SUPERMAN's Lower-Than-Expected International Box Office Haul Could Be A Big Problem In The Long Run

SUPERMAN's Lower-Than-Expected International Box Office Haul Could Be A Big Problem In The Long Run

Despite a robust marketing campaign, Superman only made $95 million at the international box office this weekend, raising concerns about just how high the Man of Tomorrow will ultimately fly overseas...

By JoshWilding - Jul 14, 2025 11:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: The Wrap

Superman opened to an estimated $122 million in North America this weekend, adding $95 million from overseas for a $217 million global bow. 

It's a strong start for the DC Studios reboot, but one that's raised concerns about just how high the Man of Steel will fly in the weeks ahead. Jurassic World Rebirth took an expected bite out of the movie, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps is also fast approaching.

Fortunately, neither Smurfs nor I Know What You Did Last Summer are expected to pose much of a threat to Superman during its second weekend in theaters. The Wrap has, however, shared some valid concerns about the blockbuster's performance overseas. 

Superman fell short of initial expectations with its $95 million international haul, meaning only 44% of its global cume came from those markets. That's left North America and Canada to do the heavy lifting, especially after it only grossed $13.3 million combined from China, Japan, and South Korea.

The movie also made less than expected in Europe, with a combined $9.6 million from France, Italy, and Spain. In the UK, it opened with $9.8 million, a decent start, albeit one likely negatively impacted by a recent heatwave in the country. 

As the trade explains, "Along with general superhero fatigue internationally, Superman has never been the global box office draw that Batman is thanks to Christopher Nolan’s 'Dark Knight' trilogy."

"While there have been some arguments that the decline of the U.S.’s image under Donald Trump is impacting a hero that for decades was associated with 'Truth, Justice and the American Way' — even with Gunn downplaying that last part in his film — box office history suggests it’s not that simple."

Elaborating on that, the piece points out that 51% of Superman Returns' $391 million global gross came from domestic receipts. Man of Steel fared a little better with 56% of its $670 million haul coming internationally, but it also had the advantage of Christopher Nolan's name being attached to it a year after The Dark Knight Rises was released in theaters. 

As a result, "Superman is shaping up to be a domestic-driven title." That stacks the odds against it being a huge hit, though we recently learned that Warner Bros. Discovery executives will be happy with an eventual $500 million haul. 

While that figure won't lead to it turning a huge profit, it's enough for Superman to be considered a moderate success, a welcome change of pace for the DC brand after a series of box office flops like Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and Joker: Folie à Deux.

Throw in the positive reviews, and the DCU is off to a good start. It will just be up to the likes of Supergirl and Clayface to build on this momentum, along with whatever it is Gunn has planned for 2027. Superman needs to have a great second weekend, though.

"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."

Superman is now playing in theaters. 

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SUPERMAN Outgrosses All But One DCEU Movie In North America After Passing $600 Million Worldwide

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DocSpock
DocSpock - 7/14/2025, 11:43 AM

Very good movie. But box office may be grim.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 7/14/2025, 12:01 PM
@DocSpock - Hollywood just needs to stop letting these budgets spiral out of control. Audiences had CGI-fatigue long before superhero fatigue.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/14/2025, 12:02 PM
@DocSpock - yeah it's not looking good. Might not even break 500 mil.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 7/14/2025, 12:16 PM
@soberchimera -

That is a very good point.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 7/14/2025, 12:18 PM
@McMurdo -

What if it only does Thunderbolts money?
McMurdo
McMurdo - 7/14/2025, 12:21 PM
@DocSpock - it's a complete flop if it doesn't make at least 500
soberchimera
soberchimera - 7/14/2025, 12:23 PM
@DocSpock - Even the last Hellboy movie cost $20 million to make…
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 7/14/2025, 12:50 PM
@McMurdo - I don't know what happens to the DCU if it can't make that.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/14/2025, 1:13 PM
@McMurdo - Even 500 sounds iffy.

There's no way 500 is the break-even point, with a $225M budget. Are they saying the marketing was only $25M?! They went all out on the marketing, it was [frick]ing massive.

Some people are saying that the marketing was $200M which is insane, but also believable. That means it needs about $850M.

But Gunn said it's not $700M.

