity," wrote USA TODAY's movie critic, Brian Truitt.
Corenswet, who stars opposite "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" actor Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as villain Lex Luthor, has largely been lauded as a believable Man of Steel.
As an up-and-coming star, "Superman" represents his biggest role yet, and perhaps already the most memorable: Actors who join franchises as a major superhero often become bound with that character.
While the international box office figures have not crested the film's large budget, insiders say much of that is to be expected, given Corenswet's job to embody an American icon.
"We always knew that this would be bigger in the U.S. than international," Jeff Goldstein, president of global distribution at Warner Bros., told Reuters. "Superman has always been very American-centric," Goldstein said.
How to watch 'Superman'
"Superman," starring David Corenswet, is in theaters July 11 and is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association "for violence, action and language."
Contributing: Reuters; Brian Truitt, Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
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