ISLAMABAD: The highly anticipated superhero tentpole, from DC Studios and Warner Bros., is on course to top Friday’s domestic box office chart with $55 million, including a record $22.5 million in Thursday previews and sneak Imax screening earlier in the week, according to early returns. Superman’s opening has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Heading into the weekend, Warners and DC remained conservative in suggesting $100 million-plus, while Hollywood’s leading tracking service predicted the pic would open to $130 million. It appears DC and Warners were right to manage expectations. Despite the record-breaking preview gross, it now looks like Superman is headed for a domestic debut in the $115 million to $120 million range. That could change, of course, if there is heavy walk-up traffic. ONLINE
The hype around the film is enormous; even President Donald Trump joined in on the action by posting a meme of himself on social media as the new Man of Steel.
While Superman won’t break any major domestic records for Gunn as a director, it is a notable first step for the reconfigured DC Studios, which he runs with producer Peter Safran. Crossing $100 million is no small feat for any movie, and particularly for the fatigued superhero genre.
Superman would be the first superhero film to cross $100 million in its North American opening since Marvel Studios and Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine launched to $211 million in summer 2024. And it’s the first DC film to cross $100 million in eight long years since Wonder Woman debuted to $103.3 million in 2017. And it’s only the third movie of 2025 so far to launch north of $100 million behind A Minecraft Movie, which opened to $162.8 million, and Lilo & Stitch, which started off with $146 million. Jurassic World Rebirth‘s official three-day opening was $92 million when it opened over the long July Fourth corridor and amassing $147.8 million in its first five days.
