“Superman” Soars for Second Weekend, Revitalizing DC Brand
Domestic Box Office Dominance Signals a Major Win for Warner Bros.
The new “Superman” film has captured the top spot at the domestic box office for a second consecutive weekend, raking in an estimated $57 million. This triumph offers a much-needed boost to the DC Universe’s flagging performance and provides a significant hit for Warner Bros.
Box Office Reign Continues
Despite a typical 54% drop from its opening weekend, “Superman” held strong, earning an additional $57 million. This brings the film’s domestic total past $400 million, with global earnings also surpassing that mark, according to initial estimates. The film’s director, **James Gunn**, known for his work on “Guardians of the Galaxy,” is credited with this reboot of the iconic superhero, starring **David Corenswet**.
Mixed Fortunes for New Releases
“Jurassic World Rebirth” remained a strong contender, securing the second position with an estimated $23 million, though this represents a notable decrease from its $92 million debut two weeks prior. Newcomers “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Smurfs” landed in third and fourth place, respectively, but both failed to meet their pre-release projections. Apple Studios’ “F1” rounded out the top five, earning approximately $9.6 million and marking a significant theatrical success for the tech giant.
“Superman” Overcomes Challenges
“Superman” launched with a powerful $125 million domestically last weekend. This opening defied concerns about superhero fatigue and the impact of criticism from some right-wing audiences. The film represents Warner Bros.’ strategic effort to re-energize the DC Universe, which has seen underperformers like “Madame Web” and “Kraven the Hunter” in recent years. The production reportedly carried a budget of $225 million. The next major release in **Gunn** and **Peter Safran**’s revamped DC slate is “Supergirl,” slated for June 2026.
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Smurfs” Underperform
Sony’s revival of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” reuniting original stars **Jennifer Love Hewitt** and **Freddie Prinze Jr.**, debuted with $13 million. This figure fell short of the $15 million-$20 million predicted by Box Office Pro. Paramount’s “Smurfs” also lagged behind expectations, earning just $11 million. In contrast, A24’s “Eddington,” directed by **Ari Aster**, met its modest projections with approximately $4.2 million.
The success of “Superman” arrives at a critical juncture for superhero films, with industry analysts pointing to a renewed audience appetite for well-executed franchise installments. For instance, the recent “Spider-Man: Homecoming” sequel, released in 2025, also demonstrated strong multi-weekend performance, grossing over $800 million globally. This indicates that while audiences are discerning, compelling narratives can still drive significant box office returns.
