Director James Gunn’s new Superman movie has taken the box office by storm, grossing an estimated $122 million in its opening weekend from July 11 to 13, 2025. This blockbuster debut not only secured the number one spot but also surpassed the opening weekend earnings of Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel, which made around $116 million. The success of Superman marks a pivotal moment for Warner Bros. and the newly reimagined DC Universe, breathing fresh life into the iconic superhero franchise.
Superman’s reported budget stands at $225 million, matching that of Man of Steel, which eventually grossed over $670 million worldwide. However, the latest film is already outperforming its predecessor on the critical front, boasting an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Man of Steel’s 57%. Audience reception has been even more enthusiastic, with a 93% approval rating, signaling strong support for this vibrant, hopeful take on the Man of Steel.
The film follows David Corenswet as Superman, who embodies truth, justice, and the American way in a world that often sees kindness as old-fashioned. This portrayal marks a distinct shift from the darker tones of the earlier DC Extended Universe (DCEU). In fact, Superman’s storyline effectively wipes the slate clean, ending the DCEU timeline and setting up a promising new era for the DC Universe (DCU).
One of the most talked-about aspects of this reboot is how it addresses and fixes the controversial elements that divided audiences in Henry Cavill’s DCEU debut. The 2013 Man of Steel concluded with Superman killing General Zod—a moment that sparked significant debate as it contradicted the character’s traditional ethos of never taking a life. Gunn’s Superman avoids such divisive choices entirely. Throughout the film, Superman is shown actively saving people, whether it’s civilians or even animals, and fight scenes emphasize non-lethal outcomes. For example, when facing Lex Luthor’s Raptor henchmen, Superman’s laser eyes cause burn marks on their armor but leave them alive and conscious, underscoring a more hopeful and less morally ambiguous hero.
Behind the scenes, the costume design has also returned to a more classic look, reintroducing the iconic red trunks that were famously absent in previous adaptations. Zack Snyder removed the trunks for Henry Cavill’s Superman, stating in 2013 that he couldn’t make them “cool,” and the actor himself once joked about preferring to be “far more revealing” without them. Yet, over time, even Cavill expressed openness to their return.
The debate over the red trunks is nothing new. It dates back to the 1950s with George Reeves, who reportedly felt “a little too old to be running around in my underwear.” The 1978 Superman film’s costume designer even discussed the challenges of fitting Christopher Reeve’s suit with various codpieces, highlighting the attention and controversy the trunks have long inspired. In 2005, Brandon Routh’s Superman Returns reignited discussions about the suit’s design, with costume designer Louise Mingenbach revealing that more time was spent debating the size and shape of Superman’s “package” than any other element.
Even the abandoned 1998 Tim Burton-directed Superman Lives film starring Nicolas Cage grappled with the trunks issue, at one point considering basketball shorts as an alternative to avoid ridicule. But with David Corenswet’s Superman, the trunks are back, and their return was reportedly the actor’s insistence. James Gunn explained in December 2024 that they tested versions of the suit with and without trunks, and Corenswet’s view was that Superman’s costume needed to make people feel unafraid of him. Gunn said, “He dresses like a professional wrestler. He dresses in a way that makes people unafraid of him, that shows that hope that shows that positivity. And that really clicked in for me.”
Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav praised the film’s strong debut and the new leadership at DC Studios. “Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world,” Zaslav said on July 13, 2025. “James and [DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran’s] commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired.”
Superman’s success pushed last week’s box office champion, Jurassic World Rebirth, to second place. The dinosaur blockbuster earned $40 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to over $230 million and surpassing $500 million worldwide. Despite a reported $180 million budget, Jurassic World Rebirth faces the daunting benchmark of $1 billion worldwide to be considered a major hit. The film’s mixed reviews and tepid audience response might explain its early loss of momentum.
In third place, F1 slipped slightly in its third weekend, generating around $13 million and pushing its domestic total past $135 million. Globally, the racing drama is approaching $400 million against a hefty $300 million budget. To become the highest-grossing film of star Brad Pitt’s career, F1 must exceed $530 million worldwide, a challenging but achievable goal.
Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon remake held the fourth spot with $8 million in its fifth weekend and is on track to gross more than $250 million domestically. Pixar’s Elio rounded out the top five, having crossed $60 million domestically and $100 million worldwide, though it is on course to be the studio’s biggest box office disappointment, dampening the celebratory mood following last year’s Inside Out 2 success.
With its combination of a hopeful tone, classic costume design, and careful distancing from past controversies, Superman has launched James Gunn’s new shared universe of superhero films and shows with a bang. It appears that the film’s blend of respect for legacy and fresh storytelling has resonated with both critics and audiences, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in superhero cinema.
