The iconic superhero film “Superman” continues to soar at the box office, maintaining its position as the top-grossing movie during its second weekend. With a remarkable earning of $16.6 million on its second Friday alone, the film has elevated its domestic total to an impressive $194.4 million. Despite facing competition from new wide releases such as “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Smurfs,” and “Eddington,” the Warner Bros. release has shown remarkable resilience, recording only a 50% drop from its opening weekend.
As the latest installment in the DC Studios universe, “Superman” has now surpassed fellow superhero movie “Thunderbolts”, which has grossed $189 million, to rank as the eighth-highest grossing North American release of the calendar year. Analysts predict that “Superman” is on track to achieve a domestic total of approximately $235 million within its first 10 days of release.
Comic book adaptations often face significant declines after their opening weekends, as dedicated fans frequently rush to view the film during its initial screenings. However, the James Gunn-directed “Superman” appears to be breaking that trend, showing potential for longevity beyond its core fan base. To draw comparisons, Gunn’s previous works, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, experienced second-weekend drops of 55%, 55%, and 47%, while another DC adaptation, “The Batman”, also saw a 50% decline.
With a production budget of $225 million, “Superman” must maintain steady week-to-week holds to justify its costs. Both DC Studios and Warner Bros. are eager to demonstrate that their comic book continuity can sustain interest over time. Upcoming releases in this newly established universe include “Supergirl” and “Clayface,” which are slated for 2026, along with a reboot of “Wonder Woman.”
Among the new release contenders, Columbia Pictures and Screen Gems’ horror film “I Know What You Did Last Summer” has emerged with the best performance so far. The nostalgic throwback from the '90s has garnered an estimated $5.8 million from Friday and preview screenings across 3,206 venues. This film is projected to secure an opening weekend of over $13 million, falling short of pre-weekend estimates of $15 million.
This limited-risk project, with a production budget of $18 million, introduces new talent like Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders, while also bringing back original stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the film has received mostly negative reviews, which is in line with the reception of its ‘90s predecessors. Audience feedback, measured by Cinema Score, has resulted in a low C+ grade, indicating a challenging road ahead.
In close competition, Paramount’s animated film “Smurfs” opened with a modest $4 million on its first day, surpassing “I Know What You Did” when excluding preview screenings. Current projections suggest a weekend opening of $12 million, which could pose challenges for the revival of these beloved nearly 70-year-old Belgian comic characters, especially considering the film's hefty $58 million production cost. The new “Smurfs” film, which features a voice cast led by Rihanna as Smurfette, has also received poor reviews, along with a B+ grade from Cinema Score that falls slightly below the typical standard for family films.
Opening outside the top five, A24’s thought-provoking COVID pandemic period piece “Eddington” earned approximately $1.8 million from 2,111 venues, including preview screenings. The film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal as small-town mayoral candidates, is projected to struggle to meet its forecasts for a $5 million debut. Directed by Ari Aster, known for horror hits like “Hereditary” and “Midsommar,” “Eddington” has garnered mixed reviews since its premiere at Cannes, with audience reception reflected in a C+ grade from Cinema Score.
In second place, “Jurassic World Rebirth” continues to dominate the box office, earning an additional $6.5 million on Friday and forecasted to experience a 43% drop in its third weekend. The film is expected to surpass $275 million in total domestic gross by Sunday, edging close to surpassing “Sinners” at $278 million, which would secure its spot as the third-highest grossing North American release of the year.
Warner Bros.’ release of “F1” is projected to round out the top five after earning $2.8 million on Friday, reflecting a modest 24% drop from its daily total a week ago. Now in its fourth weekend, this Apple Studios production is likely to push its domestic total to approximately $154 million by the end of the weekend.
