After an exciting run at the box office, James Gunn’s Superman has outgrossed a critically panned 2016 DC Extended Universe movie. The Man of Steel’s triumphant return comes after a streak of disappointing box office returns among DC movies, as Warner Bros. sought to reboot the DC Universe with a more hopeful Superman at its head.

Superman has had a strong run at the box office, especially when considering that other superhero movies from both Marvel Studios and DC have struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Gunn enlisted David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and other major stars in key roles.

According to a report by The Numbers, Superman has already managed to out-earn Suicide Squad (2016) at the domestic box office. Superman currently has a $331.2 million gross, while Suicide Squad ended its run with a $325 million total. The ensemble team-up still beats DC’s latest release with $749 million globally, compared to Superman‘s $575 million.

What This Means For Superman And DC

Suicide Squad was not especially critically acclaimed, given its dismal 26% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. Superman earned an 83% score, so it should come as no surprise that it is more respected among viewers. Still, this is a major accomplishment for DC, which is hoping to improve its reputation after the ups and downs of the now-defunct DC Extended Universe.

Out-earning any 2016 superhero movie is an impressive performance in this new era of comic book movies. There have been multiple box office bombs in recent years, including Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), The Flash (2023), and The Marvels (2023), which all disappointed critics and audiences alike. Even achieving a profit is an accomplishment in the post-pandemic landscape.

With a $225 million budget, the movie has likely already reached profitability with its $575 million total, and Gunn has also hinted that profitability is at least in reach. When it comes to streaming, Superman should receive even more attention and potential for profit. This is a good start to a universe that previously struggled immensely.

Our Take On Superman’s Box Office Milestone

DC Studios needed its first DC Universe movie to be a success, so this represents a strong start for Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran. While it has enjoyed nowhere near the overseas success that Suicide Squad had, the studio is looking to rebuild its public image. A critically acclaimed box office success is a good way to begin that process.

Once audiences begin to believe in DC again, viewers could begin to take greater risks on every new release. With the studio focusing on quality over quanтιтy, much like Marvel is, it should slowly begin to build success. Superman offers the first hint of organic recovery for DC and the superhero genre, and it is a promising start.