James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Eyes Record-Breaking Box Office Global Opening

James Gunn’s Superman is finally here, and it’s more than just another comic book movie. This one kicks off a whole new era for DC Studios under Gunn and producer Peter Safran. Their rebooted universe, called DCU begins with Superman flying onto screens around the world this weekend. It’s a big moment, and there’s a lot riding on it.

What makes this release even more personal is that Gunn not only directed the film, he also wrote and produced it. This is his vision of Superman, and it’s setting the tone for everything that follows in the DCU.

After years of darker Superman movies under Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan, this version seems lighter, warmer, and more in line with the spirit of the original character.

After a big premiere in Hollywood on Monday night, things are looking good. The movie sits at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and is certified fresh. That puts it ahead of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (which scored 57%) and Batman v. Superman (which dropped all the way to 23%). It’s even doing better than Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns from 2006, which had a 72% score.

According to Deadline, box office tracking is strong. The movie is expected to open to at least $200 million worldwide. That includes 60,000 screens split evenly between domestic and international markets. In the U.S. and Canada, industry sources say Superman could make somewhere between $115 million and $130 million this weekend.

Presales have already hit $20 million. That’s better than what Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 had at this point, though still behind Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

The rollout is happening fast. It began Wednesday in France, Italy, and Korea. Germany, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia followed on Thursday. Friday brings the UK, Spain, China, and Japan. All in all, Superman will be in 78 countries. The markets expected to do best include the UK, Brazil, France, Mexico, Australia, and Germany. China is off to a good start, with strong presales for Thursday and Friday, though interest appears to dip over the weekend.

According to box office data, interest in Superman is strongest among men under and over 25. It’s tracking slightly better than Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake, ahead of Minecraft: The Movie, and not too far off from The Batman’s opening in 2022. Superman will also take over premium formats like Dolby and ScreenX this weekend, pushing out Jurassic World: Rebirth which is entering its second weekend.

This isn’t just another reboot. Superman is a big deal for Warner Bros. The original 1978 movie starring Christopher Reeve helped define the superhero genre. That film made over $300 million worldwide. The sequel, Superman II, was also a hit. But things started to fall apart with Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, both of which flopped with critics and at the box office.

In 2006, Bryan Singer tried to bring the character back with Superman Returns. It paid tribute to the original films, but didn’t really catch on. The movie made $391 million worldwide but cost so much to make it was considered a disappointment.

Then came Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013, with Henry Cavill in the lead role. That one finally got Superman back on his feet, opening with $116 million and going on to make $670 million globally. But follow-ups like Batman v. Superman and Justice League showed that the darker tone wasn’t connecting with everyone. Batman v. Superman still holds the biggest domestic opening for a Superman movie at $166 million, but its low reviews and divisive style hurt its legacy.

Now, James Gunn is trying something different. The early signs are promising. The reviews are solid, fans seem excited, and the box office tracking is strong. If Superman delivers, this could be the start of something big for the new DCU.

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