New Report Hints Superman Wasn’t Profitable Theatrically
A new report suggests that James Gunn’s Superman fell short of turning a theatrical profit despite its strong global box office. While the film ranked as 2025’s top superhero release, reported revenue breakdowns indicate that DC Studios may rely on streaming and post-release sales to balance the books.
Was Superman profitable for DC Studios or not?
James Gunn’s Superman, featuring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and Edi Gathegi, concluded its theatrical run after 84 days, according to Forbes, earning $354,184,465 domestically and $261,600,000 internationally for a total of $615,784,465 worldwide.
The film opened on July 11 as the first theatrical release under DC Studios’ new leadership by James Gunn and Peter Safran. It had a production budget of $225 million and an additional $125 million spent on global marketing, bringing total costs to about $350 million.
Theaters usually keep around 50 percent of ticket sales. Forbes reported that Superman’s theatrical net was roughly $308 million before residuals and other expenses. This amount placed the movie’s box office return below its production and marketing costs. The data shows that global earnings did not fully recover the film’s upfront investment after revenue splits.
Superman continues to earn revenue through premium digital sales, physical media, and its HBO Max release on September 19. Additional income from these sources, along with merchandise and licensing, boosts Warner Bros. Discovery’s overall returns. While the film’s theatrical run did not generate profit, post-release revenue streams are helping reduce or close the financial gap.
DC Studios will follow Superman with Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie and featuring Milly Alcock. The film is set for release on June 26, 2026. James Gunn confirmed that the sequel to Superman, officially titled Man of Tomorrow, will open in theaters on July 27, 2027. Both projects continue expanding the DCU slate.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
Source: Comingsoon.net