James Gunn’s Superman (2025), starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, has officially become the highest-grossing solo Superman film at the domestic box office, earning $292.5 million in just 18 days since its July 11 release. The film has now surpassed the lifetime U.S. earnings of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013), which grossed $291 million.
Globally, Superman has crossed $400 million, reaching $406.8 million through its second weekend. Domestically, it added $57.2 million in its second weekend, dropping only 54%, a strong sign of continued audience interest.
The film’s box office success gives a major boost to the new DC Universe, launched by Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran. It has already outperformed recent Marvel films like Thunderbolts ($383 million worldwide) and Captain America: Brave New World ($415 million worldwide).
Critics and fans have praised the movie for its hopeful tone, bright visuals, and Corenswet’s heartfelt performance. It currently holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 93% audience rating, indicating strong word-of-mouth support.
Despite its success, the film’s international earnings—at $171.8 million—have been softer than expected, possibly due to Superman’s strongly American image and stiff competition from releases like Jurassic World Rebirth.
With a reported production budget of $225 million and marketing costs nearing $100 million, Superman still faces pressure to maintain its momentum. A 72% Friday-to-Friday drop during its first full week raised some concerns about long-term legs.
The film now faces new competition from Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps, expected to open with $100–110 million domestically.
While reactions on social media platform X remain mixed, many fans have hailed the movie as a fresh and emotional restart for the DC Universe. Others are waiting to see if the film can sustain its pace in the weeks ahead.
