The new “Superman” movie, starring David Corenswet, has landed a much-needed hit for DC Studios, soaring past previous box office figures and marking a fresh start for the iconic superhero.
A High-Flying Start for DC
James Gunn’s highly anticipated “Superman” reboot has delivered a significant win for DC, becoming the first title since 2017’s “Wonder Woman” to cross the $100 million mark in its opening weekend.
The film, which raked in $122 million in North America, also outpaced Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” (2013), which opened with $116 million. However, it still trails Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016), which launched at $166 million.
This success is particularly sweet for DC, following a series of less-than-stellar performances from films like “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “The Flash,” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.” This “Superman” movie is the first major release under the new leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-heads of DC Studios, setting a new direction for the DC Universe.
Global Box Office Dominance
Beyond North America, “Superman” has made a strong impact globally, earning over $95 million across 78 international markets, including $6.6 million in China. This brings its worldwide opening total to an impressive $217 million, nearly recouping its $225 million budget right out of the gate.
For Warner Bros., “Superman” continues a successful streak this year, with other films like “A Minecraft Movie” and “F1” also performing well, all opening above $45 million in the US. The film is also one of only three movies in 2025 to debut with over $100 million in domestic ticket sales, highlighting its significant pull in a post-pandemic cinema landscape.
Soaring in India
In India, “Superman” has also made a substantial splash, collecting Rs 25.50 crore over its opening weekend across four languages in its 3D version. The film opened on Friday with Rs 7 crore, saw a healthy jump to Rs 9.5 crore on Saturday, and a slight dip to Rs 9 crore on Sunday.
The English version contributed the most to the collection, followed by the dubbed Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil versions. This performance highlights the growing appetite for Hollywood blockbusters in the Indian market.
Hollywood’s Winning Streak in India
Remarkably, “Superman”‘s opening weekend collection in India surpassed that of the major Hindi release, Pulkit’s action drama “Maalik,” which earned Rs 14.25 crore. This marks the third consecutive month a Hollywood film has outperformed its Bollywood counterpart at the Indian box office.
Previously, Brad Pitt’s “F1” outgrossed the Kajol-starrer “Maa,” and Scarlett Johansson’s “Jurassic World Rebirth” opened bigger than the Sara Ali Khan-starrer “Metro… In Dino.”
A Fresh Take on the Man of Steel
James Gunn’s “Superman” offers a drastically different tone from previous iterations, moving away from the more somber interpretations. The film bypasses the traditional Kansas origin story, picking up with Superman after his initial defeat, focusing on a more human and relatable hero.
David Corenswet takes on the titular role, joined by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as the formidable Lex Luthor. Even John Cena makes a cameo appearance as Peacemaker, further integrating the new DC Universe.
- “Superman” opened with $122 million in North America, surpassing “Man of Steel.”
- Globally, the film earned $217 million in its opening weekend.
- In India, “Superman” collected Rs 25.50 crore, outperforming major local releases.
- This marks a much-needed success for DC and a strong start for James Gunn’s new DC Universe.
This strong showing for “Superman” signals a promising future for DC Studios as it looks to redefine its cinematic universe with fresh narratives and compelling characters.
