Superman (2025) Proves James Gunn Knows What he Is Doing.
The Man of Steel is back, and James Gunn’s Superman (2025) didn’t just fly… it soared.
After years of shaky ground and uncertainty about DC’s box office power, the first film in Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe was not only one of the highest praised Superhero film by fans but it also became the top grossing comic book movie of 2025, and one of the year’s biggest blockbusters across any genre.
Theatrically
Domestically, Superman smashed expectations with $354 million in North America alone!
That’s not just a solid number… that’s the highest domestic take for a DC film since The Batman (2022).
Worldwide, Clark Kent carried the film to an impressive $615 million global haul, surpassing the last handful of DCEU films and even every MCU film this year.
For context? Marvel’s 2025 slate couldn’t keep up. Neither Captain America: Brave New World nor Thunderbolts reached that milestone, leaving DC with the year’s superhero crown.
And let’s not forget… this wasn’t just an opening weekend splash. The movie opened with $125M domestically, then held steady with a relatively gentle 54% drop in its second weekend. In an era of front loaded comic book films, Superman proved it had staying power.
Digitally
The fun didn’t stop in theaters either.
When Superman hit premium digital platforms on August 15, fans flocked to watch it at home. In just three days, about 527,000 U.S. households rented or purchased the movie digitally, making it the biggest PVOD debut of 2025!
Within three weeks, that number climbed to 1.3 million households…. BOOM!
Sure, viewership cooled off after the initial surge, but that’s normal in this market.
What really matters though is this, Superman dominated digital charts, outpacing every other blockbuster released that summer.
Superman (2025) Steelbook limited edition
Physically
On September 23, the film hit Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and DVD.
While final sales numbers aren’t out yet, pre-orders were strong, and special editions even sold out at some retailers.
Early data suggested it was already climbing U.K. and U.S. home video charts before physical discs even landed in fans’ hands.
Don’t be surprised when it debuts as the #1 home release for weeks.
HBO to the MAX!
Then came the big one. HBOMax.
When Superman dropped on September 19, it immediately became the most watched film on the service.
Roughly 1.3 million U.S. households streamed it in its first three days… That was 145% higher than its PVOD debut!
That’s a massive leap, showing just how many fans were waiting for it to hit subscription streaming.
Within its first week, Superman was not only Max’s #1 trending title but also one of the strongest streaming launches for any DC film, trailing only 2022’s The Batman.
Superman (2025) has done everything it has needed to do… and then some.
It revitalized Superman on the big screen, crushed the competition, and proved that audiences are still hungry for the Last Son of Krypton.
With a worldwide total north of $600M, a record breaking digital debut, hot Blu-ray sales, and massive streaming numbers on Max, the film is both a financial and cultural win for DC Studios.
For years, people doubted whether Superman could resonate with modern audiences. James Gunn, in 2025’s market) just answered that with a punch right through the box office ceiling.
The Man of Steel is officially back on top… And The Man of Tomorrow is just around the corner.
