‘Superman’ Soars to Impressive $122 Million Opening for DC Studios
New York – James Gunn’s reboot of “Superman” launched with an impressive $122 million in ticket sales across the U.S. and Canada over its opening weekend, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. This film is a significant release for DC and Warner Bros., especially as the company aims to revive interest in its superhero franchise amid recent struggles at the box office. With Marvel Studios facing its own challenges, DC’s previous entries, such as “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “The Flash,” and “Shazam!
Fury of the Gods,” have largely underperformed. “Superman,” penned and directed by Gunn, marks the beginning of a new chapter for DC Studios, under the leadership of Gunn and co-head Peter Safran. Gunn, known for his success with “Guardians of the Galaxy,” has brought his unique style to this beloved character, despite his earlier career roots with B-movies.
The opening weekend figures rank as the third largest of 2025 and represent the first time since 2017 that a DC title has broken the $100 million mark in its debut. However, international sales were quieter, with $95 million from 78 markets, including just $6.6 million from China. Criticism emerged surrounding the film’s depiction of Superman as an “immigrant,” sparking a political dialogue.
The film’s $225 million production cost and its tonal shift away from Zack Snyder’s darker interpretations have attracted attention. Starring David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, “Superman” skips the hero’s origin story, focusing instead on his journey post-defeat. While the film did not surpass Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” opening, it did better than “Man of Steel” when adjusting for inflation.
The critics’ response has been largely positive, with an 82% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. “Superman” contended with strong competition from last week’s top performer, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which dropped to second place with $40 million and faced a 57% decline in ticket sales. Also in the mix is Apple Studios’ “F1,” starring Brad Pitt, which has garnered $393.4 million globally in three weeks.