The new Superman movie is posting strong numbers at the box office, with the DC Universe’s first film now on track to break a major Marvel Cinematic Universe box office trend that has been going on for several years. Before release, there was a lot of talk about how the future of DC hinged on James Gunn’s Superman being successful.

While that is partly true, Gunn has stated that Superman is not the project that will make or break the DCU. Still, starting a new shared universe with a strong statement like the Man of Steel’s movie is doing, beats the alternative. Taking the Superman movie’s budget, which is reportedly set at $225 million, into account, its breakeven point emerges.

Superman would have to finish its global box office run with $450-562.2 million to break even. Anything after that would guarantee a profit for Gunn and DC Studios. While the movie inches ever closer to the high end of that projection, Superman‘s box office is now looking at an even more important feat, giving DC a victory over Marvel.

The MCU’s 2025 Movies Have Not Performed Well At The Box Office

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine was the MCU’s only movie of 2024. While that was atypical for the franchise, the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman-led multiverse adventure broke box office records, with its $1.3 billion total making ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. That seemed to turn the MCU around after a few disappointing releases, but it fell through.

Despite ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s strong performance, the MCU’s 2025 movies have not had a good year so far. Captain America: Brave New World was the first, grossing $415.1 million (via Box Office Mojo). Then came Thunderbolts*, which ended up doing even less than the Captain America movie, with only $382.4 million worldwide. The MCU’s Fantastic Four reboot is now in theaters.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is outpacing the MCU’s other 2025 movies, on its way to becoming the highest-grossing MCU movie of the year. However, its potential might have been capped. According to box office analyst Luiz Fernando, The Fantastic Four: First Steps had one of the worst second-weekend drops in MCU history, at -67.1%. That indicates poor legs.

James Gunn’s Superman Is Projected To Be The Highest-Grossing Superhero Movie Of 2025

While the MCU’s movies are struggling at the box office in 2025, DC has had a different year. Sure, there might only be one DC movie in 2025, but Superman is the first cinematic entry in the franchise, and it had to perform to break away from the negative image of the scrapped DCEU. To that end, it worked well.

At the time of writing, James Gunn’s Superman movie is flying high with $559.3 million worldwide. Given its budget, Superman is going to pᴀss the high end of its $450-562.2 million breakeven point soon, with anything the movie does at the box office after that counting as profit for DC Studios. Superman just pᴀssed Jurᴀssic World Rebirth‘s domestic box office.

This shows that Superman is well on its way to being one of 2025’s biggest movies, and the DC entry is now projected to end the year as 2025’s highest-grossing superhero movie. Superman has already outgrossed Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. Projected to end its run with $640-$700 million, Superman will not be reached by Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot.

The MCU Has Led The Superhero Movie Box Office For 17 Years

With Superman on the way to ruling the superhero movie box office in 2025, this will mark the first time that DC has done so since 2008, the year the MCU started with Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. While Marvel Studios’ franchise was only beginning, Christopher Nolan directed one of the best superhero movies of all time. The Dark Knight grossed $1 billion.

Every year since then — which saw an MCU movie released in theaters — has had a Marvel entry as the highest-grossing superhero movie of the year. DC even had strong contenders throughout that run, with Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, which grossed $1.15 billion, losing to Avengers: Infinity War‘s $2.048 billion. Another major DC release, Joker, lost to Avengers: Endgame despite breaking $1 billion.

While Superman‘s feat has yet to be confirmed, The Fantastic Four: First Steps presenting a major second-weekend drop, with its legs failing to match the Man of Steel’s, makes it nearly impossible for the MCU movie to turn things around. DC will finally top the yearly superhero box office. However, Marvel should soon take that record back.

How Marvel Studios Can Fight Back In The 2026 Superhero Box Office

After the Superman movie ending debuted Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, the hero will take to the skies in a solo movie next year. Boosted by Superman‘s performance, Supergirl could do well at the box office. DC’s other 2026 theatrical release is Clayface, an R-rated Batman villain horror movie, which is not expected to have the same wide appeal as Supergirl.

Despite Superman‘s DC connections setting up Supergirl for success, 2026’s highest-grossing superhero movie will most likely come from the MCU. Marvel Studios will release two entries from its biggest franchises, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day in July and Avengers: Doomsday in December. While the MCU should get its record back soon, Superman‘s feat is still encouraging for DC’s future.