Los Angeles: Warner Bros. and DC Studios’ Superman, the first title in the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran, is projected to gross over $210 million worldwide during its debut weekend, according to industry estimates released Saturday.
The superhero reboot, starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, earned $56.5 million domestically on Friday, in addition to $22.5 million in Thursday previews, bringing its U.S. total to nearly $80 million. Internationally, the film has so far brought in $40 million across 78 markets, with strong debuts in Mexico, the UK, and Brazil, but weaker-than-expected performance in Asia, particularly China and Korea.
“Superman has been one of the most challenging movies to project,” said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory. “There’s been less recent interest in comic book films and DC Studios’ struggles compared to Marvel’s success.”
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Superman 2025 Box Office: Global Highlights and Country Breakdown
The UK opened at No. 1 with $3.6 million on Friday, claiming 66% of the top 5 films’ market share. In Mexico, the film debuted with $3.8 million, while Brazil brought in $3 million, its best opening for a James Gunn-directed title.
In contrast, China registered just $2.4 million through Friday, with projections capped at $11 million for the full run. Analysts say China remains a soft market for non-local films, particularly those without heavy local promotion or cultural resonance.
In Spain, Superman opened to $1 million, outperforming Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Justice League. Meanwhile, Japan delivered $781K, exceeding expectations given competition from the upcoming Demon Slayer release.
Analysts Weigh in on Superman’s Modern Appeal
“This is a Superman movie for the modern era,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “It also represents an opportunity for a reboot of sorts for DC Comics.”
Early forecasts had predicted a $90 million domestic debut, but audience enthusiasm and critical reception helped raise those estimates. The film currently holds an 82% critics score and 95% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“‘Superman’ just screams ‘summer popcorn movie.’ That’s an irresistible combination for moviegoers,” Dergarabedian added.
Is the Superhero Genre Fatigued or Reborn?
While comic book films have seen diminishing returns in recent years, Superman appears to benefit from a lighter tone and renewed optimism, in contrast to earlier darker DC iterations.
“It’s just that there have been so many superhero films in the last 20 years or so that audiences feel like ‘I’ve seen this before. It’s good, but show me something else,’” said Robbins. However, he noted Superman might break through the fatigue: “It has a sense of optimism that separates it.”
With other blockbusters like Jurassic World Rebirth opening to $147 million domestically last week, summer 2025 is shaping up to be a crucial rebound season for theatrical releases.
Will Superman Soar or Stall?
The film’s final weekend tally will depend on word of mouth and Saturday-Sunday momentum. As of now, projections show a potential $130 million domestic total and $210M–$215M global, barring any major fluctuations.
“It’s always been an expectations game and it always will be,” Robbins said.
