Superman’s Shocking Box Office Surge Leaves Everyone Speechless

In an unexpected move, James Gunn’s revamped version of Superman took flight on theater screens last night, raking in a strong $22.5 million from preview screenings – defying industry predictions and setting one of the highest Thursday openings for DC Comics films to date. This new success has sparked renewed enthusiasm about its potential box office performance.

Initially predicted to earn anywhere from $90 to $120 million during its debut weekend, recent estimates suggest that the opening weekend earnings for James Gunn’s film could reach as much as $140 million. This figure is almost at par with the highly optimistic expectations set several weeks ago.

Warner Bros. has made a powerful debut with their film under the DC Studios banner led by Gunn and Peter Safran. Although Thursday’s success has built anticipation, there’s still uncertainty: Can Superman surpass 2013’s Man of Steel, and if it does, how significantly?

A Surprise Super Start

As a movie critic, I’m thrilled to share that the Thursday previews for “Superman” have raked in an impressive $22.5 million, placing it as the third-largest Thursday debut among all DC films. Trailing only “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” this blockbuster is certainly setting the stage for an unforgettable cinematic experience!

Furthermore, it surpasses the Thursday earnings of “Man of Steel,” initially reported as $9 million from late-night screenings. However, if you factor in Wednesday’s Walmart-exclusive showings (which were counted at the time), the total preview gross for “Man of Steel” actually reached $12 million.

To ensure a level playing field, we’re taking into account the entire $128.7 million debut of “Man of Steel,” including its preview screenings, as our benchmark for comparison with the estimated total earnings of the original “Superman.

Revised Projections

Due to Thursday’s box office performance surpassing expectations, financial experts now predict that “Superman” could potentially rake in profits ranging from $130 million to $140 million within its first weekend domestically.

Rewording that sentence in a simpler and more conversational manner: Doing this could place it slightly before “Man of Steel” in terms of unadjusted earnings, which means it might become the highest-earning standalone Superman movie at its opening.

But there’s a catch.

Inflation Tells a Different Story

Inflation-adjusted figures show that Man of Steel brought in around $174.5 million when released in 2025 dollars, compared to its initial $128.7 million opening in 2013. Gunn’s Superman would need to earn at least $210 million to match the inflation-adjusted performance of Man of Steel.

And that’s significant—especially for a film meant to launch an entirely new cinematic universe.

Context Matters: The Snyderverse Was a Bust

It’s important to note that the movie “Man of Steel” initiated what eventually became known as the Snyderverse – a cinematographic universe with an initially intriguing premise. However, it faced significant challenges such as negative criticism, studio intervention, and narrative inconsistencies, ultimately leading to its downfall. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any direct Superman sequel that followed (and for the record, “Batman vs Superman” doesn’t count in this context).

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that the hype surrounding Gunn’s fresh reboot, with its critical goodwill, marketing blitz, and screenings on IMAX/PLF, is quite palpable. However, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow when considering its potential performance against a movie that kickstarted a disappointing franchise. This could be a warning sign. If this reboot is supposed to be DC’s grand comeback, it’s not a guaranteed success—it’s more of a cautiously optimistic beginning.

Absolutely, the entertainment industry has undergone significant transformation. Ticket prices have significantly increased, making multiple viewings a luxury for many. Furthermore, due to swift digital and streaming releases, some enthusiasts who used to watch movies like “Man of Steel” three or four times in the theater might settle for watching “Superman” only once before its HBO Max debut.

Can Superman Keep Soaring?

In its favor, the movie Superman is thriving with less intense competition. On the other hand, despite being a significant box office presence, Jurassic World Rebirth might see a 50% drop in its earnings during its second weekend. Even though it had a strong opening weekend earning $147.3M (over five days), it faced harsher criticism compared to Superman, which currently has an 83% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 52% rating on Criticless.

If a large number of families and regular viewers attend over the weekend, Superman might surpass its current $140 million limit. However, unless there’s an unexpected spike in attendance, it’s likely to fall short of the “seats filled” milestone set by Man of Steel, adjusted for inflation—a sign that goodwill isn’t always enough for record-breaking achievements.

Final Thought

It’s undeniable that Thursday’s previews earning $22.5 million is a significant triumph for Warner Bros. and James Gunn, as it sets Superman up with the momentum required to potentially surpass Man of Steel in terms of raw earnings. However, when considering factors like inflation, audience expectations, and legacy comparisons, it still needs to make progress to reach its full potential.

Gunn and Safran could be guiding DC into a fresh chapter, yet, at the start, they’re still pursuing a phantom wearing a red cloak.

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2025-07-12 00:56