While Hollywood’s leading tracking service shows James Gunn‘ Superman flying to $130 million in its domestic box office debut, DC Studios is being far more conservative in sticking with a forecast of $100 million-plus.
Gunn is in the unique position of being both the film’s writer-director and the co-head of the Warner Bros.-owned DC Studios, so he has plenty of sway in controlling the messaging. Superman, perhaps the summer’s biggest curiosity factor, opens everywhere in North America July 11. It is also opening in 78 markets overseas, where it is likewise predicting an opening of $100 million-plus.
When the tentpole first came on tracking three weeks ago, NRG reported a North American opening of $135 million. That figure subsequently dropped to $130 million, but has held steady since. And the film can only be helped by stellar reviews, including this one from The Hollywood Reporter, which says, “the man of steel reclaims his human heart” in the post-Zack Snyder era. It currently sits at an 84 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice broke records for a film featuring Clark Kent/Superman with a domestic opening of $166 million in 2016, not adjusted for inflation. The last solo Superman movie, Snyder’s 2013 film Man of Steel, debuted to $116 million domestically. And almost two decades ago, Bryan Singer‘s Superman Returns posted a six-day North American opening of more than $84 million.
It’s understandable why Gunn and his DC Studios co-head Peter Safran are skittish when it comes to tracking, which has been all over the map in recent months. At the same time, Superman is among the world’s best-known superheros, alongside Batman and Marvel’s Spider-Man.
Superman stars David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Rounding out the cast are Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific.
Gunn told press in February of this year, “People are looking for heroes right now. They are looking for values of goodness, looking for people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that.” At the same time, Gunn has spoken often superhero fatigue striking the box office.
The movie marks the first DC film entry for Gunn since he took over the reins of Warner Bros’ superhero label with Safran in November 2022. Other upcoming DC Studios projects include HBO’s Green Lantern series Lanterns and a Supergirl movie, due out in 2026.