In contrast, the late 2010s were a golden era for live-action DC Comics movies, setting new records at the box office. However, the 2020s have not been as favorable to films bearing the DC logo. Movies like Joker: Folie a Deux, The Flash, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods have struggled financially in this decade. The upcoming Superman movie in July 2025 is aiming to buck this trend with its aggressive marketing strategy before its release.
If everything goes smoothly, this new feature could be the second DC Comic book adaptation of the 2020s (after “The Batman”) to earn over $100 million in its initial domestic release weekend. This would also make it the eighth DC movie to ever reach that figure at its North American premiere. Notably, among these eight films is the biggest domestic opener for a DC film, a record held by an unexpected blockbuster hit from the 2010s.
How Did Batman v Superman Score This Box Office Achievement?
On March 25, 2016, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” hit theaters nationwide. This was the second movie in the DC Extended Universe, and it had been three years since the release of “Man of Steel.” After a year-long promotional campaign that promised a major production, this film finally arrived at multiplexes. The project introduced Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, set up a future Justice League movie, and marked the live-action debut of Wonder Woman. All these factors made it an attractive prospect for audiences, leading them to flock to theaters for this Zack Snyder-directed effort.
In its initial three days on screen, “Dawn of Justice” set a new record for March openings, earning $166 million. This figure was later surpassed by “Beauty and the Beast” the following year. Furthermore, it surpassed the opening weekend of “The Dark Knight Rises,” which had held the title for four years prior, making it the largest debut for a DC Comics adaptation at that time. Notably, this opening was (and currently remains) the second-highest North American debut ever for a Warner Bros. Pictures release, with only “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part Two” having a more successful domestic debut in the history of Warner Bros. films.
As a diehard fan, I can’t help but reflect on the mixed fortunes that surrounded the release of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Its impressive opening weekend success was somewhat overshadowed by the film’s dismal performance in the subsequent weekends. The moviegoers’ feedback wasn’t as positive as expected, leading to a staggering 69% drop in its second weekend – a figure uncommon for a blockbuster superhero film back then, before the days of “Quantumania,” “The Flash,” and “The Marvels.”
At that point, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” held one of the most significant second-weekend declines for any title opening to over $100+ million. This unfortunate turn of events served to diminish the luster of its debut weekend’s achievements.
How Does Dawn of Justice’s Box Office Compare to Other DC Titles?
In its theatrical run in North America, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice collected approximately $330.36 million, falling just short of doubling its initial massive opening weekend earnings. This implies that six DC Comics adaptations have earned more than Dawn of Justice, making it simpler to overlook the fact that this 2016 film holds a record for highest grossing DC Comics box office. Among these films with higher North American totals than Dawn of Justice were Aquaman, another title from the DC Extended Universe, and Joker, which was notably less expensive to produce in terms of R-rated movies.
I’ve long admired how Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight sequels have reigned supreme among all DC Comics films domestically, a title they’ve held tightly for quite some time now. It’s hard to imagine any movie, like Superman or even popular franchises such as Barbie or Minecraft, dethroning them from their lofty position anytime soon. The Christian Bale-led Dark Knight films left Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice far behind in terms of both domestic box office earnings and audience acclaim. Yet, Zack Snyder’s film managed to secure an opening weekend that even 2008’s The Dark Knight couldn’t quite reach.
The success of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” which had the 20th largest domestic opening weekend in cinematic history at the time of its release, underscores the enduring popularity of these DC Comics characters. Almost four decades after Christopher Reeve’s initial “Superman” film and nearly three decades since Michael Keaton’s debut as Batman, these superheroes continue to captivate massive audiences on the big screen. Despite its mixed reception and lower domestic earnings compared to other DC films, it is still worth noting that “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” still holds the record for the biggest opening weekend among all DC movies.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is now streaming on Max.
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2025-07-06 18:41