Superman Soars to $123M Opening: DC's Biggest Debut Yet

This strong opening is a welcome relief for the studio, which made Superman a high-stakes project to rejuvenate the DC franchise after a string of underperforming titles. The film was written and directed by James Gunn, now co-CEO of DC Studios, as the first chapter in a newly rebooted DC cinematic universe. Warner Bros. reportedly spent around $225 million on production (nearly $400 million including marketing), and analysts suggested Superman would need to fly past $500–700 million globally just to break even and be considered a success. Pre-release expectations ranged widely: internal studio forecasts were a cautious $90–125 million domestic, while some industry tracking predicted an opening as high as $175 million. The actual $123 million result lands comfortably in the upper end of those projections, delivering a solid debut that “saves the day” for DC’s new era.

Much of the fan excitement was evident even before opening day. Preview screenings for Superman (including a special Amazon Prime early access event) yielded a massive $22.5 million in ticket sales. According to Deadline, that’s the best preview gross of any film in 2025 and even a record for any movie involving James Gunn, topping the preview numbers of Warner Bros.’ own blockbuster Barbie last summer. The film’s release date – July 11 – was strategically positioned in the heart of summer, and Warner Bros. backed it with an extensive “Summer of Superman” marketing campaign. Trailers leaned into nostalgia by incorporating John Williams’ classic 1978 Superman theme, and the first teaser trailer amassed over 250 million views in 24 hours, a new DC record for trailer launches. The studio also staged inventive promotions, such as a tie-in during the Super Bowl weekend’s Puppy Bowl that featured Superman’s canine companion Krypto in a playful spot. In the months leading up to release, Gunn and the cast made global publicity stops (even dubbing one fan event the start of the “Summer of Superman”) to ignite hype. This all-out marketing blitz, combined with generally positive reviews, helped ensure awareness and anticipation were sky-high for Superman’s debut.

Critical and audience reception has been strong, bolstering the movie’s longevity after the big opening. Superman earned a glowing 82% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers praising its hopeful tone and character-driven approach. IGN described the film as “a wonderfully entertaining, heartfelt cinematic reset for the Man of Steel, and a great start for the DCU.” TheWrap’s critic likewise wrote that Gunn “succeeded” in embracing the wonder of the character and crafting a Superman who stands as both an action hero and “moral paragon.” Opening-night audiences seem to agree: they awarded the film a solid “A–” CinemaScore, the same grade that Man of Steel received in 2013. Additionally, Rotten Tomatoes’ verified audience score sits in the mid-90s (94% as of Sunday), indicating enthusiastic fan approval. According to PostTrak surveys, 78% of viewers would definitely recommend the movie to others, boding well for positive word-of-mouth.

Early demographic data shows Superman playing broadly but skewing towards younger male fans. Exit polls indicate the opening weekend crowd was about two-thirds male, with roughly 66% of ticket buyers under the age of 35. That suggests the film pulled in the coveted young adult audience while still appealing to families and longtime Superman enthusiasts. Notably, family attendance was boosted by the film’s PG-13 tone and the inclusion of kid-friendly elements like Superman’s pet dog, adding to its four-quadrant appeal. With relatively strong buzz and little competition in its immediate path, analysts believe Superman could display decent legs in the weeks ahead – a crucial factor if it’s to reach the half-billion dollars needed to satisfy its hefty price tag.

Beyond the numbers, “Superman” marks a new chapter for DC on screen, and its cast and crew have been a major draw. David Corenswet dons the cape as Clark Kent/Superman, offering a younger take on the hero’s dual identity, while Rachel Brosnahan co-stars as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult plays the brilliant villain Lex Luthor. The film is packed with other notable DC characters and stars: Edi Gathegi appears as tech-genius hero Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as a cocky Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Isabela Merced as the winged warrior Hawkgirl, and Anthony Carrigan as the shape-shifting Metamorpho – all members of an ensemble Justice League-like team that Gunn weaves into the story. Under James Gunn’s direction (with his own screenplay), this new Superman installment balances epic action, humor, and heart. It deliberately hearkens back to the optimistic spirit of the Christopher Reeve era while introducing modern twists and a diverse cast of characters to enrich Superman’s world.