Despite Big Box Office, James Gunn’s SUPERMAN Reportedly Didn’t Turn a Theatrical Profit

James Gunn’s Superman might’ve soared at the global box office, but behind the scenes, it looks like DC Studios is still trying to climb out of the financial red zone. A new report reveals that the film didn’t actually turn a profit during its theatrical run, even though it was 2025’s biggest superhero movie.

According to Forbes, Superman wrapped up its 84-day run with a worldwide total of $615,784,465. That breaks down to $354.2 million domestically and $261.6 million internationally.

Impressive numbers, sure, but once you factor in the film’s $225 million production budget and another $125 million poured into global marketing, the total spend hits around $350 million.

Here’s where things get tricky. Theaters typically keep around 50 percent of box office revenue, which means Warner Bros. Discovery would have taken home roughly $308 million from the total haul.

That number falls short of covering the combined production and marketing costs, before even considering residuals and other expenses. So while Superman might’ve looked like a hit on the surface, its theatrical earnings didn’t actually recoup the full investment.

But it’s not all bad news for DC and WB. The film has since dropped on HBO Max, with its streaming debut hitting on September 19. There’s also a solid chunk of revenue coming in from digital purchases, Blu-ray sales, merchandise, and licensing deals. These post-release streams are key to offsetting the initial box office shortfall.

Next up in the DCU rollout is Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock, slated to hit theaters on June 26, 2026. Gunn has also confirmed that Superman will get a direct sequel, officially titled Man of Tomorrow, set for release on July 27, 2027.

So while Superman might not have flown high enough to break even theatrically, it’s still an essential building block in Gunn and Peter Safran’s evolving DC Universe. And as long as fans keep showing up for the next chapter, Warner Bros. Discovery will keep pushing forward.