James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Has Biggest Opening in Superman History

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James Gunn’s Superman had a fairly super opening weekend.

In U.S. cinemas and internationally, the film generated approximately $122 million and $95 million respectively, totaling an impressive $217 million. This far surpasses many recent DC films such as “The Flash” ($55 million), “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” ($27.6 million), and the poorly-received “Joker: Folie a Deux” ($37.6 million). Considering that Gunn’s “Superman” is the initial film in a new DC Universe, this strong performance isn’t just promising; it’s virtually essential.

In the year 2025, Superman joins an exclusive list of three films that raked in over $100 million during their opening weekends, following The Minecraft Movie ($162 million) and Lilo & Stitch ($146 million). Interestingly, the last DC film to achieve such a feat was The Batman back in 2022, which made an impressive $134 million in just three days at the box office.

To clarify, while it holds the record for the largest opening weekend for a standalone Superman film, it’s important to note that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, released in 2016, earned $166 million. This movie featured not just one but two popular DC characters (three if you count Wonder Woman), making it a megablockbuster and potentially more expensive than the reported budget for Gunn’s Superman film ($250 million versus $225 million).

As a passionate cinephile, I must say, James Gunn’s Superman may have surpassed Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in their initial box office earnings, with Superman raking in $122 million compared to Man of Steel’s $116 million on opening weekends. However, it’s essential to consider the impact of inflation when comparing these figures. When we adjust Man of Steel’s total earnings, the film actually grossed an impressive $161 million, which puts things into a different perspective.

James Gunn’s Superman is off to a strong beginning. It’s already ranked as one of the largest Superman movies ever produced. However, it needs to maintain its success, which might prove challenging in the coming weeks as more rival films hit theaters, such as new versions of Smurfs and I Know What You Did Last Summer, as well as Marvel’s highly anticipated The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Every ‘Superman’ Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

11. Justice League (2017)

Oh dear, “Justice League” was supposed to be the climax of an intricate narrative thread. Regrettably, it turned out to be the low point for a once-promiseing film universe. Originally helmed by Zack Snyder, he stepped away due to personal matters, allowing Joss Whedon to step in. The final product lacks the signature feel of either director.

The editing is haphazard, the mood inconsistent, and the main antagonist is a lifeless CGI character with no depth or driving force behind him. (Believe it or not, he aims to conquer the world! Yes, indeed!) Though Snyder’s cut is now available on streaming platforms, the original version of “Justice League” remains the most underwhelming Superman film to date.

10. Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)

In a nutshell, Christopher Reeve’s last portrayal of Superman in the 1987 movie “The Quest For Peace,” despite its poor reputation, isn’t that bad. However, it doesn’t quite reach greatness due to budget constraints, as the rights for the Superman franchise had been acquired by Cannon Films who are known for exploitation films. With a reported budget of $17 million compared to the $55 million spent on the original film a decade prior, the production values clearly suffer.

Nevertheless, Gene Hackman delivers an excellent performance as the malevolent Lex Luthor, and there are some enjoyable action sequences. Moreover, Reeve pours all his effort into Superman’s struggle against his most significant adversary yet: The impending danger of nuclear war.

9. Superman Returns (2006)

Among the standout moments in any superhero movie is the scene where Superman (Brandon Routh) prevents an airplane from crashing. However, the rest of “Superman Returns” feels overly preoccupied with replicating the atmosphere of the original Superman films directed by Richard Donner, despite being made years later without the original cast. This attempt to revive a 20-year-old franchise gives the movie a somewhat static feel; it’s faithful but lacks vitality. Moreover, the most intriguing aspect in the whole plot is abruptly introduced as a surprising twist near the end of the third act, which seems to be a strategy for setting up a sequel that Warner Bros. never produced. If the entire film had focused on this element, it could have been something truly special.

8. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

In the DC Extended Universe, two age-old comrades encounter each other for the first time, leading to a physical altercation right off the bat. Batman, portrayed by Ben Affleck, accuses Superman, played by Henry Cavill, of causing Metropolis’ destruction during the events of “Man of Steel”. There is some validity to this claim. The acting throughout is exceptional, with strong performances from Henry Cavill, an underestimated Batman from Ben Affleck, and Gal Gadot’s captivating introduction as Wonder Woman. However, the rivalry between these two iconic characters in “Batman v Superman” becomes so overtly macho that at times it feels like a mockery of itself. The character named Martha will now forever be associated with this movie.

