SUPERMAN Box Office Predictions Are Mixed But Hopeful and Ranges From $90 to $145 Million
James Gunn’s Superman is flying straight into the pressure cooker of box office expectations. As the first major chapter of the new DC Cinematic Universe under Gunn’s creative leadership, early projections paint a mixed, but hopeful, picture for the reboot’s theatrical launch.
According to tracking from the National Research Group (via The Hollywood Reporter), Superman is currently projected to open with $135 million domestically, with a tracking range between $125 million and $145 million.
If those numbers hold, Gunn’s take on the iconic hero would surpass Man of Steel’s $116.6 million opening and land just below Batman v Superman’s $166 million debut.
But not everyone is betting on a home run.
Deadline reports that some insiders are bracing for a more conservative launch, estimating between $90 million and $125 million, pointing out that Captain America: Brave New World had a higher “first choice” audience interest, 71% more than Superman, at the same point in its pre-release cycle.
For context, that film opened with $88.8 million. In comparison, Superman’s “first choice” score is reportedly 64% lower than The Batman, which debuted with $134 million in 2022.
Still, early ticket sales are telling a more optimistic story. According to Deadline, Superman logged the biggest 24-hour advance ticket sales of the year, surpassing Fantastic Four: First Steps and benefitting from the July 8 Amazon Prime Early Access screenings.
That early momentum could be a strong indicator of wider audience enthusiasm, especially among hardcore fans.
Superman films have generated $2.56 billion globally across seven entries. Man of Steel made $670 million worldwide, and Batman v Superman pulled in $874.3 million. If Gunn’s reboot hits that projected $135 million opening, it would surpass both The Batman and Suicide Squad to become the fourth-highest DC opener ever (not adjusted for inflation).
As for what James Gunn thinks, in a recent interview, Gunn said: “This is the first movie out of DC Studios… I’d be very happy with a double. I’ve gotta make my budget back. I’ll be very happy with that.”
Gunn is not swinging for a grand slam, just a solid start. And with numbers like these, Superman may be gearing up for exactly that.
Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025.