James Gunn’s 2025 Superman movie has achieved a remarkable milestone by grossing $555 million worldwide less than a month after its release, marking a significant success for DC Studios. The latest DC Universe installment, starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, has revitalized the franchise and generated strong box office momentum throughout international and domestic markets.
The Current Status of the Superman Box Office Performance
The 2025 Superman film has surpassed box office earnings of all previous Christopher Reeve Superman movies and the 2006 Superman Returns domestically, signaling a new high for the DC character on the big screen. It has also exceeded the domestic revenue of Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel, although internationally, Snyder’s film may continue to hold a lead. As of August 6, 2025, the movie collected $317.9 million domestically and $237.1 million internationally, totaling $555 million globally.
When compared to past Superman releases, the 2025 film’s worldwide earnings already outpace several earlier installments despite some challenges in international markets. Below is a comparison of domestic, international, and global box office figures for key Superman films, showing how James Gunn’s version stacks up:
Superman Movie Box Office Totals (Domestic / International / Worldwide)
Superman (1978): $134.4M / $166M / $300.4M
Superman II (1980): $108.1M / $108.2M / $216.3M
Superman III (1983): $59.9M / $20.3M / $80.2M
Superman IV (1987): $15.6M / $14.6M / $30.2M
Superman Returns (2006): $200M / $191M / $391M
Man of Steel (2013): $291M / $379.1M / $670.1M
Batman v Superman (2016): $330.3M / $544M / $874.3M
Justice League (2017): $229M / $432.3M / $661.3M
Superman (2025): $317.9M / $237.1M / $555M (as of 8/6/25)
Despite the strong performance at home, the 2025 Superman is facing hurdles internationally, due in part to a lower level of enthusiasm among overseas audiences. James Gunn has attributed this to a climate of anti-American sentiment in some regions, which has affected engagement with the film outside the United States.
Industry analysts note that for a movie to break even, its box office revenue typically needs to be about 2.5 times its production budget. While the new Superman is achieving commercial success domestically, its future international returns remain critical for the full profitability of the film. Nonetheless, this milestone establishes an important win for DC Studios as they continue to build momentum for the broader DC Universe.
How This Milestone Shapes the Future of DC and the 2025 Superhero Race
The robust box office numbers indicate that James Gunn’s Superman has strong potential to be the most lucrative superhero film of 2025, ahead of rivals like The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts, and Captain America: Brave New World. As Superman’s theatrical run continues, it looks poised to maintain its lead both domestically and globally.
Here are the domestic, international, and worldwide earnings for selected 2025 superhero movies as of August 6, 2025:
Superman (2025): $317.9M / $237.1M / $555M
Captain America: Brave New World: $200.5M / $214.6M / $415.1M
Thunderbolts: $190.2M / $192.1M / $382.4M
The Fantastic Four: First Steps: $201.6M / $170.2M / $371.9M
This year marks the first time since 2008 that a DC film leads over Marvel in worldwide box office revenue. This turnaround is significant for Warner Bros. and DC Studios, building positive momentum after previous challenges within the DC Universe franchise. Positive critical reception and enthusiastic fan response further reinforce the hopeful outlook for future DC films and projects.
Exploring the New Vision for Superman and the DC Universe
Superman (2025) centers on Clark Kent as he balances his human upbringing with his Kryptonian heritage while navigating complex personal and societal challenges. David Corenswet stars as the Man of Tomorrow, with Rachel Brosnahan portraying Lois Lane, grounding the story with emotional depth.
The film introduces audiences to refreshed versions of classic heroes and villains, weaving in numerous Easter eggs that hint at upcoming DC Universe expansions, including several movies and TV series. This reinvigorated approach aims to strengthen the brand and broaden the appeal of DC’s flagship characters on a global scale.
As DC Studios continues to develop new installments, the strong box office showing of this Superman film offers a promising foundation to further grow the franchise worldwide, although the challenge remains to deepen international audience connections to boost future global box office figures.
