Superman Blasts Through Box Office Records with $122M U.S. Debut for James Gunn's Reboot
James Gunn's Superman Launches New DC Universe With Record-Smashing Box Office
Blockbusters don’t come bigger these days than James Gunn’s Superman. The much-anticipated reboot raked in a staggering $122 million across its first weekend in the U.S., and that's not even the whole story. Even before Friday's sun came up, the film had already started rewriting what a comic book adaptation could do at the modern box office.
Thursday night sneak previews pulled in $22.5 million, blazing past the record set earlier this year by 'Barbie.' These previews also included special Amazon Prime showings, casting a wider net of eager fans ready to see Gunn’s take on the iconic hero. By Friday, Superman’s cape was truly unfurled: $56.5 million in a single day, ranking just behind the surprise juggernaut 'A Minecraft Movie' for the most lucrative Friday in 2025 so far.
The Warner Bros. revival didn’t just impress—it left the old DC films eating its dust. For comparison, 2013’s 'Man of Steel' muscled in just under $117 million during its opening, but that record now belongs to the new caped crusader. The only movies currently ahead this year are 'A Minecraft Movie' and Disney’s 'Lilo & Stitch,' showing just how high the bar has moved for superhero films in the post-pandemic era.
International Response: Big Wins, Mixed Challenges
The global buzz was just as hot. International ticket sales were robust, managing $95 million and rocketing to a worldwide launch total of $217 million. Classic superhero haunts like the U.K. ($9.8 million) and Mexico ($8.8 million) delivered solid opening numbers, underlining Superman’s broad fanbase. China, though, put a chill on things, clocking in at $6.6 million. It’s no secret: Superman’s all-American image doesn’t always translate overseas, especially in places with their own homegrown blockbusters and different takes on what a universal hero looks like.
For Warner Bros. and DC Studios, this weekend was about more than just numbers. It’s the trial run of a fresh, interconnected era for the DC Universe—one fully shepherded by James Gunn and Peter Safran. With David Corenswet donning the blue tights as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan giving new flair to Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult adding his spin as Lex Luthor, the franchise has officially hit the reset button. Gunn’s style brought a mix of old-school reverence and bold new energy, drawing in everyone from longtime comic book readers to that friend who just wants some popcorn fun.
'Superman’s performance' is a massive relief for Warner Bros., which has spent years searching for steady footing after a string of DC misfires. Now, instead of looking backward, all eyes are on what Gunn and Safran can pull off next. Will this success hold steady, or will it have the classic superhero drop in week two? At least for now, Superman has brought new hope to the world of superheroes—and the studio's bottom line.