The Zack Snyder DCEU Box Office Milestone continues as Man of Steel remains the highest-grossing debut among DC Universe (DCU) and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) first films. In a recent comparison, Superman (2025), the DCU’s inaugural release, surpassed the global earnings of Iron Man (2008) from the MCU, but has not yet overtaken Man of Steel (2013) in total box office revenue.
Superman and Iron Man: A Close Contest at Global Box Office
Superman (2025), the first film of the DCU, earned an impressive $611.4 million worldwide, with $351.7 million from domestic markets and $259.7 million internationally. Its top foreign market was the United Kingdom, contributing $37.1 million. Comparatively, Iron Man recorded $585.8 million globally during its theatrical run, with $319 million domestic and $266.7 million international.
This marks Superman’s successful overtaking of Iron Man’s worldwide box office figures, positioning it ahead of the MCU’s debut entry. The Zack Snyder DCEU Box Office Milestone is thus not reflected by Superman but by Man of Steel, which still holds the lead overall.
Man of Steel Maintains Its Position as Top-Performing Debut
With a total lifetime gross of $670.1 million worldwide, Man of Steel edges out both Superman and Iron Man. The DCEU’s first film earned $291 million domestically in the U.S. and $379.1 million internationally. China was its largest overseas market, contributing $63.4 million to its total, followed by strong performances in the United Kingdom and France.
Man of Steel benefited from sustained audiences across these key international markets, helping it sustain a box office advantage despite Superman’s strong opening numbers.
Opening Weekend Comparisons Highlight Audience Interest
Data shows that Superman opened domestically with $125 million, ahead of Iron Man’s $98.6 million and Man of Steel’s $116.6 million. Internationally, Superman‘s opening included $16 million in Brazil, $7.8 million in Mexico, and $5.3 million in Australia, helping the film immediately surpass Iron Man’s initial global start.
However, Man of Steel’s longer-lasting appeal and higher total international revenue keep it in front overall. The revenue splits reveal Superman’s box office relies more on domestic viewers, with 57.5% of earnings coming from the U.S., whereas Man of Steel earned 56.6% from international markets.
Distribution and Market Performance Play Key Roles
Both Superman and Man of Steel were distributed by Warner Bros., while Iron Man was released by Paramount. The distribution strategies and geographic market responses influenced their final results significantly.
Despite Superman’s impressive success in certain territories and surpassing Iron Man, the Man of Steel’s broad international success continues to place it at the top of the Zack Snyder DCEU Box Office Milestone rankings.
Significance of These Box Office Trends
The performance comparison underscores shifts in audience engagement across the different cinematic universes. While the DCU’s Superman demonstrates strong opening momentum and competitive numbers against the MCU’s Iron Man, the DCEU’s Man of Steel remains a benchmark for debut success in the superhero genre.
As new films continue emerging from these franchises, tracking their box office trajectories will provide insight into evolving fan preferences and market dynamics worldwide.
“The data confirms that Superman outgrossed the MCU’s launch film Iron Man. However, it still trails the DCEU’s opening entry Man of Steel in final worldwide totals.”
—Anubhav Chaudhry, SuperHeroHype
