James Gunn’s highly anticipated “Superman” reboot launched to a commanding start, taking the No. 1 spot at the box office with a $122 million debut weekend.
The Warner Bros. Pictures release exceeded industry projections, which had estimated around $90 million, and easily overtook last weekend’s top title, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which brought in $40 million in its second frame.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN, is behind the studio’s latest blockbuster.
“Superman is on the Mount Rushmore of superheroes. All eyes were on this movie,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “So, this is the gift that hopefully will keep on giving for DC Studios.”
While DC Studios’ cinematic offerings have historically lagged behind Marvel’s in terms of box office appeal, “Superman” signals a potential shift.
In 2017, DC’s “Justice League” earned $229 million domestically, compared to Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” which grossed $678.8 million the following year. However, enthusiasm for superhero films has waned in recent years, a trend some analysts refer to as “superhero fatigue.”
Dergarabedian believes Superman’s success may mark a turning point: “We can put that to bed” because “it’s all about the individual movie.”
The strong performance comes amid a broader rebound in summer moviegoing. According to Comscore, box office revenue this summer is up 16% compared to the same period in 2024. So far in 2025, total earnings are approaching $5 billion, with summer grosses alone reaching approximately $2.35 billion.
Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, said a $4 billion summer remains within reach.
However, weaker June releases could present challenges. Among the disappointments was Disney’s “Elio,” which earned just $20 million during its opening weekend despite positive reviews.
Robbins noted that major successes like “Superman” can help offset those gaps.
“This is kind of the nature of the box office nowadays,” he said. “We see so much feast or famine-type of weekends, it just takes one movie to bust out beyond expectation.”
“This summer, the wealth is spread among so many movies,” he added.
“Superman” is now the third film in 2025 to debut with over $100 million during a three-day opening. It joins Warner Bros.’ “A Minecraft Movie,” which opened in April, and Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” released in May.
“Lilo & Stitch” has proven to be the season’s biggest hit, with over $414 million earned since its Memorial Day weekend premiere. It is closing in on the year’s current highest-grossing title, “A Minecraft Movie,” which has pulled in $423 million and helped turn around a slow first quarter.
More superhero content is on the way this summer. Disney’s “Fantastic Four” is set to open on July 25, and analysts are keeping a close eye on “Freakier Friday,” a sequel to the 2003 comedy “Freaky Friday,” which could surprise audiences in August.
With July seen as a critical month for Hollywood’s summer season, Robbins emphasized the importance of continued success.
“Hollywood ultimately relies on big hits in July, so it’s important for ‘Fantastic Four’ and ‘Superman’ to perform well,” he said.
