Expectations were high when James Gunn rebooted the DC Universe with Superman earlier this year — but the film has continued to soar higher than anyone could have imagined. New data reveals the shocking extent of just how profitable the movie has become for Warner Bros. and DC Studios.
Forbes reports new data on Superman’s remarkable success, revealing that it will have generated more than $100 million in pure profit, approaching $150 million globally by the end of the year. The film’s success is more undeniable now than ever before — especially in comparison with previous DC superhero theatrical releases. Its box office scores were at least 40% higher than any of the previous nine DCEU movies from the last eight years — and it also beat out DC’s competitor, raking in more money than all three of Marvel Studios’ recent releases, including The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
For the public, Superman’s arrival in theaters was the beginning of a new era for DC, with David Corenswet largely being praised for his performance as the new Man of Steel. The film, released as the first part of Gunn’s large-scale plan dubbed ‘Gods and Monsters’, grossed over $616 million worldwide and has enjoyed similar success since its arrival on streaming and digital.
Gunn’s Superman gave fans a stark contrast to previous movies in the old DCEU. It featured bright colors, an uplifting message, and a fun story, which ended up being quite different from what fans got with Henry Cavill’s portrayal of the character in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This new, upbeat outlook on Superman performed well with audiences, but some dedicated DC fans weren’t immediately sold on the DCU’s new direction.
Nonetheless, the massive $150 million profits indicate that the DCU’s future is brighter now than ever, and fans who were hoping for a return to the darker side of DC might be in for a rude awakening should Warner Bros. continue to follow the formula that made Superman such a worldwide phenomenon. A sequel, Man of Tomorrow, has already been confirmed for 2027 — and Gunn himself has teased it will heavily star both Superman and Lex Luthor, the first film’s two biggest stars.
Gunn Has a ‘Bold’ 10-Year Plan for New DC Movies
Stills from Superman 2025 starring David Corenswet
David Corenswet
Clark Kent
/Superman
Rachel Brosnahan at an event for The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards (2024)
Rachel Brosnahan
Lois Lane
Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Hoult
Lex Luthor
María Gabriela de Faría
María Gabriela de Faría
Angela Spica
/The Engineer
Skyler Gisondo
Skyler Gisondo
Jimmy Olsen
SDCC 2022
Edi GathegImage via DC Studios
As Gunn’s new DC Universe gets off to a running start, it appears that Warner Bros. has full faith in the soft reboot’s direction. Following Superman’s immediate box office success earlier this year, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav teased big plans for the future. “Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films Supergirl and Clayface in theaters and the series Lanterns on HBO Max, all part of a bold 10-year plan.”
The DCU currently has numerous other projects in various stages of development at this time. That includes a Swamp Thing feature film, a currently untitled Wonder Woman movie, as well as a Batman project titled The Brave and the Bold. Supergirl will be the next film to actually hit theaters, arriving on June 26, 2026, followed by Clayface on Sept. 11 and Man of Tomorrow on July 9, 2027. None of the other projects have confirmed release dates at this time.
James Gunn’s Superman is now streaming on HBO Max.
Release Date
July 11, 2025
Runtime
130 minutes
Director
James Gunn
Rachel Brosnahan
Lois Lane