New Report Hints Superman’s Box Office Wasn’t Profitable Theatrically

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As a big movie fan, I was really excited about James Gunn’s *Superman*, and it definitely did well at the box office, becoming the top superhero film of 2025! But apparently, it didn’t quite make enough in theaters to be considered truly profitable. It looks like DC Studios will probably be counting on people watching it on streaming and buying it later to make up the difference.

Was Superman profitable for DC Studios or not?

James Gunn’s new Superman movie, starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and Edi Gathegi, finished its time in theaters after 84 days. According to Forbes, the film earned $354.2 million in the US and $261.6 million internationally, totaling $615.8 million worldwide.

The movie premiered on July 11th, marking the first film released under the new direction of DC Studios, led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Made for $225 million, with another $125 million spent on marketing worldwide, the total cost of the film came to around $350 million.

As a big movie fan, I was really surprised to learn how much of the ticket money actually goes to the theaters – usually about half! I recently read in Forbes that even though *Superman* made around $308 million in theaters, before anyone got paid extra, it still didn’t earn enough to cover how much it cost to make and advertise. Basically, after the theaters took their share, the movie didn’t make back its initial investment, which is pretty disappointing.

Okay, so *Superman: Legacy* didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, but it’s still bringing in money for Warner Bros. Discovery. I’m seeing strong numbers from digital downloads, Blu-rays, and of course, its streaming release on HBO Max starting September 19th. Beyond that, merchandise and licensing deals are adding to the total. While the movie didn’t make a profit in theaters, these extra revenue streams are definitely helping to offset the losses and potentially get them closer to breaking even. It’s a good thing they’re seeing income from all sides!

Following the upcoming Superman movie, DC Studios will release a Supergirl film directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock, scheduled for June 26, 2026. James Gunn has also announced that the sequel to Superman, now titled Man of Tomorrow, will arrive in theaters on July 27, 2027. These films are part of the ongoing plan to build out the DC Universe.

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2025-10-09 10:27