Director James Gunn’s latest Superman film has begun the fresh DC Universe franchise with remarkable momentum, hitting impressive numbers in its domestic box office debut this week. As audiences flock to theaters, the James Gunn Superman box office success is shaping up to surpass expectations, positioning the film to outpace previous franchise launches, including Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel.
The superhero movie opened with $56 million on its first day, matching Man of Steel’s debut from over ten years ago. Despite the comparable start, Superman appears primed to exceed its predecessor’s first weekend haul, as the early projection ranges from $115 million to $120 million. These figures are buoyed by strong positive reviews and audience enthusiasm. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film maintains a certified fresh rating of 82%, while the audience score climbs even higher at 94%. Additionally, moviegoers awarded the film an A- CinemaScore, signaling ongoing favorable word of mouth.
Superman Displaces Jurassic World Rebirth at the Top Spot
The arrival of Superman has pushed last week’s box office leader, Jurassic World Rebirth, into second place. The seventh installment of the lengthy action-adventure franchise has already surpassed $200 million domestically and over $400 million worldwide. It added more than $11 million on its second Friday and is targeting a weekend total exceeding $35 million. The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey and is expected to cross the $500 million global mark this weekend, although reaching $1 billion remains uncertain.
Other Box Office Holdovers Keep Momentum
Trailing behind these blockbusters, the sports drama F1 slipped to third place with an estimated $3 million earned on its third Friday. This weekend’s total is likely to reach around $11 million, which would push its domestic earnings beyond $130 million. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt, F1 has benefited from strong audience ratings and a sense of being an event film. Globally, it is also set to surpass $400 million, comfortably recovering its reported $300 million budget.
In fourth place, How to Train Your Dragon continues to perform steadily with a projected weekend gross just under $6 million as it enters its fifth weekend, moving its domestic total near the $240 million mark. Pixar’s Elio rounds out the top five, though the film has experienced a decline. Now in its third weekend, it is expected to bring in about $3 million, bringing its total above $65 million. Despite this, Elio has yet to recoup half of its considerable $200 million budget, which ballooned after significant reworking during production.
Key Cast Members Bringing New Life to Classic Roles
The success of James Gunn’s Superman is further propelled by the casting of David Corenswet in the lead role, who portrays Clark Kent / Superman / Kal-El with fresh appeal. Rachel Brosnahan stars as Lois Lane, adding depth to the film’s central dynamic. The strong performances of the cast have complemented the film’s positive critical reception and energized audience reactions.
What This Means for the DC Universe and Beyond
The promising start of James Gunn’s Superman signals a hopeful future for the DC Universe franchise, which has been eagerly anticipated by fans and industry watchers alike. Surpassing the benchmarks set by Man of Steel underscores the film’s broad appeal amid an uncertain and highly competitive box office landscape. The continued strong performance of holdover films like F1 and Jurassic World Rebirth highlights a lively market for diverse cinematic experiences. Moving forward, the Superman film’s momentum could shape the trajectory of upcoming DC projects, while its box office success remains a key metric for studios assessing blockbuster viability in 2024.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is James Gunn leaving Marvel?
A. In 2018, Marvel let James Gunn go because some of his old, inappropriate tweets about serious topics like pedophilia and rape came back into the spotlight. This led to widespread public anger. That July, Gunn’s situation took a significant turn.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. In Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation, the CGI-animated version of Krypto the Superdog takes inspiration from Ozu. Gunn, who grew up in a Catholic household, still finds prayer significant. However, he also describes himself as “in some ways, anti-religion.”
Q. What religion is James Gunn?
A. He grew up in a Catholic family in Manchester, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. He has five siblings: Sean and Matt, who are actors, Brian, a screenwriter, and Patrick and Beth. His father came from an Irish immigrant background, so Gunn is of Irish descent.
