The recent debut of James Gunn’s newly rebooted “Superman” movie has taken the box office by storm, raking in an impressive $122 million during its opening weekend. This remarkable figure not only establishes “Superman” as a major player in the current cinematic landscape but also eclipses early box office projections that were forecasting a more modest $90 million for the weekend. In a striking move, it has outperformed last weekend’s leading film, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which managed to collect $40 million.
As the parent company of CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery has much riding on the success of the “Superman” franchise and its impact on DC Studios. This importance was highlighted by the commentary from Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, who noted that “Superman is on the Mount Rushmore of superheroes.” He emphasized that the anticipation surrounding this film was immense, as it occupies a revered status in the pantheon of superhero lore. Dergarabedian is optimistic about the movie’s potential to invigorate the DC franchise and hopes that it acts as a catalyst for future successes under the DC Studios banner.
Historically, movies produced by DC Studios have frequently lagged behind their Marvel counterparts in terms of popularity and box office revenues. For instance, back in 2017, the “Justice League” only garnered $229 million in domestic ticket sales, whereas Marvel’s universe enjoyed a massive “Avengers: Infinity War,” which grossed an astounding $678.8 million the following year. However, it appears that the tides might be turning as many critics and audiences alike have noted a recent trend of “superhero fatigue” affecting even Marvel films, which have not been performing as well in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dergarabedian further remarked that the success of “Superman” signifies a promising shift, as it allows audiences to refocus on individual film performances, rather than comparing franchises. This resurgence of blockbuster hits over the last few months has bolstered the summer box office, reflecting a 16% increase compared to the previous year. Currently, the overall box office is nearing the $5 billion mark for 2025, with summer earnings alone in the ballpark of approximately $2.35 billion.
Nonetheless, there are concerns regarding obstacles still on the horizon. Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, mentioned that while hitting the $4 billion benchmark for summer box office receipts is achievable, there are underperforming titles from June that could hinder this growth. An example he provided is Disney’s “Elio,” which struggled to find its audience upon release, earning only $20 million despite favorable critiques.
In this competitive environment, the positive performance of “Superman” can play a pivotal role in bridging any existing gaps in revenue. Robbins noted that the current state of the box office reflects a “feast or famine” trend, where varying performances are commonplace. He explained that it only takes a single successful title to significantly influence weekend revenues.
In a rather illustrious summer season, “Superman” becomes the third film to cross the $100 million mark within a three-day opening, preceded by Warner Bros.’ “A Minecraft Movie” in April and Disney’s own “Lilo & Stitch” in May. The latter has emerged as a leader for summer earnings, with a cumulative of over $414 million, steadily closing in on “A Minecraft Movie,” which stands at $423 million.
Looking ahead, “Superman” is not the last superhero film of the summer. The forthcoming “Fantastic Four,” slated for release on July 25, is poised as the next big blockbuster. Additionally, there is speculation that Disney’s upcoming “Freakier Friday,” a follow-up to the 2003 film, may surprise audiences in August with standout performance potential. Given that Hollywood significantly relies on big revenue-generating films during July, the success of both “Fantastic Four” and “Superman” remains critical in the industry’s financial narrative for the summer.
