Movies

‘Superman’ rescues DC at the box office with a $122 million debut

BBG News

This past weekend, James Gunn’s “Superman” film dominated the box office, providing a significant boost to Warner Bros.’s DC Studios in the superhero movie category, which had been struggling following a series of films that failed to meet expectations.

In North America and Canada, the movie “Superman,” featuring David Corenswet as Superman, earned an impressive $122 million. Worldwide, the film’s earnings reached a grand total of $217 million.

For the studio Warner Bros., located in Burbank, and DC Comics, the film was a significant investment, with a production budget approximated at around $225 million. Additionally, they allocated considerable resources for a worldwide promotional effort.

The film “Superman” received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with a 82% approval rating on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. Audience response was equally favorable; the movie earned an “A-” grade from CinemaScore and a 93% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well.

In the case of “Superman”, its opening weekend earnings didn’t meet some analysts’ predictions, who expected around $130 million. This underperformance was thought to be due to intense competition with other popular movies, such as Universal’s “Jurassic World Rebirth” and the collaboration between Apple and Warner Bros., “F1 The Movie”.

Prior to its launch, “Superman” faced criticism from conservative commentators, who took issue with comments made by Gunn. In an interview with The Times of London, Gunn suggested that Superman (originally created by a Jewish writer-artist duo in the late 1930s) embodies the immigrant experience and is symbolic of America’s story.

In his FranchiseRe newsletter, industry expert David A. Gross commented that any softness (weakness) he noticed was coming from abroad, following his description of the domestic opening for this long-running superhero franchise as “outstanding.

The movie generated $95 million outside the U.S. and Canada.

There has been debate among experts if Superman’s image of sincerely advocating for truth, justice, and the ‘American Way’ would still resonate with international viewers, given that other nations have expressed frustration towards the tariff and trade measures implemented by President Trump.

Gross stated that Superman is often seen as an iconic American character and tale, but right now, America isn’t particularly admired in many parts of the globe.”

This version maintains the original meaning while making it easier to understand for a general audience.

Hollywood Inc.

As a devoted fan, I’m eagerly anticipating the upcoming movie where David Corenswet takes on the role of Superman. This fresh production is set to ignite a new era for DC Studios, a studio that, over the past few years, has faced challenges in delivering consistently successful superhero films.

The movie’s overall success significantly contributes to the anticipated revival and modernization of the DC universe. In 2022, Gunn and Safran were appointed co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios by Warner Bros., with the aim of revitalizing their superhero franchise following a series of challenges over several years.

2013’s “Man of Steel,” helmed by Zack Snyder, and the 2016 release, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” managed impressive box office earnings but failed to win widespread praise from critics. Unfortunately, 2017’s “Justice League” – our attempt at replicating Marvel Studios’ “Avengers” success – flopped critically and commercially for the studio, leaving us with a lesson learned.

Lately, movies featuring different DC characters like “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” (2023), “The Flash,” and last year’s “Joker: Madness Duet” haven’t been successful in theaters.

Under Gunn and Safran’s leadership, they are now responsible for developing a unified concept and structure for their superhero universe, similar to how Marvel has been managed effectively by President Kevin Feige. However, it’s important to note that while Marvel’s films and shows may have different directors, they all fall under Feige’s control.

Beginning the latest DC era with Superman didn’t come without its own set of distinct hurdles. Despite being globally renowned as a superhero, Superman’s movie history has experienced its fair share of ups and downs. Whether sincere, overly dramatic, or gritty, it has been challenging for filmmakers and producers to find the perfect balance in portraying Superman.

Gunn’s adaptation of “Superman,” blending genuine sincerity with a hint of his unique comedic flair, resonated favorably among critics and viewers. This was quite an achievement given that some fans view Richard Donner’s 1978 “Superman,” featuring Christopher Reeve, as the ultimate benchmark.

As a die-hard film fan, I’ve got to admit: Nailing ‘Superman’ has proven to be quite the conundrum. For decades, it seems as if this iconic character has been my very own Kryptonite, leaving filmmakers and producers alike struggling to get him just right.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself stepping aside from “Jurassic World: Dominion” over the weekend, as it moved to the second spot with a domestic haul of $38.8 million, pushing its total earnings up to an impressive $231 million thus far. The racing drama “F1,” along with Universal’s “How to Train Your Dragon” and Disney-Pixar’s heartwarming tale “Elio” completed the top five at the box office this weekend.

This coming month, I’m eagerly anticipating the release of another epic superhero film that promises to shake up the summer blockbuster scene – “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” produced by Marvel Studios under the wing of The Walt Disney Company.

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2025-07-13 19:01

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