James Gunn’s “Superman” launched into theaters with impressive force this weekend, opening to an estimated $122 million domestically and $95 million internationally, totaling $220 million globally.
The film now holds the record for the biggest opening weekend for a solo “Superman” movie, beating out both modern and classic iterations of the character.
As the first chapter in Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe, Superman is drawing renewed attention to the iconic character with a tone grounded in hope, heart, and heroism. Industry analysts see the film’s performance as a solid foundation for DC’s long-term cinematic strategy.
2025 domestic box office openings (to date)
| Film | Domestic Opening |
| Minecraft: The Movie | $146M |
| Lilo & Stitch (live-action) | $146M |
| Superman (2025) | $122M |
| Jurassic World: Rebirth | $85M |
While Superman didn’t claim the top spot, it has the strongest international showing of any major 2025 release so far and is on track for long-term box office strength, boosted by positive reviews and audience reception.
How it compares to other DC films (with inflation)
| Film | Year | Domestic Opening | Adjusted for Inflation* |
| Batman v Superman | 2016 | $166M | ~$215M |
| The Batman | 2022 | $134M | ~$160M |
| Superman (2025) | 2025 | $122M | $122M (current dollars) |
| Man of Steel | 2013 | $116M | ~$152M |
| Wonder Woman | 2017 | $103M | ~$131M |
| Aquaman | 2018 | $67M | ~$85M |
| Superman Returns | 2006 | $52.5M | ~$82M |
| The Flash | 2023 | $55M | ~$63M |
| Superman: The Movie | 1978 | $7.5M | ~$35M |
Notably, the 1978 “Superman: The Movie” starring Christopher Reeve made $7.5 million when it opened, which is about $35 million today, showing how moviegoing habits have changed. Despite this, the film was a huge success and went on to earn over $300 million worldwide.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that “Superman” grossed $217 million. The actual box office gross for “Superman” is $220 million. We have made the correction.
