Superman' reboot soars with US$122m US debut, launches new DC era under James Gunn
The movie that introduces David Corenswet as the Man of Steel added US$95 million in international markets for global ticket sales expected to reach US$217 million through Sunday, Warner Bros said.
'Superman' is a reboot of the movie franchise based on the hero who debuted in comic books in 1938. The film's performance is critical to the future of Warner Bros and its DC Studios division.
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.
The new 'Superman' was written and directed by James Gunn, the filmmaker known for three offbeat 'Guardians of the Galaxy' movies for Marvel. Gunn was tapped as co-CEO of DC Studios in 2022, alongside producer Peter Safran, and billed as the hero who could bring consistent success to its film and TV projects.
'Superman' is meant to set the stage for coming DC films including a 'Supergirl' movie next summer and future Batman and Wonder Woman films. 'The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn't be more excited for what's ahead,' Warner Bros Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav said in a statement.
'Superman' is one of only three films to debut with more than US$100 million in domestic ticket sales in 2025 as moviegoing lingers below pre-pandemic levels.
'The domestic number is great. You can't beat a top three opening of the year,' Jeff Bock, senior box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co, said of the 'Superman' results.
He called the international ticket sales 'troubling' for a big-budget action movie. The film cost US$225 million to make, according to a source with knowledge of the budget.
Jeff Goldstein, president of global distribution at Warner Bros., said the studio was thrilled with the domestic response and that the movie about an American icon performed as expected overseas.
'We always knew that this would be bigger in the U.S. than international,' Goldstein said. 'Superman has always been very American-centric.'
Gunn's take on the character earned positive reviews from critics. Eighty-two percent of reviews collected on the Rotten Tomatoes website gave the film a thumbs up.
Corenswet stars opposite 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' actor Rachel Brosnahan as journalist Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as villain Lex Luthor.
After box office misfires last year including 'Furiosa' and 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' Warner Bros has notched six No. 1 openings in 2025. The studio boasts this year's highest domestic opening with 'A Minecraft Movie,' which pulled in US$162.8 million over its first three days in April.
The studio also has delivered hits with 'Sinners,' 'Final Destination Bloodlines' and 'F1.'
Some conservative commentators objected to 'Superman' when Gunn said the movie about a refugee from another planet was an immigrant story. U.S. President Donald Trump posted a meme that showed his face in place of Corenswet's on a Superman poster.
The director and stars said the film was a tale about kindness and no political message was intended.
'It's just a movie guys,' actor Nathan Fillion, who plays Green Lantern, told Variety at the film's Los Angeles premiere. Year-to-date ticket sales for all movies in the U.S. and Canada hovered 15 per cent above 2024 but 24 per cent below the pre-COVID times of 2019. — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Superhero films ignite rivalry among Marvel and DC comic fans
SAN DIEGO, July 26 — Comic fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning over eight decades. Whether it's the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout It's clobbering time! before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to movie theaters to support their favorite films. 'Well, clearly I'm a Marvel fan,' Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character named Mystique from Marvel's X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. 'But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some 'Superman' as well. And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it's going to be close. But I got to go Marvel,' she added. The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman. 'I've already seen Superman three times, and I'm very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it. It makes me feel hopeful,' he said, referring to the director. The filmmakers, meanwhile, encourage fans to support both movies. 'I'm a huge Superman fan. I'm a huge James Gunn fan. I'm thrilled that both of us are coming out this month,' director Matt Shakman of Fantastic Four: First Steps told Reuters at the London premiere. 'I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we're building. And there's room for Superman, there's room for Fantastic Four. I'm thrilled. Go see both,' he added. Superman director Gunn, who directed the Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy, said in an interview in Los Angeles that he grew up reading both Marvel and DC comic books, appreciating their distinct tones. In theatres on July 11, Superman introduced David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. The movie grossed around US$173 million (RM730.3 million) globally and US$264 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo. Warner Bros has heavily invested in Superman, aiming to launch a new era at DC Studios under Gunn, named co-CEO, alongside producer Peter Safran. Upcoming projects include a Supergirl film slated for June 2026, a film based on the character Swamp Thing as well as TV shows for HBO Max. Disney said Fantastic Four, which stars Pedro Pascal, opened with US$24.4 million in ticket sales in the United States and Canada on Thursday night while Daniel Loria, senior vice president at Boxoffice predicts that Fantastic Four: First Steps will open domestically at US$115 million to US$135 million. While sales are currently around US$115 million to US$125 million, he said there was an increase in ticket purchases over the last week that will likely bring sales to the US$115 million to US$135 million range. — Reuters
Malay Mail
16 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Seventeen's Joshua puts a ballad spin on Slander's dance hit ‘Love is Gone' (VIDEO)
LOS ANGELES, July 26 — K-pop group Seventeen fans have another song to add to their playlist as member Joshua's just collaborated with electronic music duo Slander for another version of the latter's hit Love is Gone. In a statement Slander said: 'We are super excited to share the Seventeen version of Love Is Gone. This was such a special collaboration and opportunity to work with a group of incredibly talented artists to create a brand-new world for this record.' According to the duo, the new version 'stays true to the emotional core but breathes new life with fresh vocal melodies and overtones.' Love is Gone was first released in 2019 with Dylan Matthew, released as an acoustic version in 2021 with the latter one of Spotify's most streamed acoustic songs — over 600 million streams. Have a listen to the song below: Check out the lyric version below:
Malay Mail
21 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Go big or go cosmic: Marvel's RM340 Galactus popcorn bucket sets Guinness World Record (VIDEO)
LOS ANGELES, July 26 — A colossal US$80 (RM340) popcorn container shaped like Marvel's planet-devouring villain Galactus is offering a unique twist on movie snacks. During its unveiling in Los Angeles, the container drew excited fans to the TCL Chinese Theatre and set a Guinness World Record. The mammoth movie snack holder, tied to the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps film, measures 20 inches (51 cm) wide and 17.5 inches tall. It boasts a capacity of 341 ounces (10 litres) — enough to satisfy even Galactus' cosmic appetite. Lacey Noel, a tour guide at the TCL Chinese Theatre, presented the bucket to eager onlookers. 'It is US$80 and people are currently eating it up,' she said. The Galactus container isn't just about size. It features a metallic finish and piercing bright blue LED eyes, adding to its appeal as a display piece long after the popcorn is gone. Fans lined up at the theatre's concession stand, eager to get their hands on the limited-edition item. This record-breaking popcorn bucket represents more than just a novel way to serve cinema snacks. It's part of a broader strategy by movie studios and theatres to lure audiences back to the big screen with exclusive, tangible experiences that can't be replicated at home. Chris Banda, a fan who purchased the Galactus bucket, praised the initiative. 'I think these buckets are fantastic,' he said. 'I obviously wouldn't have got this if I didn't come to the theatres and I think it's designed very well and it's got a lot of popcorn, so cool.' — Reuters
