From Krypton to cash registers, Superman just flexed his power in the only fight that matters in Hollywood: the box office. Yes, that’s right, as of the past weekend, James Gunn’s bold reboot of Superman, released under the new DC Studios banner, soared into theatres with a domestic opening of $122 million, marking it the third‑largest opening weekend of 2025, trailing only the colossal successes of A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch.
The debut ranks as DC’s best opening since 2022’s The Batman and is the first DC film since Wonder Woman(2017) to break the $100 million mark in its opening weekend . It also surpasses the domestic debut of Man of Steel (2013), which opened at $116 million, though it doesn’t quite catch the $166 million launch of Batman v Superman in 2016.
While domestic numbers were powerful, the international rollout was more modest, bringing in $95 million across 78 markets, totalling a robust $217 million worldwide. Notably, China added a relatively small $6.6 million, underscoring the character’s stronger resonance with U.S. audiences.
James Gunn, fresh from revitalising Guardians of the Galaxy, writes and directs, sharing leadership of DC Studios with Peter Safran. As such, this film marks their first full creative steering role. Starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, alongside Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) and Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), Gunn’s vision skips Superman’s origin story and instead picks up with him following an initial defeat. Critically lauded, the movie holds an impressive 82% Rotten Tomatoes score, the best for the franchise since the Christopher Reeve era. It earned an “A” CinemaScore, indicating strong audience approval.
Gunn’s framing of Superman as an “immigrant” sparked both praise and criticism. While some conservatives called it “woke,” others heralded it as a refreshing, timely reinterpretation. With its strong opening and favourable reception, Superman sets a promising tone for the future of DC Studios, gearing up fans for upcoming projects like Supergirl in 2026.
Overall, Superman (2025) has not only rekindled box-office enthusiasm for the franchise but has also signalled a confident, creatively ambitious new era for DC. It’s an era that balances blockbuster spectacle with deeper, culturally resonant storytelling.
Source: Variety