Lots of differing figures.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 7/14/2025, 2:05 PM
@McMurdo -

The lack of Chinese box office is shocking.
dragon316
dragon316 - 7/14/2025, 2:52 PM
@soberchimera - cgi superhero fatigue that’s excuse Jurassic park is doing better both have cgi ., how many movies did marvel release before infinity super hero fatigue not Likely if there is such thing there is Disney remake fatigue
Wallywest001
Wallywest001 - 7/15/2025, 7:59 AM
@DocSpock - yeah Intl Box should atleast be 1.5 more than domestic opening weekend. If this thing doesn’t pick up legs in the next 2 weeks then it probably won’t break even. Reports said it needs 500 mil to break even? No way, budget was 225 plus another 150 in marketing. It’s gonna need over 700 to break even.
0bstreperous
0bstreperous - 7/14/2025, 11:45 AM
The second weekend will make or break it
tylerzero
tylerzero - 7/14/2025, 11:51 AM
@0bstreperous - Will be seeing it for the first time with my wife and kid this weekend.
0bstreperous
0bstreperous - 7/14/2025, 11:54 AM
@tylerzero - you are living the dream man I hope you guys enjoy it
ThorArms
ThorArms - 7/14/2025, 11:46 AM
My guess is $600-700mil
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 7/14/2025, 11:58 AM
@ThorArms - That is around the safe bet as things currently stand but strange things can happen at the BO so wouldn't rule out falling below or well above that range by the end of its run.

Numbers will be what will be but should be safe to make over the $500 the studio stated they will be happy with and at least it has been well recieved thus all signs indicative WB will continue with their plans.
Cleander
Cleander - 7/14/2025, 2:16 PM
@ThorArms - $550 - 600 is more likely
ForceofWakanda
ForceofWakanda - 7/14/2025, 8:29 PM
@ThorArms - It's definitely not getting to 700 mill, and 600 mill isn't likely either.

Depending on the second weekend, there's no guarantee this even firmly crosses 500 mill
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 7/14/2025, 11:47 AM
I wouldn't put too much into the lower international numbers, between it being a character oft more strongly connected to America than most, during a MAJOR European heatwave whilst one of the biggest Football (soccer) comps is on the go it could kinda be predicted to be closer to a Black Panther like domestic advantage at first but could pull back to the more typical skew of around 45/55 D/I over time with good WoM now the group stage of the Euro's is out the way and the weather shifting to cooler and wetter.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 7/14/2025, 11:48 AM
now release Man of Steel 2 and lets compare
asherman93
asherman93 - 7/14/2025, 11:56 AM
@Matchesz - Dude, I like Man of Steel and wanted a proper sequel - BvS doesn't count - too, but let it go.
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 7/14/2025, 11:58 AM
@Matchesz - Man of steel had the same production budget of $225 million.

Basically similar numbers in overall production and marketing total to Superman (2025) which is about $484 million.

It made $116 million domestic opening box office.
It also earned $95 million internationally in its opening weekend.
So the opening weekend for Man of Steel was $211 Million, about 6 million shy of Superman.

Adjusted for inflation $211 million in 2013 = $289 Million in dollars today.
So Man of Steel, when adjusted for inflation, out earned Superman (2025)


IN 2013
Man of Steel's Domestic gross (total) was $291 Million
It's International gross was $379 Million

The total global earnings for Man of Steel were $670 million.
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 7/14/2025, 11:48 AM
The Movie cost $225 Million production
About $150 Million marketing (because they have been marketing a lot)
That is $375 million.

Take the $217 million total earnings as of this weekend and half that because 50% goes to the theater group.
That leaves about $109 in ticket sales.

$375 + $109 =$484 million total production cost.

So to break even it has to earn another $267 million

Then they want to double the $484 to be an adequate profit margin. So that would be about $968 million.
Otherwise it will under perform and that won't be good.

bobevanz
bobevanz - 7/14/2025, 11:57 AM
@TyrantBossMedia - they don't want it to double, never aimed for that. Stop making fake narratives. Batman Begins made 373 million, what happened next? Expect Zod or Brainiac in the sequel and you can bet your sweet ass it'll double the total profit for Superman 1!
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 7/14/2025, 11:59 AM
@bobevanz - Batman Begins had a production budget of $150 million.

So yes, they doubled.
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