As of now, Superman has grossed $569 million at the worldwide box office. Updated international figures (which we're hoping will land either today or tomorrow) should see the first DC Studios movie soar beyond $600 million, but its momentum is slowing.
With a Digital release set for August 26, Superman will almost certainly end its run beneath 2013's Man of Steel ($670 million), a solid result for a brand that was nearly damaged beyond repair by flops like Black Adam, The Flash, and Joker: Folie à Deux.
The trades have reported that Superman had a $225 million production budget before a $125 million marketing spend, adding weight to reports from last year which suggested it cost upwards of $330 million in total. If those figures are correct, Superman will, at best, turn a meagre profit, and at worst, barely break even.
When filmmaker James Gunn was asked on Threads about Superman needing to make $650 million to be deemed a success, he replied, "Absolutely false. Anyone saying that doesn't have an understanding of the film business - and we would be idiots to make a first-in-a-franchise film that would need to make that much to be profitable."
$500 million was previously thrown out as a number that would make Warner Bros. Discovery executives happy, so there's a chance Superman has netted a small profit for DC Studios. Still, even after outperforming all of this year's MCU titles, the DCU reboot is by no means a mega-hit.
That may not matter in the long run. After the past few years, a well-reviewed, well-received DC movie has done a huge amount to help the brand, and the fact that it hasn't flopped is a massive win in and of itself. All eyes will now be on Supergirl and Clayface to see how they perform, though it's unclear what DC Studios' next big budget blockbuster will be.
You can see Gunn's response in full below.
Superman, DC Studios' first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures.
In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.
"Superman is an indescribable joy," we said in our review. "A beautiful, moving thrill, David Corenswet is the perfect Man of Steel in a movie packed full of ideas. Fortunately, under James Gunn’s expert direction, all of those work, creating a rousing experience that flies higher than DC has in a very long time."
The movie stars David Corenswet in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
Also appearing are Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, and Milly Alcock.
Superman is now playing in theaters.