SATURDAY UPDATE: On Friday, Warner Bros/DC’s Superman added another $21.5M from 78 international box office markets. That brings the offshore flying cume to $40M through Friday.
Globally, with Friday’s domestic count, the worldwide running total is $96.5M. While we still have Saturday and Sunday to come overseas, what’s clear here is that domestic is leaning harder into this latest iteration of the Man of Steel.
All told, the James Gunn-directed Superman is expected to reach $210M+ in its worldwide bow. This is slightly above where we had it before the weekend, and of course could shift given Sat/Sun play.
While we can’t exactly call it kryptonite, there are some areas where Superman is facing a challenge: Asia is soft, for example. Though this should not come as a surprise. We’ve previously noted that Korea is a depressed market and that Clark Kent was not expected to make an impact in China.
For the record, the UK opened on Friday with $3.6M, a clear No. 1 with a 66% share of the Top 5 films. This is above all comps.
China, as noted, grossed $2.4M through Friday including sneaks. Superman is an unsurprising non-starter in the market. The ultimate full-run prediction there is just above $11M. As we know, it happens.
In happier news, Spain opened on Friday to $1M at No. 1 as the biggest debut for Gunn and 7% higher than Justice League, 29% over Aquaman, 77% ahead of Wonder Woman and 106% above Thunderbolts.
Japan, which is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next Demon Slayer movie next week, had a fantastic start with $781K, super-passing comps.
The Top 5 through Friday are: Mexico ($3.8M), UK ($3.6M), Brazil ($3M), Australia ($2.5M) and France ($2.5M).
PREVIOUS, FRIDAY: DC/Warner Bros’ Superman has begun zipping around the world, ringing up $40.3 million through Wednesday and Thursday in North America and 57 overseas markets. The split there is a record-making $22.5M in domestic previews Thursday night, while $17.8M has come from the international box office so far in the movie’s first two days of offshore release.
The global total to date does not include Friday’s estimates for North America.
The James Gunn-directed latest installment about the Man of Steel debuted in nine offshore markets on Wednesday, with another 48 markets joining Thursday. Today adds another 21, which takes the total number of international territories in release to 78.
In terms of openings on Wednesday, France was a No. 1 start at $1.3M including previews and ahead of a long weekend for Bastille Day; the debut is 3% above Thunderbolts and also over the most recent Venom and Aquaman movies (+8%). The cume through Thursday is $1.8M.
Korea, which we continue to stress is a depressed market, started at $700,000 on Wednesday. That was good for No. 1 and ranked roughly on par with Guardians of the Galaxy, and ahead of Thunderbolts and Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom. Imax repped a strong 18% of the box office from 26 locations. The Korea cume through Friday, not reflected in the international and global totals above, is an estimated $1.7M.
Italy’s Wednesday opening of $519K was a No. 1 start and roughly on par with Justice League as well as 2% bigger than Man of Steel, 51% ahead of Guardians the first, 97% bigger than Wonder Woman and 159% higher than Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom.
Indonesia had a $462K No. 1 start on Wednesday, ranking No. 1 with results on par with Thunderbolts and ahead of GOTG1 & 2, Man of Steel, The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick.
The Philippines on Wednesday saw Supes dominate at No. 1 with a 78% market share. The opening day of $386K was 22% above the most recent Mission: Impossible, 29% ahead of Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom, 31% higher than Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
On Thursday, some heavy-hitters chimed in. To wit: Mexico debuted at No. 1 with $2.2M. This is the 2nd biggest opening day for a DC movie ever and is roughly on par with The Batman.
Australia bowed to $1.3M at No. 1 and claimed the best opening day of 2025 to date. The launch is on par with Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom, 10% over The Batman, 13% ahead of Man of Steel, 56% bigger than Guardians 3.
Super DC market Brazil came in with a strong No. 1 start for Superman on Thursday of $2M — the biggest opening day ever for James Gunn. The launch day was bigger than all Guardians movies as well as Joker and The Batman, notably.
In the UAE, the David Corenswet/Rachel Brosnahan/Nicholas Hoult-starrer ranked No. 1 accounting for half of the total market. Opening day results are roughly on par with The Batman and higher than Aquaman and the Mission movies
In Thailand, Superman dominated at No. 1 on Thursday with 58% share at $631K.
The Top 5 through Thursday are: Mexico ($2.2M), Brazil ($2M), France ($1.8M), Australia ($1.3M) and Korea ($1.1M).
China, where we have already estimated this is not going to move the needle, opened today to $2.4M.
We’ll have more during the weekend…