It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s a box office hit!
At least that’s how Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is touting the initial results for “Superman,” which climbed to $122 million domestically and $217 million globally in its opening weekend.
The comic book adaptation, starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, marks a vital reset in the DC Universe. After its last iteration of superhero adventures combusted with four major money losers in “The Flash,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” and “Blue Beetle,” Zaslav hired Gunn and Peter Safran in 2022 to overhaul DC Studios. The duo has outlined a 10-year-plan of interconnected stories and spinoffs, including “Supergirl” and “Clayface” in 2026 as well as a new take on “Wonder Woman.”
“Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world,” Zaslav said on Sunday of “Superman’s” opening weekend. “James and Peter’s commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired.”
In his bid to match the commercial success of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, Zaslav was searching for a Kevin Feige-like figure to reinvigorate the perpetually floundering DC Studios. He recalled his first meeting with Gunn, who directed “Superman” while overseeing the studio in flux with Safran. Zaslav knew Gunn, the Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker, was the first person to helm the rebooted universe’s first feature because he spoke about the DC characters “they were like his family.”
An opening weekend above $200 million globally is something to celebrate, and positive reviews as well as a strong audience response indicate that “Superman” will stick around during the busy summer season. However, the $225 million-budgeted tentpole will require box office staying power to qualify as a blockbuster. Disney’s CEO Bob Iger was similarly celebratory about Marvel’s latest adventure, “Thunderbolts,” only to see the comic book installment collapse on the big screen in subsequent weekends. Meanwhile, Superman’s last solo outing, 2013’s “Man of Steel” with Henry Cavill, started strong with $116 million but failed to generate the kind of lasting enthusiasm that spawns an enduring cinematic universe.
None of these realities stopped Zaslav from popping the Champagne over the weekend.
“This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen. Superman is just the first step,” Zaslav said. “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 DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”