James Gunn’s Superman breaks Man of Steel box office record

James Gunn’s Superman has officially surpassed Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel at the domestic box office, setting a new record for solo Superman films in the United States. According to Box Office Mojo, the 2025 reboot has grossed $292.4 million domestically as of July 29, overtaking the $291 million total from Snyder’s 2013 installment.

Starring David Corenswet as the latest iteration of the iconic superhero, Superman serves as the launchpad for the rebooted DC Universe (DCU) under Gunn and producer Peter Safran. The film arrives after the closure of the DCEU in 2023 and represents a significant creative shift for DC Studios. Despite strong competition from summer blockbusters like Jurassic World Rebirth and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the movie continues drawing sizable audiences.

Internationally, however, Superman has seen more modest returns, collecting $214.1 million so far, for a global total of $506.5 million. By comparison, Man of Steel earned $379 million overseas and $670.1 million worldwide. Gunn has suggested that the lower international turnout may be influenced by current political sentiment abroad, including rising anti-American attitudes.

Nevertheless, the film now holds the title of the highest-grossing standalone Superman movie in U.S. history. It has also outperformed Superman Returns (2006) and all of Christopher Reeve’s Superman films in both domestic and global box office tallies. Even so, no Superman title has yet surpassed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which still leads with $874.3 million globally.

Critically, the film has been well received. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds an 83% critics score and a 91% audience rating — both higher than Man of Steel and several earlier entries. With strong word of mouth and sustained interest, Superman marks a hopeful new beginning for the DCU and its evolving cinematic future.