James Gunn‘s Superman started strong at the box office following its release on July 11, 2025, marking a fresh chapter for the new DC Universe (DCU). With $125 million earned domestically during the opening weekend, the film outperformed Man of Steel’s debut to claim the biggest opening for a solo movie featuring the iconic DC Comics character. Despite this promising start, the movie faces challenges in maintaining momentum as it enters its second week in theaters.
Significant Second-Weekend Decline Highlights Box Office Challenges
Recent reports indicate that Superman may experience a steep 56% drop in box office revenue during its second weekend, a decline slightly steeper than the industry’s average 50% falloff. While a similar drop was observed with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2—James Gunn’s highest-grossing Marvel movie—the comparison calls attention to a worrying trend for Superman. The film is projected to earn approximately $55 million during its second domestic weekend, notably less than the $65.2 million Guardians Vol. 2 secured during its sophomore weekend. This difference points to Superman lagging behind Gunn’s previous box office successes, even as it approaches a significant global milestone.
Comparing Superman’s Trajectory with James Gunn’s MCU Hits
With a current global gross of around $272 million, Superman is on track to reach approximately $400 million by the end of its second week. While this represents a solid achievement, it still falls short of surpassing the $869 million worldwide total amassed by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which maintains Gunn’s record. The DCU reboot faces substantial obstacles, particularly in regaining audience confidence after the troubled performances of the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films. This contrasts with the more established Guardians franchise, whose latter sequels benefitted from the goodwill generated by earlier entries.
Upcoming Competition and the Road Ahead for Superman
The film‘s prospects to eclipse James Gunn’s MCU box office record appear slim, especially with the release of The Fantastic Four in its third week, which poses additional competition for moviegoers. Despite this, industry analysts suggest that Superman might still reach the critical $700 million global mark, a figure many consider necessary for the film to break even. The film continues to run in theaters across the United States, where audience reception in the coming weeks will ultimately determine its final box office standing within both the DCU and Gunn’s body of work.
“It opened to $125 million domestically during its first weekend, surpassing Man of Steel to become the biggest debut for a solo movie featuring the titular DC Comics character.”
—Deadline Report
“Superman is expected to see a 56% decline in its collections during the second weekend, which is slightly higher than a typical drop of 50%.”
—Deadline Report
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which is Gunn’s highest-grossing movie, also saw a 56% drop in its second weekend.”
—Deadline Report
“It is estimated to make only $55 million during its second domestic weekend.”
—Deadline Report
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 made $65.2 million in its second weekend at the domestic box office.”
—The Numbers
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic family and has talked about how prayer still matters to him. However, he also describes himself as being partly against religion.
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. After the director was removed from the Guardians of the Galaxy series in 2018, Gunn believed his career was finished. Fortunately, he and Peter Safran were chosen in 2022 to lead DC Studios, allowing him to work on a new superhero project.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. The updated CGI version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman movie was inspired by Ozu. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and often mentions that prayer is still important to him. However, he has also described himself as “in some ways, anti-religion.”
