James Gunn’s Superman has taken flight with an impressive $96.5 million global box office debut through Friday, marking a strong start for the new DC cinematic era. Released by Warner Bros., the film garnered $21.5 million across 78 international markets on Friday alone, pushing the overseas total to $40 million and establishing it as a global hit going into its first weekend.
The film, featuring David Corenswet as Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, has performed especially well in Latin America and parts of Europe. Mexico leads all international territories with $3.8 million, followed by the UK at $3.6 million, Brazil at $3 million, Australia at $2.5 million, and France also contributing $2.5 million.
Despite muted expectations in Asia, the film managed to secure top spots in various regions. In China, Superman opened with $2.4 million, though projections remain conservative with a full-run estimate just above $11 million. Korea added another $1.7 million through Friday, despite being identified as a challenging market for Western superhero films.
In Spain, Superman opened at No. 1 with $1 million, becoming director James Gunn’s biggest debut in the country. It surpassed the opening figures of several major DC titles, including Justice League, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Thunderbolt. Japan, which anticipates the release of Demon Slayer next week, saw a solid start at $781,000.
France saw an early launch on Wednesday with $1.3 million including previews, growing to $1.8 million by Thursday, placing the film ahead of comparable titles like Venom and Aquaman. Italy also reported a strong $519,000 opening day—2% above Man of Steel and significantly ahead of recent Marvel and DC entries.
Other strong openings include Indonesia ($462K), the Philippines ($386K), and Thailand ($631K), with market shares often exceeding 50–70% on opening days.
Domestically, Superman pulled in $56.5 million through Friday, contributing to the global $96.5 million figure. Analysts are forecasting a full weekend global gross of over $210 million, potentially adjusting higher depending on Saturday and Sunday performances.
Critics and audiences have praised Superman for its refreshed tone, visual effects, and engaging performances. The reboot marks James Gunn’s first directorial entry since his transition from Marvel to DC, and the strong box office response may bode well for the future of DC Studios under his leadership.
Though certain regions like China and Korea remain relatively subdued in comparison, the film’s global momentum underscores its broad appeal. Warner Bros. is expected to push further international marketing in the coming weeks.
With the weekend still unfolding, Superman appears poised to remain a box office powerhouse—an encouraging sign for the studio and the superhero genre overall.
