James Gunn's superhero reboot continues its strong theatrical run while new releases fail to make a significant impact
James Gunn's "Superman" proved its staying power at the box office this weekend, securing the top spot for the second consecutive week with a solid $57.2 million haul. The superhero reboot, starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, has now accumulated $235 million domestically since its debut, positioning itself as one of the summer's most successful theatrical releases.
The film's performance marks a notable achievement, becoming the first movie since "How To Train Your Dragon" to lead the box office for two straight weeks. More impressively, Superman's 54% drop in its second weekend compares favorably to Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel," which experienced a steeper 68% decline back in 2013.
Industry analysts suggest the film is tracking well against its predecessor, sitting $24 million ahead of "Man of Steel" at the same point in its theatrical run. Current projections indicate Superman could reach a domestic total of $340-360 million, which would make it the second-highest grossing film in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, trailing only "Wonder Woman."
However, the international market presents a more mixed picture. With $171.8 million from overseas territories, Superman's global total stands at approximately $406 million. While respectable, these international numbers fall short of expectations for a major superhero tentpole, particularly when compared to previous DC successes like James Wan's "Aquaman" films.
The weekend's new releases struggled to gain traction against Superman's dominance. The horror reboot "I Know What You Did Last Summer" opened to a disappointing $13 million, significantly below industry expectations despite the recent resurgence of interest in franchise horror properties. The film's modest $18 million budget provides some cushion, but the opening falls short of the $17 million threshold that typically indicates strong long-term prospects for horror releases.
Family audiences showed little enthusiasm for the latest "Smurfs" iteration, which managed only $11 million in its debut weekend. This represents a continuation of the franchise's declining trajectory, with each subsequent film opening lower than its predecessor since the original 2011 release that earned $35.6 million.
Meanwhile, established titles continued their steady performance. "Jurassic World: Rebirth" maintained its strong run with $23.4 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $276.1 million, though it appears unlikely to join the billion-dollar club that previous entries achieved.
Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" reached a significant milestone, crossing the $1 billion mark globally to become the first U.S. release to achieve this feat in 2025. The film continues to demonstrate remarkable legs, adding another $1.5 million domestically and maintaining its position as the year's global box office champion.
Looking ahead, Superman faces its biggest challenge yet as Marvel's "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" prepares to enter theatres this weekend. The superhero showdown will test whether Gunn's interpretation of the Man of Steel can maintain its momentum against the Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest offering.
With summer blockbuster season reaching its peak, Superman's continued success provides a bright spot for Warner Bros. and signals that audiences remain hungry for well-crafted superhero entertainment when executed with vision and care.
