The latest Superman film directed by James Gunn has started the new DC Universe franchise on a high note with a robust box office debut. Released this weekend, the movie not only crossed the $100 million threshold domestically but is also positioned to surpass the opening weekend numbers of Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel. The film’s strong start reflects both its favorable reviews and enthusiastic audience reception.
On its opening day alone, Superman earned $56 million, mirroring the debut day earnings of Man of Steel over ten years ago. While Snyder’s film ultimately made $116 million in its first domestic weekend despite polarizing opinions, Gunn’s Superman is currently projecting a weekend total between $115 million and $120 million. Its improved prospects are supported by an 82% “certified fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an even higher 94% audience score. CinemaScore ratings show an A- grade from viewers, further signaling a potentially successful run.
Jurassic World Rebirth Demoted to Second Place
Superman’s arrival at the box office shifted Jurassic World Rebirth, the previous week’s leader, to the second position. The seventh film in the popular action-adventure franchise has already generated over $200 million domestically and $400 million globally. It added more than $11 million on its second Friday and aims to accumulate over $35 million for the weekend. With leading actors Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, Jurassic World Rebirth is on track to exceed $500 million worldwide, although its journey to reach the $1 billion mark remains uncertain.
Other Notable Films Maintain Steady Performance
The sports drama F1 slipped to third place but still showed resilience, grossing about $3 million on its third Friday with an expected weekend total around $11 million. This would push its cumulative domestic total beyond $130 million, while the film continues to aim for a global gross above $400 million—comfortably surpassing its $300 million production budget. Featuring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski, F1 benefits from solid audience support and event movie appeal.
How to Train Your Dragon held the fourth spot, expected to earn just under $6 million in its fifth weekend. This steady performance will bring its domestic total close to $240 million. Pixar’s Elio dropped to fifth place, with an anticipated $3 million in its third weekend, nudging the movie’s total earnings to over $65 million domestically. Despite this, Elio has yet to recover half of its estimated $200 million budget, which ballooned following extensive production changes.
Strong Debut Highlights Uncertainty Ahead
The success of James Gunn’s Superman demonstrates a promising start for the new DC Universe, but the film’s box office progress will be closely watched amid cautious optimism. Its ability to challenge the legacy of Man of Steel offers hope for the franchise’s viability during an unpredictable market period. Meanwhile, Jurassic World Rebirth’s continued solid performance shows that earlier tentpole films still command audience attention, though competition remains intense. The upcoming weeks will reveal whether Superman can maintain momentum and how these major releases will shape the cinematic landscape moving forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is James Gunn leaving Marvel?
A. In 2018, James Gunn lost his job at Marvel when some of his offensive old tweets, including inappropriate jokes about sensitive topics, resurfaced. Public outrage followed, leading to significant changes for the director in July of that year.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. The updated CGI version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation was inspired by Ozu. Although Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and still values prayer, he sometimes sees himself as “anti-religion.”
Q. What religion is James Gunn?
A. He grew up in a Catholic family in Manchester, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. He has five brothers and sisters: Sean, who acts; Matt, who acts and writes about politics; Brian, who writes scripts; Patrick; and Beth. His family is originally from Ireland, as his father was from a family of Irish immigrants.
