Following the release of James Gunn’s Superman, a new industry report indicates that the newly-rebooted DC Universe may have successfully changed the trajectory of DC films for the better. The first theatrical release under the new DC Studios regime, Superman stars David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, and Sara Sampaio.
After its July 11 debut, the movie went on to gross a worldwide total of $614.6 million. This figure has a breakdown of $353.6 million domestically and $261 million internationally.
A new report from Variety adds further context to these totals by comparing them to those of the DCEU’s most recent releases. Superman saw a 78.9% bump in domestic performance and a 22.6% increase in international performance. Additionally, it also saw a 71.8% budget improvement over past DC films.
Per a communications executive, the DCU has laid the foundation for continual success: “Gunn did the most important thing: The first movie he made was really good. If Batman and Superman are humming at the same time, there’s no limit to what they could do.”
What Superman’s Success Means For James Gunn’s DCU
Superman’s success can be measured both monetarily and in terms of reception. While there were camps that did not enjoy the film, such as fans of Zack Snyder, it earned an impressive 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Likewise, it scored a respectable 83% from critics. As such, Superman seemed to click with viewers in a way that the most recent string of DCEU movies didn’t.
From a financial standpoint, the movie wasn’t the same runaway hit as genre heavy hitters such as Avengers: Endgame or Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it broke even. Its reported budget was $200 million, and given that a film needs to earn 2.5 times its budget to recoup costs, Superman hit this mark.
Our Take On Superman’s Success And The Future Of The DCU
Superman set the DCU up for success, but its long-term viability as a franchise heavily depends on how its next few projects perform. In 2026, two DCU films are set to release: Supergirl and Clayface.
The former has the benefit of its heroine, played by Milly Alcock, appearing in Superman, priming audiences for her solo adventure. It will also feature Krypto the Superdog, who was a mᴀssive scene-stealer in his DCU debut. Additionally, another adaptation of the character did headline her own Arrowverse series in the late 2010s, meaning she has some name recognition with modern audiences.
Alternatively, Clayface, written by Mike Flanagan, is a smaller-scale project based on a Batman villain. It is a bold choice given that the Dark Knight himself has yet to appear in the franchise, but it has the potential to connect with audiences that don’t care for the sugary optimism of Superman.
Looking further into the future, it won’t be long until Gunn delivers another installment in the Superman film series. In 2027, a sequel тιтled Man of Tomorrow sees Lex Luthor and the тιтular hero teaming up against a larger threat. Bringing Superman back to the big screen soon is a good move given the first film’s success, but the DCU’s popularity (and future) will heavily depend on how its 2026 releases perform.
