Superman soars to $122 million opening under James Gunn: DC finally finds lift-off

James Gunn’s Superman has officially taken flight, kicking off a bold new era for DC Studios with a $122 million opening weekend in the US. and Canada, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

DC and Warner Bros. were counting on this film to turn the tide. While Marvel Studios has faced its own box office stumbles, DC’s recent track record has been even shakier, with titles like Joker: Folie à Deux, The Flash, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods underperforming or outright flopping.

But Superman represents a clean slate. It's the first film fully helmed by James Gunn and Peter Safran since taking over DC Studios, tasked with rebuilding the franchise from the ground up.

With a $122 million domestic debut, Superman not only landed the third-biggest opening of 2025 but also became the first DC film to cross the $100 million mark in its opening weekend since Wonder Woman in 2017. It also marks Warner Bros.’ fifth consecutive release to open above $45 million, a rare winning streak the studio is eager to celebrate.

Internationally, however, the numbers were more modest. The film earned $95 million across 78 global markets, with China contributing just $6.6 million.

David A. Gross, head of FranchiseRe, as quoted by Associated Press, called the overseas performance the only blemish on an otherwise solid launch. “Foreign markets aren’t matching domestic figures,” he noted. “Superman has long been seen as a symbol of Americana—and in some regions, that’s not exactly a selling point right now.”

Directed by James Gunn and made on a reported $225 million budget, Superman takes a bold new approach. Skipping the well-worn Kansas origin tale, the film picks up after Superman’s first defeat. David Corenswet dons the cape, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult stepping into the role of Lex Luthor.

Superman may not have soared past the $166 million opening of Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), but it did edge out Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013), which debuted at $116 million—not adjusted for inflation.

Critics have also been far kinder to this new iteration. James Gunn’s take on the iconic hero earned an 82% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes—the highest since Christopher Reeve’s Superman classics from the late ’70s and early ’80s. Audiences gave it an encouraging “A–” CinemaScore.

But it wasn’t all clear skies. Superman faced strong box office competition. Jurassic World Rebirth, which ruled the previous weekend, slid to second place with $40 million—a 57% drop. The Scarlett Johansson-led dino blockbuster has still raked in $529.5 million globally in just two weeks.

With inputs from the Associated Press (AP).