Superman Just Saved the Comic Book Movie Genre — And Here’s the Proof
Superman has been in theaters for just 10 days… and it’s already raked in $235 million domestically and $406 million worldwide.
That’s not just a “good start”
That’s a thunderous statement for the freshly minted DCU.
But how did we get here? What makes this different from the wave of comic book movies that have stumbled lately? And why does this 10-day haul feel like such a massive win compared to its peers?
Let’s start with the obvious.
The superhero genre has been in the ICU for the better part of the last few years. The average global box office for comic book movies was $453 million in 2024… and $393 million in 2023. Superman is on track to crush both and it's already cleared past 2023's average in just a week and a half.
Now, Look at what Thunderbolts ($382 million globally, $189M domestic) and Captain America: Brave New World ($415 million globally, $200M domestic) managed this year. Sure, respectable numbers… but hardly the box office barnburners the genre once banked on. Superman has done something comic book movies have been struggling to do for a long time
Get people genuinely excited about superheroes again.
The worst part is, you’ve got voices like Grace Randolph from Beyond the Trailer, confidently throwing down that if Superman can’t pass Man of Steel numbers from 2013, “What are we even doing?”
Well, here’s the thing…
We’re in 2025 now. The Superhero movie landscape… hell, the entire industry is a different beast than it was 10 or 15 years ago.
Ticket sales are down a staggering 42% domestically and around 30% worldwide since Man of Steel dropped. And comic book films? I just walked you through how much they’ve been struggling.
But here’s what Grace conveniently left out of her “Movie Math”…
Man of Steel ended its entire domestic run in 2013 with $291 million. Superman is already sitting at $235 million after just 10 days.
If this momentum holds… and all signs suggest it will… Superman will pass Man of Steel’s domestic total well before it leaves theaters. So yeah, Grace… that’s what we’re doing.
MAN OF STEEL’S BOX OFFICE PERFORMANCE
And let’s not forget the elephant in the room.
Superman has already outgrossed every DCEU film since Aquaman ($1.1 Billion) except Aquaman 2 ($440m) which it will undoubtedly surpass by end of its Run.
That, right there, tells you exactly why this moment matters.
DCEU BOX OFFICE RUN
But maybe the biggest win?
This movie’s real job wasn’t just to stack cash. It was to rebuild trust, spark hope, and make audiences believe in DC again. And judging by the critical scores, audience reactions, and a social media wave overflowing with genuine excitement…
Mission accomplished.
James Gunn, Peter Safran, David Zaslav, and the entire Warner Bros. Discovery team should be damn proud. This wasn’t about a quick cash grab. This was about laying the foundation of a BRAND NEW UNIVERSE (DCU) reintroducing Superman to a world that desperately needed him… and showing everyone that DC can be fun again.
People are eating it up. And as the weeks go on… more and more are going to be joining us in the sun.
