What Superman Really Needs To Make To Succeed at the Box Office Revealed

by

James Gunn’s version of Superman has officially hit theaters, marking a significant milestone for the DC Universe franchise (the animated series “Creature Commandos” was the initial release in the new storyline). Given the high stakes associated with this movie, it’s been disclosed that it needs to achieve a certain level of success at the box office. As per a report in The Wall Street Journal, executives from Warner Bros. Discovery are aiming for Superman to gross over $500 million worldwide during its cinematic release. It’s worth noting that the film’s production cost is estimated to be around $225 million.

Despite receiving mixed reactions from critics and audiences alike in the DC Extended Universe, films centered around Superman – including the controversial version of Justice League – all surpassed the $500 million mark globally. For instance, Man of Steel raked in $668 million, while Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice brought in an impressive $872.6 million, and the previously mentioned Justice League made a substantial $661.3 million.

As I eagerly awaited the big screen debut of Superman, there was a palpable sense of anticipation and uncertainty in the air. With Warner Bros.’ recent string of costly box office bombs like Joker: Folie à Deux and Mickey 17, there were whispers that Superman’s success could be make-or-break for the studio. Rumors swirled that if Superman didn’t live up to expectations, Warner Bros. might face a fate similar to Fox – being sold off. As a diehard movie fan, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of apprehension, hoping against hope that my beloved studio would weather this storm.

It appears that those worries have lessened considerably lately due to the successful theater showings of WB productions like “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners“. Additionally, predictions suggest that “Superman” will have a strong opening weekend, potentially earning between $125-145 million in domestic sales. These projections remained unaltered even after the massive debut of “Jurassic World Rebirth” during the Fourth of July weekend, indicating that Gunn may have been correct to underplay the level of pressure on “Superman“.

A target of over half a billion dollars worldwide for a major studio blockbuster like Superman is certainly ambitious, but it’s not an unattainable goal. It appears that Warner Bros. Discovery isn’t pushing the reboot to break box office records, which is a relief. Instead, they seem to have more practical expectations, mirroring Gunn’s sentiment about being content as long as Superman covers its production cost. Given that Superman is one of the most beloved fictional characters globally, it makes sense for the first installment in a new franchise to aim for a more achievable milestone. Many successful blockbuster series started with relatively modest beginnings; for example, Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe with $585.8 million, while Batman Begins earned $375.4 million before spawning two billion-dollar sequels.

Despite the possibility that “Jurassic World Rebirth” might perform well (especially abroad), “Superman” should find it relatively effortless to surpass its $500 million goal. The film’s favorable word of mouth, backed by positive reviews, is a strong indication. Critics have applauded David Corenswet’s portrayal as Superman and James Gunn’s optimistic, uplifting storytelling style. “Superman” also benefits from having a couple of weeks before Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” hits theaters, providing it with an unobstructed path to accumulate significant earnings before the next superhero film appears. If its opening weekend matches the projected success, the DC Universe will launch successfully.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/superman-2-sequel-everything-we-know-james-gunn-batman-worlds-finest/embed/#

Read More

2025-07-11 17:44