The numbers are in, and James Gunn’s Superman has officially surpᴀssed Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel‘s opening weekend numbers at the box office. James Gunn’s Superman has been one of the most anticipated comic book movies of the past five years, as it not only launches a whole new franchise but also establishes the definitive Superman portrayal for a new generation of movie-goers. If Superman‘s succeeds, it’s safe to say that the DCU is built on strong foundations.
Superman‘s opening weekend closes with $122 million domestically, against Man of Steel‘s $116.6 million (via Box Office Mojo). Superman‘s international opening weekend numbers are estimated to be $95 million, for a total of around $217 million worldwide gathered during the film’s opening weekend (via TheNumbers). This statistic places Superman among the best-performing live-action movies starring the Man of Steel.
What Superman’s Domestic Opening Weekend Box Office Means
James Gunn’s Superman Sticks The Landing At The Box Office
Superman‘s opening box office surpᴀsses Man of Steel, Justice League, Superman Returns, and every installment in the Christopher Reeve-led Superman franchise. The only Superman-starring DC film standing above Superman‘s still-rising opening weekend numbers is Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which gathered an impressive $166 million in its opening weekend. However, Dawn of Justice ultimately underperformed, as its abysmal reviews and word-of-mouth landed a serious role on its box office prospects early on.
Superman‘s first-weekend performance opens the door for a strong theatrical run. If positive critic and general audience reviews continue to pour in, Superman has the chance to improve its outlook even further and break records. Superman as a character has struggled to become box office gold, which only puts into perspective how effective James Gunn’s first DCU movie must be to earn mᴀssive appeal.
Our Take On Superman’s Domestic Opening Weekend Box Office
Superman’s Optimistic Predictions Are A Good Sign For The DCU
Superman‘s $122 million domestic opening weekend is a significant achievement, especially given the current landscape of the superhero genre. In recent years, superhero films have faced diminishing box office returns. On top of that, the DCEU’s rocky track record left audiences skeptical about a full reboot arriving so soon. Superman still has more milestones to reach, but this first marker signals a valuable shift in momentum.
More importantly, Superman’s success gives DC Studios and Warner Bros. the confidence to continue down the path James Gunn has envisioned. It also opens the door for riskier stories alongside mainstream blockbusters. If Superman‘s box office maintains its positive trend, it will prove that there’s a real appeтιтe for bold superhero movies as long as the execution is strong.
Source: Box Office Mojo, TheNumbers
