The DC Studios test case is off to a record-breaking start in 2025 as James Gunn’s Superman earned an estimated $22.5m in Thursday previews through Warner Bros.
The comic book adaptation starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult easily overtook the year’s previous best previews of $14.5m set by Disney’s family smash Lilo & Stitch.
This is also the top career preview figure for Gunn, eclipsing the $17.5m of Marvel Studios’ Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2023.
The tentpole is projected to earn anywhere from $100m to $140m in North America, based on Warner Bros and tracking, and over $100m internationally for a global bow in excess of $200m – a solid start for a film that reportedly cost in the $225m range.
Man Of Steel starring Henry Cavill was the last time Superman had his own film and it opened in June 2013 on $116.6m. By the end of its run Man Of Steel had earned $291m in North America and $379.1m internationally for a $670m global take.
After directing a Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy for Marvel Studios, Gunn is firmly ensconced in the DC Studios camp as co-head of the studio alongside Peter Safran and a lot is riding on Superman’s opening weekend as the first feature in the company’s initial pipeline takes flight.
The goal is not just to build a solid base from which to build franchises, but to assert DC as a force after years of largely sub-par performances and flops such as the Aquaman and Shazam sequels in 2023 – both of which fell woefully short of their predecessors – that have been unable to hold a candle to the years-long supremacy of arch-rival Marvel Studios.