The eagerly anticipated movie Superman, marking the inaugural project under the new leadership of DC Studios by James Gunn and Peter Safran, is generating significant buzz. Initial tracking suggests a projected opening weekend gross between $125 million and $145 million, according to NRG. However, insiders from various distribution sources believe the actual range may be closer to $90 million to $125 million.
One of the compelling factors behind Superman's hype is its strong brand presence. The character enjoys robust unaided awareness, which is a metric that reflects how many moviegoers mention a film without prompts. With a score of 30 in this category, Superman surpasses even the highly successful Top Gun: Maverick, which had an opening of $126.7 million.
Despite its strong recognition, it's crucial to analyze Superman's standing within the superhero genre. When considering the first choice category—where audiences express a definitive desire to see a film—Superman trails behind several notable post-COVID releases. For instance, Thor: Love & Thunder opened at $144.1 million, The Batman at $134 million, and Gunn's own Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 at $118.4 million. Moreover, Captain America: Brave New World currently holds a first-choice rating that's 71% higher than Superman's, with an opening weekend of $88.8 million. Additionally, Superman's first-choice rating is 64% lower than that of The Batman.
In exciting news for fans, Superman has emerged as the top advance ticket seller of the year within its first 24 hours of availability. The film's Amazon Prime Early Access screenings are selling rapidly through Fandango, with the screenings scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, at 7 PM local time—just three days before its official release on July 11. Notably, presales for Superman have outpaced those of the upcoming Disney/Marvel Studios film, Fantastic Four: First Steps.
As the opening weekend approaches, the outlook for Superman's box office performance will hinge significantly on critical reviews. This is particularly interesting given the film's broad recognition; audiences are likely to base their attendance on word-of-mouth recommendations. While the marketing for such tentpole films typically ramps up months in advance—with Superman's first teaser having dropped just before Christmas—the bulk of its promotional efforts will intensify in the final days leading up to the premiere.
Superman has a storied history at the box office, with its previous seven films (excluding Justice League but including Batman v. Superman) collectively grossing a remarkable $2.56 billion worldwide. Notably, Batman v. Superman opened to a record-breaking $166 million during the Easter holiday, eventually accumulating $330.3 million domestically and $874.3 million globally. Similarly, the 2013 reboot Man of Steel debuted at $116.6 million and concluded its U.S./Canada run with $291 million, totaling $670 million worldwide.
As anticipation builds for Superman, fans and industry experts alike are eager to see how this new chapter for DC Studios unfolds at the box office.
