The latest Superman, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, lifted off in North America with a blockbuster $21 million from premiere previews alone — outperforming every 2025 release so far and smashing James Gunn’s previous record set by Guardians Vol. 3 ($17.5M).
Preview Performance Worthy of Krypton
- A strong $2.8 million came from early Amazon Prime member screenings on Tuesday, included in the total.
- At over $21M, it bests 2025’s previous top preview of Lilo & Stitch ($14.5M) and Captain America: Brave New World ($12M).
- It dashes past Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel (just $9M in previews).
Weekend Forecast: $115–175 M Range
Industry projections vary widely, reflecting both optimism and caution:
- Conservative estimates from Warner Bros. and trackers target $100–130M .
- Analysts and box office experts lean towards $120–150M, citing strong demand and early buzz.
- Some bullish voices estimate a record-level opening of $154–175M, rivaling other major DC and Marvel tentpoles.
DC’s Make-Or-Break Moment
This reboot stands as the signature launch of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU, intended to reset the franchise’s trajectory.
- With a $225M production budget, plus heavy marketing, the studio aims for a $500–700M global total to mark clear profitability .
- Preview success and positive early reviews (Rotten Tomatoes ~85%) further fuel hopes for long-term theatrical legs .
Jay‑Ho! Takeaway
- For DC Studios, this isn’t just another superhero flick—it’s Superman 2.0, the foundation for a revamped cinematic universe.
- For fans, $21M in previews signals a triumphant return of the hopeful, brighter Superman many have been waiting for.
- For the box office, a predicted $120–150M opening would position Superman among the top domestic debuts of 2025—yet Gunn emphasizes impact over inflated benchmarks.
Final Word:
With previews breaking 2025 records and weekend predictions ranging from impressive to historic, Superman looks set to soar. Whether it hits the upper end of forecasts or not, early signs suggest this reboot might just rescue DC’s sagging cinematic star—and give audiences the antidote to genre fatigue they’ve been waiting for.
