'superman' And Dc Studios Fly To A $122 Million Opening

NEW YORK — In a bid to kickoff a caller era for DC Studios, James Gunn’s “Superman” opened pinch $122 cardinal successful U.S. and Canada summons income complete nan weekend, according to workplace estimates Sunday.

DC and Warner Bros. had a batch riding connected “Superman.” While nan Walt Disney Co.’s Marvel Studios has had its ain stock of struggles, nan superheroes of DC person precocious recovered mostly kryptonite successful theaters. Films for illustration “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “The Flash” and “Shazam! Fury of nan Gods” each flopped.

But “Superman,” written and directed by Gunn, is intended arsenic a caller start. It’s nan first merchandise afloat steered by Gunn and Peter Safran, co-heads of DC Studios, since they were handed nan keys to DC’s superhero cinematic universe.

And while Gunn turned “Guardians of nan Galaxy” into a monolithic occurrence for Marvel, his irreverent, idiosyncratic touch made nan head — erstwhile a B-movie filmmaker pinch Troma Entertainment — an improbable steward for 1 of nan movies’ astir bankable and beloved brands.

The astir on-target opening was nan 3rd largest of 2025, and nan first DC title to surpass $100 cardinal successful its opening play since “Wonder Woman” successful 2017.

Ticket income were comparatively soft for “Superman” overseas. In 78 world markets, it grossed $95 million. In China, it collected conscionable $6.6 million.

As an American icon, “Superman” inevitably attracted governmental discourse. Some right-wing commentators criticized nan movie arsenic “woke” aft Gunn described nan superhero from Krypton arsenic “an immigrant.” On X, nan White House posted an image of President Donald Trump arsenic Superman.

In “Superman,” which costs astir $225 cardinal to make, Gunn steers nan Man of Steel successful a drastically different tonal guidance than successful erstwhile iterations from filmmaker Zack Snyder. Skipping nan Kansas root story, nan movie alternatively picks up pinch Superman ( David Corenswet ) aft his first defeat. Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult is Lex Luthor.

The “Superman” debut didn’t travel adjacent to besting nan $166 cardinal motorboat for Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” successful 2016. But it did unfastened higher, not accounting for inflation, than Snyder’s “Man of Steel.” That movie debuted pinch $116 cardinal successful 2013.

But while Snyder’s films were often unloved by critics, mostly bully reviews greeted Gunn’s “Superman.” On Rotten Tomatoes, it scored 82% caller — nan champion for nan franchise since nan first 2 movies pinch Christopher Reeve: “Superman” (1978) and “Superman II” (1980). Audiences gave it an “A-” CinemaScore.

“Superman” faced sizeable title too. Last week’s apical film, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” slid to 2nd spot pinch $40 million. With “Superman” soaking up galore large-format screens, Universal Pictures’ seventh “Jurassic” movie slipped a steep 57% from its opening weekend. Starring Scarlett Johansson, “Jurassic World Rebirth” sewage disconnected to a thunderous $318.3 cardinal world start. In 2 weeks, it’s amassed $529.5 cardinal worldwide.

Also still successful nan operation is Apple Studios’ biggest box-office occurrence yet, “F1.” Joseph Kosinski’s Formula One action thriller, starring Brad Pitt, came successful 3rd pinch $13 cardinal successful its 3rd weekend. The film, distributed by Warner Bros., has collected $393.4 cardinal globally successful 3 weeks. But it besides carries a hefty value tag of astir $250 million, positive astatine slightest $100 cardinal successful promotion.