James Gunn’s Superman Struggles at the Box Office

James Gunn’s recent reboot of Superman, which raked in $595 million globally, is unlikely to outdo Zack Snyder’s 2013 film, Man of Steel, according to a new report.

Released on July 11, Gunn’s Superman tallied $8.4 million in its latest weekend, reaching a total of $595 million six weeks after its debut.

During that weekend, the film added $3.1 million from international markets. It appears Superman may not surpass 2013’s Man of Steel, which grossed $670 million (unadjusted for inflation).

Nevertheless, the report suggests that the film’s reception indicates a positive shift for DC Studios, which has faced challenges in achieving financial consistency with its comic book adaptations.

This news came shortly after Hollywood analysts discussed how Superman‘s domestic total of $334 million compares to expectations. The report didn’t specify Warner Bros.’s take after the early on-demand streaming release, but the domestic figure closely reflects revenue after splitting ticket sales with theaters.

Gunn’s Superman adaptation is estimated to have a production budget exceeding $325 million, including marketing costs. To break even, the film would need to gross at least $650 million globally. With Marvel’s recent box office critiques, some have pointed out similar financial struggles, despite positive reviews and enthusiastic fan reactions to films like Fantastic Four and Thunderbolt.

“People haven’t stopped loving horror and superhero movies, but they’ve grown tired of average offerings in those genres,” said Mike Burstow, executive VP of ACX Cinema. “There’s a clear demand for high quality,” he added.