Superman Soars to $217 Million Global Debut at Box Office

James Gunn’s rebooted Superman, starring David Corenswet, opened to strong numbers worldwide, grossing $122 million in North America and $95 million overseas with a total of $217 million over its debut weekend.

Gunn, who wrote and directed the film, steps into DC Studios’ leadership alongside Peter Safran, marking the first release under their joint banner. The production carried a reported $225 million budget, and U.S. box office performance exceeded expectations, making it one of only three films in 2025 to surpass $100 million domestically during opening weekend.

Critics responded favorably, with Rotten Tomatoes assigning an 82% fresh rating and CinemaScore users giving an A‑ grade. This reception helped the movie outperform 2013’s Man of Steel, which debuted with $116 million, and positioned it just shy of the record held by 2016’s Batman v Superman, which opened with $166 million.

International results were solid, though China contributed only $6.6 million, highlighting Superman’s more limited resonance outside North America.

Overall, summer ticket sales rose roughly 16.5% compared to the previous year, largely due to Superman and other hits like Jurassic World Rebirth.

James Gunn characterized Superman’s role in the story as representing an “immigrant,” reflecting themes about kindness and belonging. He acknowledged that some viewers found the framing political, but maintained it was a moral, not partisan, interpretation.

Former Superman actor Dean Cain criticized the approach, calling it “woke,” though box-office figures so far suggest audiences remain supportive.

Warner Bros. reportedly expected a global take of between $500–700 million to generate profit. Industry analysts point out that early tracking had suggested the potential to exceed $1 billion worldwide, though current figures fall short.

Still, the film’s healthy opening places it within reach of financial viability.

In comparison among DC’s standalone hero films, Superman now ranks third for global launches, behind The Batman ($258 million) and Wonder Woman ($228 million), edging past Man of Steel’s $200 million debut.

As the first major release under Gunn and Safran, Superman’s performance will serve as a benchmark for DC Studios’ future. With Supergirl scheduled for 2026 and a slate of TV and film projects ahead, the attention now turns to whether Superman can maintain momentum beyond its opening weekend.