This image was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, shows David Corneswet in a scene from “Superman”.
James Gunn’s Superman is proving to be a box office powerhouse. In its second weekend, the DC reboot collected a robust $57.3 million in North America. The superhero film held firm at No. 1, despite several new releases trying to challenge its dominance.
DC’s Superman Flies High Again
After an impressive debut, Superman dipped just 54% in its second weekend. That drop is average for a big summer film and signals solid word-of-mouth. In just two weeks, the film has amassed $406.8 million globally — an encouraging start for DC Studios and Warner Bros., who are relying on Superman to revive their cinematic universe.
Budgeted at $225 million, the film's performance is promising, especially with positive reviews and strong audience feedback fueling continued interest. But the real test will come next weekend when Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theatres.
Franchise Revival is the Mission
Warner Bros. and DC Studios are betting big on this Superman revival to lead a 10-year slate of connected superhero films. Co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are steering this fresh direction. With upcoming titles like Supergirl and Clayface planned for 2026, Superman is the critical launchpad for the revamped universe.
Other Big Players in Theatres
Though Superman led the pack, Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World: Rebirth continued to perform well. The Scarlett Johansson-led sequel earned $23.4 million in its third week. So far, it has collected a massive $648 million worldwide, proving that dinosaur-themed blockbusters still have bite.
F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt, is also maintaining momentum. In its fourth weekend, it brought in $9.6 million domestically and another $29.5 million internationally. Its total global haul stands at $460.8 million. The Apple Studios and Warner Bros. co-production is resonating especially well overseas.
New Releases Fail to Impress
Two major debuts — Sony’s I Know What You Did Last Summer and Paramount’s Smurfs — didn’t make much of a splash.
The horror sequel I Know What You Did Last Summer opened to $13 million. Though its $18 million budget was modest, expectations were higher for a known franchise. Reviews were poor, earning just 38% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences gave it a mediocre “C+” CinemaScore.
Smurfs, the latest animated reboot featuring Rihanna as the voice of Smurfette, debuted with $11 million domestically. Internationally, it performed slightly better with $22.6 million across 56 markets. However, with a $58 million budget and only 21% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, the film’s success will heavily depend on overseas numbers.
A Disappointing Opening for Eddington
A24’s Eddington, directed by Ari Aster, earned $4.3 million across 2,111 screens. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as a conservative sheriff in a politically tense New Mexico town during the pandemic. Despite buzz from its Cannes premiere, the film has proven divisive.
With a $25 million production cost, Eddington's debut marks another underwhelming box office result for Aster, following Beau Is Afraid. Audiences gave it a lukewarm “C+,” continuing a trend of mixed reactions to his recent work.
Summer Box Office Sees Growth
Despite some flops, the 2025 summer box office is thriving overall. According to Comscore, summer ticket sales are up 15.9% from last year. Year-to-date figures are 15% ahead of 2024, with summer earnings reaching $2.6 billion domestically.
Weekend Top 10 at the Box Office
Here’s how the top films performed in U.S. and Canadian theaters:
- Superman – $57.3 million
- Jurassic World: Rebirth – $23.4 million
- I Know What You Did Last Summer – $13 million
- Smurfs – $11 million
- F1: The Movie – $9.6 million
- How to Train Your Dragon – $5.4 million
- Eddington – $4.3 million
- Elio – $2 million
- Lilo & Stitch – $1.5 million
- 28 Years Later – $1.3 million
As summer movie season heats up, all eyes are now on next week’s superhero showdown between DC’s Superman and Marvel’s The Fantastic Four.
