New “Superman” reboot earns $217 million
A new "Superman" movie from Warner Bros has debuted strongly, grossing $122 million at the box office in the United States and Canada over the weekend, marking a significant start for DC comic book heroes on the big screen. The film, which introduces David Corenswet as Superman, also earned $95 million internationally, bringing its global total to $217 million. This reboot, directed by James Gunn, is crucial for the future of Warner Bros and its DC Studios division, which has struggled to compete with Marvel's blockbuster success.
Gunn, known for his work on the "Guardians of the Galaxy" series, aims to revitalize the DC cinematic universe alongside co-CEO Peter Safran. The film's opening weekend is the first to surpass $100 million for a DC title since "Wonder Woman" in 2017 and is the third largest opening of 2025. Despite the strong domestic performance, international ticket sales were softer, with only $6.6 million coming from China.
The film has sparked political discourse, with some critics labeling it as "woke" due to Gunn's portrayal of Superman as an immigrant. The movie, which cost around $225 million to produce, takes a different tonal direction from previous iterations, skipping the traditional origin story and focusing on Superman after his first defeat. It has received generally positive reviews, scoring 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and an "A-" CinemaScore from audiences.
In the competitive box office landscape, last week's top film, "Jurassic World Rebirth," fell to second place with $40 million, while Apple Studios' "F1," starring Brad Pitt, came in third with $13 million. The success of "Superman" is seen as a much-needed win for DC Studios, as the company seeks to regain the trust of its fanbase and establish a new era for its superhero films.
