James Gunn’s latest Superman movie, featuring David Corenswet as the iconic hero, has delivered a record-breaking opening weekend, surpassing all previous solo Superman films in domestic box office revenue. This reflects a significant achievement for the new interpretation of the Last Son of Krypton and marks a milestone that Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel and other solo installments failed to reach. The excitement around Gunn’s Silver Age take is palpable, as it becomes the highest-grossing debut for a standalone Superman film in history.
Despite this success, fans loyal to the Snyderverse may find some consolation in the fact that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice still holds the strongest opening weekend for any film featuring Superman, with its $166 million domestic debut in March 2016. However, critics appear to favor Gunn’s vision, as reflected in the new Superman’s Certified Fresh rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, outperforming all Zack Snyder films that included Kal-El. Furthermore, it holds the highest Popcornmeter score at 93%, the best audience rating for any live-action Superman movie.
Global and Domestic Performance Highlights
Beyond the domestic market, Gunn’s Superman drew an impressive $95 million internationally, bringing its worldwide opening weekend total to $217 million. This places the film in second place among 2025 summer releases for domestic openings, narrowly beating Jurassic World Rebirth’s $92 million premiere. Nevertheless, there remains a major competitor dominating the summer box office that Superman has yet to challenge.
The Summer Blockbuster Race: Lilo & Stitch Approaches a Billion-Dollar Milestone
While James Gunn’s Superman leads the weekend box office with a strong international showing, Disney’s remake of Lilo & Stitch continues to dominate the summer’s sales charts. Released on May 23, the animated film has maintained its theater supremacy for three consecutive weekends and is now nearing the significant benchmark of one billion dollars in global revenue. Currently, Lilo & Stitch has amassed $994.3 million worldwide, making it the top-grossing film domestically so far in 2025.
On the global scale, only one movie has earned more than Lilo & Stitch this year: the Chinese animated fantasy Ne Zha 2, which boasts an extraordinary $1.994 billion total worldwide. Though Lilo & Stitch earned a modest $2.7 million over the past weekend, its sustained audience interest has kept it in the top 10, ranking seventh overall. The film has now remained in cinemas for eight weekends, and industry observers expect it to cross the billion-dollar threshold within the next two weeks, largely depending on ongoing international sales.
Upcoming Challenges for Superman’s Box Office Dominance
Despite Superman’s impressive start, it faces stiff competition in the weeks ahead. Not only will it compete with the enduring appeal of Lilo & Stitch, but also with upcoming blockbusters like The Fantastic Four: First Steps, scheduled for release on July 25. The continued performance of these films will shape the contest for the summer’s highest-grossing title and determine where Gunn’s Superman will ultimately stand among 2025’s major releases.
Legacy and Impact: A New Chapter for Superman and the DCEU
The performance of James Gunn’s Superman signifies a turning point for the character’s cinematic presence, especially when measured against the legacy of Zack Snyder’s contributions to the DCEU. Fans of Snyder’s vision may feel a degree of loss as this new film eclipses previous records and wins over critics and audiences alike. Still, the film’s success introduces a hopeful future for the character, suggesting that fresh creative directions can revitalize Superman’s appeal and box office fortunes.
David Corenswet’s portrayal of Clark Kent/Kal-El, alongside Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, has been well received, marking a shift toward a more Silver Age-inspired Superman that resonates with both fans and newcomers. This new chapter may redefine expectations for the character and impact upcoming DC Comics adaptations in theaters.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Zack Snyder quit?
A. Creating the original movie was tough, and the script changed a lot. In May 2017, after his daughter passed away, Snyder left the project. Joss Whedon was brought in to finish the film, working as an additional director without receiving official credit.
Q. Did Zack Snyder lose a child?
A. After his daughter Autumn died by suicide, Snyder left the post-production of Justice League in May 2017 to support his family. Joss Whedon then finished the movie instead.
