CNN
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\n It\u2019s not a bird or a plane \u2014 it\u2019s the latest \u201cSuperman\u201d movie soaring towards the top of the box office.\n <\/p>\n
\n Warner Bros. Pictures\u2019 \u201cSuperman\u201d grossed an estimated $56.5 million domestically on Friday, on top of $22.5 million in Thursday previews. The 1938 comic book character, which began as a film series in 1978, is expected to gross nearly $130 million domestically for the weekend.\n <\/p>\n
\n Warner Bros. Discovery is the parent company of CNN.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cSuperman has been one of the most challenging movies to project,\u201d said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder and owner of Box Office Theory, citing less recent interest in comic book films and DC Studios\u2019 struggles compared to Marvel\u2019s success. It\u2019s part of the reason that James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios and director of \u201cSuperman,\u201d unveiled new plans<\/a> for the film franchise in 2023.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThis is a Superman movie for the modern era, and it also represents an opportunity for a reboot of sorts for DC Comics,\u201d said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.\n <\/p>\n \n Early estimates had the movie earning around $90 million, said Dergarabedian. But the movie has been well-received by audiences and critics, with an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 95% on the site\u2019s Popcornmeter, boosting the opening forecast.\n <\/p>\n \n Gunn\u2019s take on \u201cSuperman\u201d varies from previous adaptations of the hero, including Zack Snyder\u2019s 2013 \u201cMan of Steel,\u201d which grossed $402.6 million domestically during its run, adjusted for inflation.\n <\/p>\n