If you’ve been following Superman‘s box office figures, you’re already aware that James Gunn’s new movie has been the strong start that the DCU has desperately needed. But, over the weekend, the film also confirmed that Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe is here to stay, and that Zack Snyder’s divisive DCEU is officially a thing of the past. Superman opened in theaters on July 11 and had an incredibly strong opening weekend. Starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, with Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Superman is the first film in the rebooted DC Universe (although the franchise technically began with the 2024 animated series, Creature Commandos). Superman quickly surpassed Man of Steel’s (which starred Henry Cavill as Superman) domestic box office gross, but Superman has now broken another DC cinematic record.
As Superman continues its strong box office run, James Gunn’s movie has broken yet another DC Comics movie record. The David Corenswet-led outing is now the highest-grossing Superman movie at the domestic box office. Superman has grossed $331 million at the domestic box office at the time of publication. The film already surpassed Man of Steel’s $291 million domestic haul, but it has since overtaken Zack Snyder’s most successful DCEU movie. Batman v Superman (which also introduced audiences to Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman) was the highest-grossing Superman movie at the domestic box office, grossing $330 million. But Superman has finally broken that record.
As it stands, James Gunn’s Superman is now the most successful movie to feature the Man of Steel at the domestic box office. However, the international battle rages on. Superman famously struggled to get out of the gate in the international market, and that struggle continues, as it has grossed $247 million internationally. However, Snyder’s DCEU movies were far more successful abroad and, as a result, both Man of Steel and Batman v Superman still have a higher worldwide gross than Superman. Man of Steel grossed $670 million worldwide, while Batman V Superman earned $874 million. Meanwhile, Superman’s worldwide haul currently sits at $578 million.
Superman 2 Is Officially In the Works… Kind Of
Warner Bros.
With Superman’s box office success comes the much-needed news of a sequel. Just shy of a month after Superman opened in theaters, DC Studios and Warner Bros. revealed that James Gunn is working on the next saga of Superman’s story. However, the Man of Steel himself might not be the central character. “James Gunn is already preparing to write the next installment in the Super family,” was the exact wording David Zaslav used when unveiling the news.
Many are assuming that the film will be Superman 2, or whatever Gunn decides to title the movie, before it’s inevitably changed again, leading up to its release. However, many fans are hoping that the film could introduce more members of the Superman family. Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) is already getting her own movie in Supergirl. But the sequel could introduce Connor Kent, a.k.a. Superboy, a clone of Superman made by Lex Luthor.
- Release Date
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July 11, 2025
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Director
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James Gunn
- Producers
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Peter Safran