James Gunn has confirmed that Superman, the first film in the new DC Universe, will be available for digital purchase on August 15, just 35 days after its theatrical debut. The director announced the news on his official Twitter/X account, stating, “#Superman is coming to your homes this Friday, 8/15. Available now for pre-order. Or catch it while it’s still in theaters!” The decision gives the film a shorter exclusive theatrical window than recent Warner Bros. releases such as Minecraft (39 days) and Sinners (46 days).
Despite the early move to PVOD, Gunn stressed that the film is already profitable. Responding to a claim that Superman needed to gross $650 million to break even, he dismissed the figure as “absolutely false,” adding that no studio would design the first entry in a new franchise to require such a high return to turn a profit. If we view the movie as already profitable, the digital release adds revenue beyond a financially successful theatrical run.
At the domestic box office, Superman has earned $332.4 million and is on track to surpass the $333.7 million U.S. total of Gunn’s own Guardians of the Galaxy. By Thursday, it is expected to overtake the domestic totals of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Aquaman, and Joker. Current projections place its final North American earnings between $350 million and $360 million, depending on theater availability in the coming weeks.
Internationally, the film has grossed $247.8 million across 78 markets, bringing its global total to $579.2 million. It is poised to overtake Iron Man’s $585.8 million worldwide gross by next week and is expected to comfortably pass the $600 million mark. With a reported $225 million production budget, excluding marketing, the film’s financial success is already secure.
Directed and written by James Gunn, Superman stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. The film follows Superman as he faces the fallout from intervening in an international crisis engineered by Lex Luthor, forcing him to win back public trust with the help of allies. Released on July 11, 2025, the film has been praised for its colorful, optimistic tone and strong performances, setting the stage for the DCU’s new era.
