The most recent cinematic installment of Superman, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, debuted strongly at the box office this weekend, reaching a global revenue of 217 million dollars. Of that total, $122 million came from the US and Canadian market, while the rest corresponds to international earnings, according to reports from Reuters and Entertainment Weekly.
The film is positioned as the best global debut for a production dedicated exclusively to the DC Comics superhero, surpassing the $116 million earned by “Man of Steel” (2013). It also ranks among the top three most successful releases of the year in the United States, along with “Minecraft Movie” and “Lilo & Stitch,” according to data published by Yahoo! Entertainment.
With an estimated budget of 225 million dollars and marketing costs that could raise the total expenses to 400 million, the film will need to surpass 700 million globally to reach its financial breakeven point. The sustained box office performance in the upcoming weeks will be crucial, particularly in international markets, where the debut fell slightly below expectations, according to Reuters.
The critical reception has been generally favorable. The film has an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics have praised Corenswet’s performance as a solid and human interpretation of the character. Some experts also highlighted the brighter and more hopeful approach that James Gunn brought to the story, although certain sectors of the audience pointed out that the tone may seem superficial compared to previous versions.
Gunn has explained that this version of Superman is built around themes such as kindness, compassion, and the character’s immigrant experience. These creative decisions have sparked some public debate, especially among conservative groups, as documented by People in their coverage of the premiere.
The movie inaugurates the new stage of the DC cinematic universe, called “Gods and Monsters”, under the creative leadership of Gunn and Peter Safran. It is a strategic relaunch of the franchise, aiming to expand its commercial appeal after a decade of mixed results at the box office and with critics.