James Gunn's Superman Flies High with Record-Breaking Box Office Debut

James Gunn’s fresh take on the DC Universe is off to an impressive start, as his new Superman film soared in its first weekend at the box office. The movie achieved the second-best debut of Gunn’s directing career and now holds the top spot for a solo Superman release.

As reported by Deadline, the film pulled in $123 million domestically, with an additional $95 million coming from international markets, bringing its global opening total to a hefty $217 million. That places it as the third-largest box office opening of the year, trailing only behind A Minecraft Movie and Jurassic World Rebirth, and ahead of Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts.

This performance narrowly surpasses the 2013 launch of Man of Steel, which earned $116 million in its opening weekend. However, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice still holds the record for any Superman-related film with a $166 million debut in 2016. For Gunn, this is his second-best opening after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which earned $146.5 million back in 2017.

A large part of the movie’s early success appears to come from positive buzz and strong word-of-mouth. Despite some debates surrounding Gunn’s decision to emphasize Superman’s immigrant background, both critics and audiences have responded positively. The film holds an 83% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 68 on Metacritic.

Audience reactions have been even stronger. It boasts an A- on CinemaScore, a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a solid 4.0 rating on Letterboxd, indicating widespread approval.

Superman marks a pivotal moment for Warner Bros. as it attempts to reboot the DC cinematic universe. With the superhero genre facing recent challenges, this film represents a major bet by Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav, who tapped Gunn and producer Peter Safran to lead the new DC Studios. Gunn’s decision to center the relaunch on a grounded and heartfelt version of Superman appears to be paying off.

The film’s budget was reportedly $225 million — a significant but controlled figure, thanks in part to a less star-studded cast. Insiders suggest that Warner Bros. is aiming for a $500 million global take, which now seems attainable based on early performance. Zaslav has previously said he sees DC Studios as a potential “game changer” for the company, and this early success is likely to reinforce that vision.

Gunn took to Threads to thank fans for their support, writing:

“I’m incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm and kind words over the past few days. We’ve had a lot of ‘Super’ in Superman over the years, and I’m happy to have made a movie that focuses on the ‘man’ part of the equation — a kind person always looking out for those in need...”

With such a strong beginning, Superman may well be the revitalizing push DC needed.