James Gunn, the writer and director of Superman and co-head of DC Studios, has openly addressed the film’s performance at the international box office in a recent interview. While Superman continues its strong run in North America, it has faced a comparatively subdued reception in several overseas markets, prompting questions about the current global appeal of superhero films.
Gunn acknowledged that Superman is indeed performing better domestically, where it has grossed over 235 million dollars, than it is in international territories. However, he noted that the film’s international numbers have shown steady weekday growth, indicating healthy word of mouth. “Obviously, the word of mouth is very positive both here and everywhere else, which is the thing that we needed to do the most,” Gunn explained. He also pointed out that certain markets, particularly Brazil and the United Kingdom, have responded strongly to the film.
Discussing Superman’s global recognition, Gunn remarked, “Superman is not a known commodity in some places. He is not a big known superhero in some places like Batman is. That affects things.” He further reflected on the role of contemporary geopolitical sentiments, suggesting that rising anti-American attitudes in some countries may have impacted box office results. Still, Gunn remained optimistic, framing the film’s success as the beginning of a broader vision for the DC Universe. “This is just the seed of the tree that Peter [Safran] and I have been watering for the past three years,” he said.
As of the end of its second weekend, Superman has achieved a global gross of over 406 million dollars, surpassing the total worldwide earnings of films like Superman Returns, Thunderbolts, and Black Adam. Despite facing a significant decline in Asian markets, particularly in China, the film has maintained solid performances in Europe, Latin America, and Australia. The strongest international markets include the United Kingdom with 22.2 million dollars, Mexico with 16.6 million, and Brazil with 11.2 million.
In the United States, Superman posted an impressive second weekend gross of 57.2 million dollars, registering only a 54.2 percent decline from its opening weekend — a notably strong hold for a superhero film in the modern era. This performance ranks as the fifth largest second weekend for a DC film, following The Dark Knight, The Batman, The Dark Knight Rises, and Wonder Woman. The film’s robust domestic showing positions it among the top-grossing films of 2025, with a projected domestic run between 370 and 405 million dollars.
Internationally, however, the film has shown mixed results. China emerged as the most challenging market, where Superman experienced a staggering 93.9 percent drop in its second weekend, effectively exiting the top ten at the Chinese box office. Conversely, markets like India have emerged as bright spots in Asia, while Latin America and select European countries have delivered solid returns.
Despite these varied performances, Superman has established itself as the highest-grossing comic book movie of 2025 so far and continues to secure significant revenue from IMAX screenings, accumulating over 51 million dollars globally in premium formats.
James Gunn’s comments reflect a clear understanding of the evolving dynamics of the global box office for superhero films. While acknowledging current limitations, he emphasized the importance of cultivating long-term audience investment through quality storytelling and character development within the DC Universe.
Released on July 11, 2025, Superman serves as the first entry in DC Studios’ revamped cinematic slate, dubbed “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.” Starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and a supporting cast featuring Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced, the film presents a fresh narrative where Superman grapples with public trust after intervening in an international conflict orchestrated by Lex Luthor.
With global earnings poised to surpass 500 million dollars in the coming weeks, Superman has successfully launched DC’s new era under Gunn and Safran’s leadership, despite the hurdles in select overseas markets. The film’s long-term success will likely depend on its continued domestic strength and how it weathers competition from upcoming releases like The Fantastic Four.
