Superman is neck and neck with another major film from the same studio. The film is a DC Studios film from the parent company, Warner Bros. who have been producing some big things this year. This includes Sinners, a $90 million gamble that ended up becoming a huge box-office hit.

Warner Bros. pulled out all the stops for Superman, spending an estimated $225 million according to reports. They also brought on James Gunn, the legendary superhero film director behind hits such as Guardians of the Galaxy for the MCU and DC’s The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.

As per The Numbers, Superman has now outpaced another major Warner Bros. movie. Superman has now usurped F1: The Movie at the worldwide box office. Gunn’s superhero installment has now made $594.4 million, which is higher than F1‘s $590 million total.

This puts both movies close to the $600 million milestone. They also stand as the no. 7 and no. 8 highest-grossing movies of the year at the worldwide box office so far.

What This Means For Superman

F1: The Movie was also a major undertaking for Warner Bros. While the exact budget has been disputed, the movie cost somewhere in the $200 million zone. It cast megastar Brad Pitt in the lead role and also put Joseph Kosinski, the mastermind behind the legacy sequel film Top Gun: Maverick in the director’s chair.

This meant that Warner Bros. was really sinking a lot of resources into both F1 and Superman, stocking them up with similar talent. As they both approached the $600 million mark, the gambles have appeared to pay off with these blockbuster films. As the weeks progress, one film will eventually have to come out on top.

Superman is also already available to watch at home for purchase via VOD platforms. While this might mean a slowdown in its theatrical momentum, it gives the film a chance to generate revenue elsewhere even as it gradually leaves theaters.

Our Take On Superman’s Big Success

Superman‘s near $600 million gross is proof that Warner Bros.’ increasing theatrical focus is the right idea. Earlier this month, the company revealed that they plan to release 12 to 14 theatrical movies yearly, including movies from DC Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Bros. Animation.

The recent success of both Superman and F1: The Movie, and the spring success of Sinners, shows that Warner Bros. can succeed in this theatrical strategy across multiple divisions. It has been a great year for the studio so far, and even if the more reliable superhero fare beats out Kosinski’s F1: The Movie, both will have had a great run.