'Superman' flies to a $122 million opening in North America; scores huge $217 million global debut
James Gunn
's "Superman" opened with $122 million in U.S. and Canada ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.
DC and Warner Bros.
had a lot riding on "Superman." While the Walt Disney Co.'s Marvel Studios has had its own share of struggles, the superheroes of DC have recently found mostly kryptonite in theaters.
Films like "Joker: Folie a Deux," "The Flash" and "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" all flopped.
But "Superman," written and directed by Gunn, is intended as a new start. It's the first release fully steered by Gunn and Peter Safran, co-heads of DC Studios, since they were handed the keys to DC's superhero cinematic universe.
And while Gunn turned "Guardians of the Galaxy" into a massive success for Marvel, his irreverent, idiosyncratic touch made the director - once a B-movie filmmaker with Troma Entertainment - an unlikely steward for one of the movies' most bankable and beloved brands.
The roughly on-target opening was the third largest of 2025, and the first DC title to surpass $100 million in its opening weekend since "Wonder Woman" in 2017.
Ticket sales were relatively soft for "Superman" overseas. In 78 international markets, it grossed $95 million. In China, it collected just $6.6 million.
As an American icon, "Superman" inevitably attracted political discourse. Some right-wing commentators criticized the movie as "woke" after Gunn described the superhero from Krypton as "an immigrant." On X, the White House posted an image of President Donald Trump as Superman.
In "Superman," which cost about $225 million to make, Gunn steers the Man of Steel in a drastically different tonal direction than in previous iterations from filmmaker Zack Snyder. Skipping the Kansas origin story, the film instead picks up with Superman ( David Corenswet ) after his first defeat.
Rachel Brosnahan
plays Lois Lane and
Nicholas Hoult
is Lex Luthor.
The "Superman" debut didn't come close to besting the $166 million launch for Snyder's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," in 2016.
But it did open higher, not accounting for inflation, than Snyder's "Man of Steel." That film debuted with $116 million in 2013.
But while Snyder's films were often unloved by critics, largely good reviews greeted Gunn's "Superman." On Rotten Tomatoes, it scored 82% fresh - the best for the franchise since the first two movies with
Christopher Reeve
:
"Superman" (1978) and "Superman II" (1980). Audiences gave it an "A-" CinemaScore.
"Superman" faced sizeable competition too. Last week's top film, "Jurassic World Rebirth," slid to second place with $40 million. With "Superman" soaking up many large-format screens, Universal Pictures' seventh "Jurassic" film slipped a steep 57% from its opening weekend. Starring Scarlett Johansson, "Jurassic World Rebirth" got off to a thunderous $318.3 million global start. In two weeks, it's amassed $529.5 million worldwide.
Also still in the mix is Apple Studios' biggest box-office success yet, "F1." Joseph Kosinski's Formula One action thriller, starring Brad Pitt, came in third with $13 million in its third weekend. The film, distributed by Warner Bros., has collected $393.4 million globally in three weeks. But it also carries a hefty price tag of roughly $250 million, plus at least $100 million in promotion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
27 minutes ago
- Hans India
‘Superman' Soars High with Record-Breaking Opening in India
One of the most anticipated films of 2025, Superman has taken flight at the Indian box office with a thunderous opening. Released on July 11, 2025, in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, the film has captivated audiences across the country and the globe, delivering a stellar debut that cements its place as the Number One film at both the Indian and worldwide box office this weekend. A Historic Opening for DC in India Superman recorded a gigantic opening weekend, grossing an impressive ₹32 crores across 3,037 screens, including all IMAX screens, marking the biggest opening weekend ever for a DC film in India. Celebrating the film's massive success, Denzil Dias, VP & Managing Director, India Theatrical, Warner Bros. Discovery, shared,'To see India embrace our hero with such phenomenal enthusiasm, making us the #1 movie and soaring to the 8th highest-grossing international market in the world, proves that hope truly is universal. Our heartfelt congratulations go to James Gunn, Peter Safran, and the entire creative team for delivering a Superman that not only embodies strength, kindness, and an unwavering spirit, but also joyfully brings our much-loved Krypto to the big screen. We are incredibly proud to see India at the very heart of this new dawn for DC storytelling.' James Gunn's Superman: A New Era for DC Directed and written by James Gunn, Superman is the first feature film under the newly imagined