It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman back at the box office!
The Man of Steel is soaring back to theaters and kicking off a rebooted DC Universe, overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The latest take on “Superman,” starring David Corenswet, has made a huge $22.5 million in box office previews, which is the biggest of the year so far. It beats the preview grosses for this year’s “Lilo & Stitch” ($14.5 million) and is the highest of Gunn’s career, surpassing the $17.5 million for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”
More from Variety
Ex-Superman Dean Cain Says James Gunn Made a ‘Mistake’ Calling Superman an ‘Immigrant’ and ‘It’s Going to Hurt’ the Box Office: ‘How Woke Is Hollywood Going to Make This Character?’
David Corenswet Would Ask ‘One Question Too Many’ on ‘Superman’ Set and ‘Not Take It Personally’ When James Gunn Said ‘Shut the F– Up’: ‘Some Actors Are Sensitive. David’s Not That Way’
‘Superman’ Suits Up With Kith, Lucky Brand and Timex Collaborations Ahead of James Gunn Film
The DC Studios film is expected to open this weekend with $120 million to $130 million domestically, but estimates vary. Warner Bros. and some tracking services are predicting a more conservative $100 million to $110 million, but other evaluations are putting it even higher at more than $140 million thanks to positive reviews. “Superman” is also expected to make at least $100 million internationally, easily putting its global debut to more than $200 million. That bodes well for “Superman” — and perhaps the future of Gunn and Safran’s DC Universe — because the film carries a $225 million budget. It’s a super-turnaround for DC movies, which have suffered a string of recent duds like “The Flash,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” and “Blue Beetle.”
Superman’s last solo outing in 2013’s “Man of Steel,” starring Henry Cavill and directed by Zack Snyder, made $21 million in previews on its way to a $116 million opening weekend. The 2016 follow-up, “Superman v. Batman: Dawn of Justice,” had $27.7 million in previews before its $166 million debut. In this reboot, Corenswet stars as a more vibrant, less serious Man of Steel who battles against Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) while working as a Daily Planet reporter alongside Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan). The cast also includes fellow superheroes Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi).
“Superman” will easily defeat last week’s box office champion, Universal’s “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which is looking to make $35 million to $45 million in its second weekend, a 50% to 60% from its debut.
Best of Variety
Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
‘Harry Potter’ TV Show Cast Guide: Who’s Who in Hogwarts?
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
