‘Superman’ Soars to Big Box Office Debut
The latest Superman movie is exceeding expectations, potentially reaching a $120 million domestic opening weekend. Preliminary figures show the film dominating Friday’s charts with $56.5 million, boosted by $22.5 million from preview screenings.
DC Studios Reboot Takes Flight
The movie’s success is a promising sign for **DC Studios** and its flagship comic franchise, with **James Gunn** at the helm as both writer-director and co-head of **Warner Bros.**-owned DC, alongside **Peter Safran**. Overseas, Superman is projected to earn over $100 million from 78 markets, already boasting $96.5 million globally.
This marks the first superhero film to surpass $100 million domestically since Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine. Furthermore, it’s the first DC title in eight years to achieve this milestone since Wonder Woman in 2017.
Record-Breaking Potential
If the $225 million-budgeted film exceeds $116.6 million, it will become the biggest domestic launch for a solo Superman movie, surpassing **Zack Snyder**’s 2013 *Man of Steel*.
**Snyder**’s *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice* holds the record for the biggest DC opening, earning $166.6 million in 2016. In 2006, **Bryan Singer**’s *Superman Returns* earned $84 million over six days.
A Rare Feat in 2025
Superman is only the third film of 2025 to open above $100 million, following A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch. According to a recent report, only 37% of films released in 2023 turned a profit, highlighting the difficulty of achieving box office success in the current market (IndieWire 2023).
Audience Demographics and Reception
Exit polls indicated that 68 percent of ticket buyers were male, with the majority aged 18-34. The film received an A- CinemaScore, matching *Man of Steel* and surpassing *Superman Returns*. Rotten Tomatoes scores show a 94 percent audience score and an 82 percent critics’ score.
Cast and Future DC Projects
Superman stars **David Corenswet** as Superman, **Rachel Brosnahan** as Lois Lane, and **Nicholas Hoult** as Lex Luthor. The cast includes **Skyler Gisondo**, **Isabela Merced**, **Beck Bennett**, **Nathan Fillion**, **Anthony Carrigan**, and **Edi Gathegi**.
The film marks **Gunn**’s first DC entry since taking over with **Safran**. Upcoming DC projects include HBO’s Green Lantern series, Lanterns, and a Supergirl movie.
Other Box Office Highlights
Jurassic World Rebirth is expected to earn nearly $39 million in its second weekend, reaching $230.9 million domestically. Globally, it’s approaching the $400 million mark. **Joseph Kosinski**’s F1: The Movie is projected to earn another $10 million, nearing $140 million in North America.
Family-friendly movies How to Train Your Dragon and Elio are also expected to perform well.
