"Superman delivers impressive weekend box office leap"
In a thrilling turn of events, the much-anticipated **Superman reboot** directed by James Gunn has made a sensational debut at the box office, marking a promising start for the newly launched DC Universe under Gunn's creative direction. The film is expected to close its opening weekend in the domestic market with a 3-day total between **$115 million and $123 million**[1][3].
This impressive figure places Superman's debut as the **third-best domestic opening of 2025**, trailing only behind major hits like *Lilo & Stitch* ($146 million) and *A Minecraft Movie* ($162.7 million)[1]. Compared to previous DC Studios movies, this is a notably strong performance, signalling a revitalised presence for the DC franchise in the box office.
The 2025 Superman film has already dethroned *Jurassic World Rebirth* from the top of the domestic box office chart, indicating substantial audience interest and commercial success[1]. In the context of the broader superhero movie landscape, the opening figures for Gunn’s Superman are competitive with Marvel’s franchise entries. For instance, Marvel’s upcoming *Fantastic Four: First Steps* is projected to open between $125 million and $155 million domestically[1], which is slightly ahead but in the same ballpark as Superman’s debut.
The Superman reboot has helped signal a summer resurgence for superhero films overall, benefiting both DC and Marvel as they prepare for future blockbusters like the next Avengers crossover[1]. To put things into perspective, here's a comparison:
| Aspect | Superman (James Gunn, 2025) | Previous DC Studios Movies | Marvel's Avengers Franchise | |-----------------------------|------------------------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------------| | Opening Weekend (Domestic) | $115M-$123M (3-day total) | Usually varied, often lower than Superman's latest debut recently | Avengers films often debut above $150M (some well above) | | 2025 Ranking | 3rd highest domestic opening | Lower recent DC openings | Typically top summer blockbusters | | Impact | Revitalizes DC box office, leading domestic box office upon release | Mixed success, no recent DC movie had such a strong opening | Remains the benchmark for superhero openings | | Market Context | Launches new DC Universe under James Gunn | End of DC Extended Universe era | Strong franchise, continuing major blockbusters planned |
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, stated that "Superman" is a significant success and may continue to perform well[2]. The first movie to gross more than $100 million over a three-day opening this year was Warner Bros. Pictures' "A Minecraft Movie" in April.
As we move towards the heart of the summer, "Superman" isn't the last superhero movie on the horizon. The next big blockbuster is expected to be Disney's "Fantastic Four," which opens on July 25. Meanwhile, "Lilo & Stitch" is closing in on the year's biggest earner, "A Minecraft Movie" ($423 million). With Hollywood relying heavily on big hits in July, it's crucial for "Fantastic Four" and "Superman" to perform well to close the gap in the box office this summer.
In the past, DC Studios' movies have historically not been as popular as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For example, in 2017, DC's "Justice League" grossed $229 million domestically, while Marvel's "Avengers: Infinity War" grossed $678.8 domestically the following year[4]. However, with the success of the Superman reboot, it seems that the tide might be turning for DC Studios at the box office.
[1] Box Office Mojo (2025). Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/ [2] Deadline Hollywood (2025). Retrieved from https://deadline.com/ [3] Variety (2025). Retrieved from https://variety.com/ [4] The Numbers (2025). Retrieved from https://www.the-numbers.com/
The Superman reboot's impressive box office performance has prompted discussions within the entertainment industry, as it stands as a strong competitor in the realm of business, movies-and-tv, and entertainment. With a potential earnings between $115 million and $123 million, it has already struck a powerful chord with audiences, reinforcing DC Studios' position in this vibrant sector.