7. Man of Steel (2013)

Young Clark Kent exclaims, “The world’s too vast, Ma!” in the movie “Man of Steel”. His mother responds, “Then make it manageable.” It seems director Zack Snyder should have taken this advice from Martha Kent. The film is filled with numerous World Engines, collapsing structures, and hostile Kryptonians, which often overshadows the titular character, Clark Kent. Perhaps Snyder intended to portray this character not as a beacon of hope but as an alien outsider who could potentially pose a threat to humanity instead. At the very least, it offers a fresh perspective on the classic character.

6. Superman III (1983)

In an era dominated by blockbuster superhero movies that threaten the universe’s existence with grandiose battles and stunning visual effects, there is merit in a film as diminutive and intentionally whimsical as “Superman III”. The movie presents moments reminiscent of Buster Keaton-style comedy, interspersed within its narrative like snippets from an unusual comic book issue titled “The World of Metropolis”. However, it also delivers a subtle yet poignant commentary on unbridled capitalism – a system that Superman has long fought against since his initial escapades. Furthermore, the film gains credibility for featuring a scene where Superman transforms into an antagonist and his first action is to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa, apparently just to irritate a modest souvenir vendor. How petty and un-Super!

5. Superman and the Mole Men (1951)

The initial DC Comics movie served as a precursor for the 1950s “Adventures of Superman” TV series, featuring George Reeves portraying Superman. While the special effects are largely poor (the menacing “Mole Men” are merely small people in black turtlenecks and bald caps), the narrative effectively conveys Superman’s moral principles, particularly his defense of a literal little man against mob brutality. Moreover, George Reeves embodies Clark Kent’s essential compassion as skillfully as any actor before or since.

4. Superman II (1980)

Fans adore Terence Stamp and the iconic phrase “Kneel before Zod!” to such an extent that they tend to overlook the chaos in the rest of the film, which unfortunately leaves much to be desired. Even elements that were successful in the original Superman movie, like the chemistry between Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, seem misplaced this time around. In this sequel, Superman becomes so fixated on showing Lois his Fortress of Solitude that he fails to notice three Kryptonian superbeings taking over Earth! Given his super-hearing ability, it’s puzzling why he would overlook their conquest. The movie also introduces new powers for Superman, such as magic amnesia kisses, teleportation, and projectile chest emblems, but the lack of super-hearing seems out of place in this installment. (It should be noted that both versions of the film are flawed.)

3. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

In my opinion, although it’s not perfect, the Zack Snyder’s Justice League version is a significant enhancement over the original theatrical release. The narrative is clearer, and the characters, especially Ray Fisher’s Cyborg, are more deeply developed. I must admit, four hours might be a tad excessive; perhaps the theatrical cut could have been longer, but this director’s cut feels stretched out. Nevertheless, among Snyder’s Superman films, this one takes the cake as the best he ever made, and it’s undoubtedly the one that will shape his legacy with the company.

2. Superman (2025)

Many individuals find it blasphemous to compare the two Superman films. However slight, I lean towards Richard Donner’s 1978 masterpiece. Yet, James Gunn’s Superman offers a superior Lex Luthor (the self-centered and sensitive Nicholas Hoult) and an exceptional supporting cast, featuring Edi Gathegi as the fittingly named Mr. Terrific and Krypto, the superpup who steals every scene with his rebellious antics.

The film also presents a Superman who is heartwarmingly vulnerable, making him easy to cheer for and believe in. It’s enjoyable, thrilling, romantic, and even manages to slip in a touch of social commentary. It sets a new benchmark for DC movies, which is fantastic news since it’s intended to be the first in a series of films within this universe.

1. Superman (1978)

I strongly feel that Christopher Reeve portrayed the unrivaled on-screen Superman (or Clark Kent) and the impact of the original “Superman” film is immeasurable. Additionally, John Williams’ timeless score adds to its grandeur. However, I must admit that while director Richard Donner’s “Superman” isn’t flawless; if we were to exclude the first 45 minutes for the sake of argument, the film would be more impactful, starting from Clark Kent’s arrival in Metropolis. In 1978, audiences were already familiar with Superman’s origins or enough to follow the rest of the movie. Despite this, once Reeve appears on screen, his dual role as noble Superman and bumbling Clark Kent elevates the whole production to new heights.

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2025-07-14 05:28