The new Superman takes off with $217 million at the global box office.
WBD
Published on 07/14/2025 at 04:29
By Nicolas Thomas
The return of the Man of Steel is here. Warner Bros.' new Superman movie got off to a thunderous start, grossing $217 million worldwide, including more than $122 million in North America alone. The performance has revived hopes for DC Studios in the face of Marvel's continued dominance.
Warner Bros.' new Superman movie grossed about $122 million in its opening weekend in the US and Canada, topping the North American box office. With an additional $95 million earned internationally, the film has reached an estimated global total of $217 million, according to data released by the studio on Sunday.
The release marks a reboot of the film franchise dedicated to the iconic superhero, who first appeared in comic books in 1938. The film, which stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent, is crucial for the future of Warner Bros. and its DC Studios division, which is looking to regain momentum in the face of the commercial dominance of Walt Disney's Marvel productions.
Directed and written by James Gunn, known for his offbeat "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy at Marvel, this new "Superman" officially launches DC's reimagined universe. Gunn has been co-head of DC Studios with Peter Safran since 2022 and embodies the hope for a more coherent revival of the DC universe in film and television adaptations.
This new chapter is expected to pave the way for other upcoming productions, including a Supergirl movie scheduled for next summer, as well as future installments dedicated to Batman and Wonder Woman. "DC's vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn't be more excited for what's next," said David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros Discovery.
With over $100 million in box office receipts in North America, "Superman" joins a very exclusive club of films in 2025 to have crossed this threshold. According to Jeff Bock, an analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co, "the domestic figure is excellent. We couldn't hope for anything better than a top 3 finish for the year." However, he considers the international results "worrying" for a production of this caliber, with a budget of $225 million.
Jeff Goldstein, president of worldwide distribution at Warner Bros., welcomed the US reception, while tempering expectations abroad. "We always knew this movie would do better in the US than internationally," he said. "Superman has always been a very American hero."
Praised by critics, the film has an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Alongside Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult plays the famous antagonist Lex Luthor.
After a 2024 marked by commercial failures such as "Furiosa" and "Joker: Folie à Deux," Warner Bros. has had six box office hits since the beginning of the year, including "A Minecraft Movie" in April, which currently holds the domestic opening record with $162.8 million in three days. The studio has also enjoyed success with "Sinners," "Final Destination: Bloodlines," and "F1."
The film sparked some controversy among conservative commentators after James Gunn described "Superman" as a story about immigration. President Donald Trump posted a meme replacing Corenswet's face with his own on the film's poster. However, the team insisted that there was no political message. "It's just a movie, guys," said Nathan Fillion, who plays Green Lantern, at the Los Angeles premiere.
At this point in the year, ticket sales in North America are 15% higher than in 2024, but remain 24% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Nicolas Thomas