DC Universe. Known for his signature blend of epic action, humor, and heart, Gunn's take on the iconic hero is both refreshing and rooted in timeless values. This version of Superman is driven by compassion and a deep belief in the goodness of humankind; themes that have clearly struck a chord with audiences worldwide. Produced by DC Studios heads Peter Safran and James Gunn, the film is based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. A Stellar Cast The film features: David Corenswet as Superman / Clark Kent Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane Nicholas Hoult as the iconic villain Lex Luthor Global Release and Indian Distribution Superman was released worldwide in cinemas and IMAX®️ on July 11, 2025, and is distributed in India by Warner Bros. Pictures. With its record-breaking start, the film not only redefines Superman for a new generation but also reaffirms India's ever-growing love for superhero cinema. Stay tuned as Superman continues to soar at the global box office, ushering in a bold new chapter for DC fans everywhere.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
James Gunn thanks fans for 'Superman' success at the box office; CEO reveals this is just the beginning
James Gunn , the director of 'Superman,' has expressed his gratitude over the massive numbers and the chart rankings. Since the release, the film has been hailed for being a generational hit and simply iconic by the fans. James Gunn expresses his gratitude... In a note on Instagram Threads, Gunn wrote, 'I'm incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm and kind words over the past few days,' before adding, '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.' Furthermore, he thanked the audience, stating, '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.' On July 11, 'Superman' had the third biggest domestic opening with earnings $122 million over the weekend, and with the international box office, it is currently at $217 million, according to Variety. This is just a beginning... Additionally, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that 'Superman' is just the beginning of the massive 10-year plan by introducing films like 'Supergirl' and 'Clayface' in the theatres, and 'Lanterns' on OTT. Appreciating James Gunn's passion, David Zaslav said that he is excited for the run as their vision is clear and the momentum is real. The controversial cut Meanwhile, as the numbers increase at the box office, the posts about the controversial cut of the 33-second kissing scene soar as well. The romantic scene, which was released in the teasers, has been abruptly cut from the film in India after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly deemed it 'too sensual' for young adults. Many fans have slammed the censor board for the unnecessary cuts, and compared it with the double-meaning jokes that have been previously passed, expressing their discontent on social media.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Superman box office collection day 3: David Corenswet film soars past $215M, James Gunn beats Zack Snyder's Man of Steel
Superman is up, up, and away! The new reboot of the DC Universe has started off on a great note with James Gunn's Superman excelling at the global box office. The film, which stars David Corenswet, in the titular role, has almost recovered its production budget in its opening weekend itself. In the process, it has also become the highest-opening solo Superman film of all time, beating the mark set by Zack Snyder's Man of Steel 12 years ago. Superman has leapt past Man of Steel to become the best-opening solo Superman movie ever. Superman box office report James Gunn's Superman has collected $122 million to lead the weekend box office charts in the United States and Canada, a strong domestic debut. In addition, Warner Bros, the studio behind the film, has reported $95 million in collections in international markets. This gives Superman a global debut of $217 million in its opening weekend. Given that the film was made on a $225-million budget, the prospects are looking bright for the superhero film. Superman vs Man of Steel Superman is now the best-opening solo Superman film ever. Its $217-million mark is a substantial improvement on the $190 million that Zack Snyder's Henry Cavill-starrer Man of Steel had managed in its opening weekend back in 2013. Prior to that, the Brandon Routh-starrer Superman Returns (2006) had opened at just over $100 million. How the times have changed is evident from the fact that the original Superman (the 1978 one starring Christopher Reeve) had an opening weekend collection of $7.5 million in North America. It was then the highest for any Warner Bros film. All about Superman Superman, directed by James Gunn, stars David Corenswet in the titular role, alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. The film, the first in director James Gunn's new DC Universe, has also received praise from critics worldwide.
