James Gunn's 'Superman' Smashes Solo Box Office Records

James Gunn’s Superman had a pretty strong first weekend.

The film earned approximately $122 million from local cinemas along with an additional $95 million internationally, bringing the overall total to $217 million. This represents a significant boost compared to many recent DC releases, such as The Flash ($55 million), Aquaman and the Vanished Realm Aquaman: The Forgotten Empire Aquaman and the Faded Kingdom The Return of Aquaman Aquaman: The Disappeared Crown Aquaman and the Hidden Realm Aquaman and the Missing Dynasty Aquaman: The Uncharted Domain Aquaman and the Lost Sovereignty Aquaman: The Severed Throne ($27.6 million), and the catastrophic Joker: Folie a Deux $37.6 million. Considering Gunn's Superman is the inaugural film in an exciting new series DC Cosmos, that's more than a positive indicator; it's almost essential.

Superman is only the third movie released in 2025 to gross $100 million or more during its debut weekend, following A Minecraft Movie ($162 million) and Lilo & Stitch ($146 million). The final DC film to debut with $100 million at the box office during its first weekend was The Batman which generated $134 million within three days in 2022.

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Significantly, it also marks the highest opening weekend for an individual film Superman a film in history. That fact does come with an asterisk, as Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice generated $166 million in 2016. This became a major blockbuster featuring two top-tier DC superheroes (or three, including Wonder Woman) — and according to the estimated production costs found online, it exceeded Gunn's expenses. Superman also. ($250 million compared to $225 million, at least based on figures found on websites such as Box Office Mojo.)

While Gunn’s Superman did outgross Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel on their individual first weekends, $122 million compared to $116 million, it should be mentioned that these figures do not consider inflation—and when adjusted for— Man of Steel In total, you end up with $161 million.

So: James Gunn’s Superman is off to a very solid start. It’s already amongst the biggest Superman films ever made. But it needs to continue to do well — something that will be tough to do in the weeks ahead as more competition arrives in theaters, including new Smurfs and I Know What You Did Last Summer movies, and, above all, Marvel's The Incredible Four: Initial Moves.