James Gunn’s Superman, which launched the new DC Universe era, is showing signs of slowing down as its theatrical presence dwindles in North America, its strongest market. More than two months after debuting, the film’s weekend box office figures have dropped sharply, highlighting a significant loss of momentum in a region that has generated the majority of its revenue.
The Box Office Numbers: A Marked Drop in Weekend Revenue
Since its opening on July 11, Superman’s box office performance initially held steady but began to lose pace after early September. The recent weekend haul fell below the $1 million mark—the lowest since the film’s release. Total box office receipts stand just under $615 million worldwide, with North America accounting for 57.5% of that total as reported by Box Office Mojo.
- North America – $353.3 million
- International – $260.7 million
- Worldwide – $614.1 million
This latest weekend represents the first since Superman’s launch that it failed to breach $1 million domestically. In its ninth weekend, the film earned approximately $970,000, reflecting a steep 62% drop compared to the prior weekend’s $2.5 million. Daily figures varied, with Friday seeing a 112% rise to $217,000, Saturday climbing 116% to nearly half a million, but Sunday dropping 39.5% down to about $300,000. Despite playing in over 1,100 theaters, it could not reach the million-dollar threshold, an unanticipated performance at this stage.
Continued Decline Puts Theatrical Future in Question
Superman’s box office momentum has clearly diminished, with daily earnings failing to surpass $1 million since August 23, when it earned $1.4 million. This ongoing downturn is mirrored in weekend totals and could prompt theaters to scale back screenings as audience interest wanes and new films draw attention. Several international markets have already taken Superman off their cinema schedules, signaling an overall reduction in its theatrical footprint.
Implications for James Gunn and the DC Universe’s New Chapter
While James Gunn’s Superman successfully initiated the new phase of the DC Universe and saw decent early success, the film’s gradual revenue decline suggests it may end its run closer to $650 million rather than exceeding that milestone significantly. The slowdown marks a typical lifecycle for blockbuster superhero movies as fans’ focus moves toward upcoming projects, and the film’s theatrical journey heads toward closure.
