Superman Just Beat This Controversial Marvel Sequel at the Box Office

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In the early part of this year, James Gunn – director of Superman and co-head of DC Studios – played down the idea of a box office competition between Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, stating that both could thrive independently. However, despite his comments, fans continue to compare the financial success of Marvel and DC film adaptations. Throughout its cinematic release, Superman has surpassed several high-profile movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), setting a strong tone for the burgeoning DC Universe. It has outperformed films featuring Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, and now Thor’s comeback finds him challenging Superman again.

Currently, it’s been reported that the total domestic earnings for Superman amount to approximately $343.5 million, just slightly surpassing 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder, which earned $343.2 million in the U.S. However, when looking at their international revenues, Thor: Love and Thunder was more popular; its global earnings reached $760.9 million, whereas Superman has recently surpassed $600 million. It’s important to note that these figures do not account for inflation.

How Superman‘s Box Office Compares to Thor: Love and Thunder

Last summer, there was a lot of excitement for the release of “Thor: Love and Thunder”. This was because it was Chris Hemsworth’s first appearance as Thor since the massive success of “Avengers: Endgame”, and director Taika Waititi, who had previously directed the successful “Thor: Ragnarok”, returned to helm the film. As a result, “Love and Thunder” opened to one of the highest grosses of the year, earning $144.1 million domestically. This amount even surpassed the openings for blockbuster hits like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water”.

The new Superman movie earned $125 million domestically during its opening weekend, more than expected yet less than Thor: Love and Thunder’s debut. This might be due to the fact that Love and Thunder is the fourth Thor film and Chris Hemsworth’s ninth appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Established franchises tend to have an easier time having large opening weekends compared to initial releases. Even though Superman is a globally renowned superhero, this particular version was new to audiences. Future films featuring David Corenswet’s Superman may attract even more viewers.

Superman surpassed the lifetime domestic earnings of Thor: Love and Thunder due to its stronger staying power. Propelled by favorable critiques and eager audience buzz, Superman dropped only 53.2% in its second weekend. In contrast, Thor: Love and Thunder‘s reception was divided, leading to a steeper 67.7% decrease. The initial fervor drew die-hard fans to the theater on the opening day, but enthusiasm dwindled afterwards. This demonstrates the importance of studio blockbusters maintaining their momentum after an impressive debut.

It’s clear that Love and Thunder, despite not being a box office sensation like some might have expected (having earned more than its $250 million production budget), hasn’t flopped. Compared to Thor: Ragnarok, however, Marvel seems to have noticed a decline in earnings. Ragnarok grossed an impressive $855.3 million worldwide, with a significant portion coming from the US market. Its second weekend drop was similar to Superman’s (around 53.5%). If Marvel decides to produce Thor 5 after wrapping up the Multiverse Saga, they should focus heavily on delivering high-quality content. With this approach, Thor might surpass Superman in box office success.

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2025-08-23 19:41