Superman, directed by James Gunn, has loved constructive reactions from audiences and critics alike, although this success seems to not have translated into auspicious field workplace outcomes throughout international markets. Whereas Warner Bros, Gunn, and devoted followers keep the movie will break even and recoup its funding, the fact seems more and more clear: it won’t surpass Zack Snyder’s Man of Metal in spite of everything. This disappointing trajectory raises questions on launching one more DC universe when earlier makes an attempt have faltered. Let’s study how Superman compares to different franchise openers!
David Corenswet Is #Superman pic.twitter.com/7hL5bDti1G
— 𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 (@NOCsuperman) July 17, 2025
Superman Treads Water With Iron Man Territory
Gunn’s Superman, presently at $409 million worldwide, seems destined to complete someplace close to the benchmark set 17 years in the past by Iron Man, which kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the David Corenswet-led iteration would possibly scarcely edge out the Robert Downey Jr starrer’s home assortment of $319 million, the worldwide comparability presents a extra advanced state of affairs that gained’t attain readability for a number of weeks. Iron Man earned $585.8 million globally, incurring related ordeals abroad as Superman’s.
The proximity to Iron Man’s numbers might sound encouraging on floor stage, however context issues enormously. Robert Downey Jr.’s debut as Tony Stark launched in 2008 when superhero fatigue was nonexistent and viewers expectations significantly decrease. Superman arrives in 2025’s oversaturated market, the place $400-500 million hardly ensures franchise viability or studio confidence.
Superman Could Not Beat, Effectively, Superman
It will not be conducive for Gunn’s reboot to match Snyder’s earlier try, and doing so could be a Herculean activity. Man of Metal (2013) grossed $670.1 million worldwide, a quantity far past Superman’s attain. The overall rule that decently front-loaded blockbusters may triple their opening weekend by the tip of theatrical runs seemingly failed when Superman didn’t double by its second weekend.
MAN OF STEEL was launched 12 years in the past this week. A reboot of the DC cinematic universe and Henry Cavill’s first look as Superman, the making of story is its personal reward…
1/53 pic.twitter.com/6NBoTZK1SS
— All The Proper Motion pictures (@ATRightMovies) June 9, 2025
Whereas even its opening worldwide haul of $220 million, when tripled, wouldn’t attain Man of Metal’s whole, MCU’s The Improbable 4: First Steps looms as one other complication. Present numbers recommend weak point somewhat than energy.
For Gunn fans to argue this Superman has already overwhelmed Man of Metal, purely based mostly on constructive word-of-mouth, lacks logical basis. If one DC universe failed a decade in the past and one other has already fallen behind comparable launches, maybe severe inventive and strategic revisions are warranted going ahead.
Outpacing Batman’s Many years-Previous Incarnations, Struggling Towards Battinson
Superman does handle victories towards earlier Batman movies that kicked off franchises, although these preceded the trendy blockbuster period solely. 1989’s Batman ranked among the many highest-grossing movies of its time with $411 million worldwide, whereas Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins arrived when superhero motion pictures have been performing poorly on the field workplace, incomes $375 million globally.
the darkish knight (2008) dir. christopher nolan pic.twitter.com/57OHoDoV7M
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) September 25, 2024
Movies like The Punisher ($54 million), Hulk ($245 million), Daredevil ($179 million), and even the X-Males franchise have been failing all through the 2000s, with solely Spider-Man breaking by means of till Iron Man defied expectations. For Superman supporters to presume that successive Gunn entries may triple their grosses and strategy $1-1.5 billion territory, like later Darkish Knight and Avengers movies achieved, represents shortsighted considering and affirmation bias.
The Batman (2022) / Superman (2025) pic.twitter.com/ZYtTNCJZ7k
— sabrina 🦇 (@nightwaynes) July 19, 2025
Then there’s Robert Pattinson’s The Batman, which, amid DCEU model collapse and obvious Batman fatigue, nonetheless launched Matt Reeves’ universe on a excessive observe, grossing $772 million worldwide. This latest success makes Superman’s efficiency seem much more regarding, particularly contemplating Superman historically instructions broader international attraction than the Darkish Knight.
Worldwide Field Workplace of Superhero Franchise Starters:
- The Batman — $772 million
- Man of Metal — $670 million
- Iron Man — $585 million
- Batman — $411 million
- Superman — $409 million
- Batman Begins — $375 million
Keep tuned to Koimoi for extra field workplace updates!
Should Learn: James Gunn Reveals What’s Holding Superman Again At The Worldwide Field Workplace
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