MOVIE NEWS – Superman soars back onto the big screen buoyed by a surge of glowing reviews, and James Gunn’s fresh vision for the DC Universe has fans and industry insiders buzzing. Two years after Gunn first unveiled his ambitious plans for the franchise, Superman is finally here, and, as you’d expect, the Man of Steel carries the weight of enormous expectations. Not only is this film one of the most anticipated releases of the summer, it stands as a major cinematic event for all of 2025, launching a new shared universe and redefining a legendary superhero for today’s audiences. Yet despite his iconic status, Superman’s box office record in recent decades has trailed behind the likes of Doctor Strange and Aquaman—heroes who were once relative unknowns.

David Corenswet dons the cape as Superman, battling both external threats and questions about his humanity, while Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor raises the stakes in Gunn’s bold reimagining.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, early tracking pegs Superman for a potential $130 million domestic opening weekend, though Warner Bros. is playing it safe with a $100 million estimate. Either way, the film is poised for the third biggest debut of 2025, trailing only Minecraft Movie ($162.7 million) and Lilo & Stitch ($146 million).

Superman’s Box Office Prospects

If projections hold, Superman will deliver the largest opening ever for a standalone Superman film, excluding the ensemble blockbuster Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. 2013’s Man of Steel bowed with $116 million, while 2006’s Superman Returns managed $52 million in three days (and $82 million over five). Warner Bros.’ estimates suggest the new film may fall short of Man of Steel’s launch, but with an 85% “fresh” Rotten Tomatoes score (far outshining Man of Steel’s 57%), optimism is high for strong word of mouth to boost ticket sales.

Among DC movies, Superman’s projected opening could land it as the sixth biggest in franchise history, just behind Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($166M), The Dark Knight Rises ($160.8M), The Dark Knight ($158.4M), The Batman ($134M), and Suicide Squad ($133.6M). On the lower end, both Man of Steel and Wonder Woman ($103.2M) could outperform it, but even so, it would be a much-needed win after the recent stumbles of The Flash, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Blue Beetle, Black Adam, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

A lot is riding on Superman’s box office take, especially with The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Jurassic World Rebirth looming on the release calendar. Forecasts have missed the mark before—just ask Minecraft Movie—so don’t count Gunn’s reboot out if it doesn’t shatter records out of the gate. As Gunn himself put it: “Superman doesn’t have to make $700 million to be a hit; what matters is whether fans are excited enough to keep following these characters and the new DCU into future adventures.”

Source: The Hollywood Reporter