James Gunn’s Superman has delivered a major boost to DC Studios, opening with an impressive $122 million in the United States and Canada. It marks the first DC film to surpass the $100 million mark on its opening weekend since Wonder Woman in 2017.
As the first project fully produced under the leadership of Gunn and Peter Safran, Superman is positioned as a fresh start for DC’s cinematic universe following a series of box office disappointments.
While the domestic debut ranks as the third-largest opening of 2025, international earnings were comparatively modest, generating $95 million across 78 markets. China contributed just $6.6 million—a shortfall analysts partly attribute to the character’s strongly American identity, which may have limited global appeal.
Calling the launch “a win for DC Studios,” Warner Bros. distribution chief Jeffrey Goldstein acknowledged the significance of the film’s performance, especially after recent setbacks. “Fans had lost trust in the brand after films like The Flash and Shazam! Fury of the Gods failed to connect,” he said.
Critically, Superman has received widespread praise, earning an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A-” from CinemaScore audiences—the franchise’s best reviews since the Christopher Reeve era. The film avoids retelling Superman’s origin story, instead picking up after his first major defeat. David Corenswet stars as the Man of Steel, alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
At the weekend box office, Jurassic World: Rebirth dropped to second place with $40 million, while Apple Studios’ F1, starring Brad Pitt, secured third with $13 million.
