Box Office: ‘Superman’ Rockets to $217 Million, DC’s New Universe Off to a Soaring Start

The Man of Steel has returned and he’s bringing box office numbers skyward. DC Studios’ Superman, the fresh reboot led by David Corenswet, launched with a hefty $122 million haul in North America, making it the third-largest opening of 2025. Only Minecraft and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake outpaced it this year, with $162 million and $146 million debuts, respectively. While overseas interest proved slightly more muted, international audiences still delivered $95 million, bringing the global total to $217 million.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Warner Bros. shelled out an estimated $225 million for production and tacked on another $100 million for marketing. But beyond dollars, this marks the inaugural entry in a reimagined DC Universe. “Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team,” said Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. “The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

Directed by James Gunn, Superman ditches brooding grit for bright-eyed purpose. Corenswet’s Clark Kent faces off with a scheming Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, while supported by Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and a scene-stealing Krypto the Superdog. Fans gave it an incredible 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. IMAX was a big factor, accounting for 15.6% of domestic earnings. Globally, IMAX tickets contributed $30.4 million, further highlighting the format’s impact.

Trailing behind in second place is Jurassic World Rebirth, pulling in $40 million in its sophomore weekend. That takes its global haul to a hefty $529 million in just two weeks. In third, F1 added $13 million, pushing its worldwide total to $393 million.

How to Train Your Dragon, now in its fourth weekend, held on in fourth with $7.8 million. The live-action reboot has now grossed $560 million globally, proving its staying power. Meanwhile, Pixar’s Elio continues to struggle. The sci-fi family adventure earned just $3.9 million, placing fifth and bringing its global total to $117 million. With a $150 million production budget, it remains firmly in the red.

As for Superman, opening weekend success is only the first test. With summer tentpoles arriving weekly, its real challenge will be longevity. For now, though, it’s safe to say: Superman is back and DC might finally be flying in the right direction.

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