James Gunn’s Superman is proving to be one of the major box office surprises of the summer. After a full week in theatres, the film has surpassed early projections, earning a reported 177 million dollars domestically, including Thursday previews. This performance places it slightly ahead of the earlier estimate of 175 million dollars for its opening week.
Thursday’s gross alone stood at approximately 11 million dollars, a figure that helped push Superman past its initial forecast. With strong word of mouth boosting its momentum, the film is now seen as a contender to potentially exceed 370 million dollars in domestic earnings. If it continues at this pace, it could outperform The Batman’s domestic total, a benchmark that many had not expected Superman to challenge so soon after release.
However, the international market has told a different story. Despite favorable critical reception, Superman has struggled to make a significant impact overseas, most notably in China, where it is projected to earn less than 10 million dollars. This reflects a broader trend of superhero films finding limited success in some global markets, especially in China where the genre’s appeal appears to be waning. Even so, the strong domestic showing might carry Superman to a respectable worldwide gross near the 600 million dollar mark.
In comparison to other DC films, Superman’s first-week numbers have placed it at the top of the franchise’s recent offerings. The movie opened with a 56 million dollar Friday, closely matching Man of Steel’s debut day and outperforming The Batman. By the end of its first week, Superman had earned more than The Batman’s 172.5 million and Man of Steel’s 168.8 million first-week totals.
Here is a comparison of Superman’s first-week daily earnings against other DC titles:
- Superman: 177.7 million dollars
- The Batman: 172.5 million dollars
- Man of Steel: 168.8 million dollars
- Wonder Woman: 147.8 million dollars
Additionally, Superman’s first-week performance stands strong against other blockbuster superhero films, landing just behind Thor: Love and Thunder’s 187.3 million dollar debut.
With competition from Fantastic Four arriving next week, Superman’s legs at the domestic box office may face some pressure. However, its upcoming expansion into more theatres for the second week reflects confidence in its staying power. Should it maintain a trajectory similar to The Batman, industry watchers believe a 380 million dollar finish is within reach. Reaching the 400 million dollar milestone will be challenging, but at this rate, it remains a possibility that cannot be dismissed entirely.
Directed and written by James Gunn, Superman serves as the launchpad for DC Studios’ new narrative universe titled Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. The film stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult portraying Lex Luthor. The story focuses on Superman’s struggle to define his role as humanity’s protector while confronting a media campaign orchestrated by Lex Luthor aimed at undermining his public image.
Superman’s strong domestic box office performance and the positive reception from audiences suggest that James Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe is off to a promising start. How far the film can go from here will depend on its resilience in the coming weeks, especially as competition in the superhero genre intensifies.
