James Gunn’s Superman is proving to be a box office force, pulling in a massive $21M+ in preview screenings, setting new records as the first film under DC Studios’ “Gods and Monsters” phase. This marks a significant milestone for Gunn and Peter Safran, who co-head the studio.
Early audience reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with the film holding a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated Superman movie by audiences to date — surpassing even Richard Donner’s iconic 1978 film (86%).
The impressive preview tally includes $2.8M from Amazon Prime early access screenings and showtimes that began as early as 2PM on the official release day. These numbers represent the biggest preview figure ever for a James Gunn-directed movie, surpassing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s $17.5M. Additionally, it’s the highest preview figure of the year, outpacing Disney’s Lilo & Stitch ($14.5M) and Captain America: Brave New World ($12M).
While Warner Bros. projected a $100M three-day opening and some forecasts placed it even higher ($115M-$130M), the actual performance of Superman is expected to exceed those estimates. Despite multiple historical iterations of Superman — from radio shows to television to the silver screen — what’s attracting audiences now is the critical acclaim. The film boasts an 82% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, ranking it as the second-best reviewed Superman film after the 1978 original.
James Gunn’s Superman also outperformed Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel in previews, which brought in $9M. It’s also nearing the preview levels of 2022’s The Batman, which earned $21.6M. Although it hasn’t surpassed Batman v. Superman’s record-setting $27.7M in previews, Gunn’s Superman is still among the top-performing Superman titles ever in terms of early box office metrics.
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On the social media front, the film is generating remarkable buzz. Analytics firm RelishMix reported a social media universe reach of 953.8 million across YouTube, TikTok, X, Instagram, and Facebook — outperforming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Batman, and Joker: Folie à Deux, and closing in on Deadpool & Wolverine.
RelishMix also observed a strong positive sentiment among fans, with comments praising the film’s nostalgic tone, faithful characterization, and James Gunn’s creative direction. One fan noted, “A comic book movie that’s not ashamed to be a comic book is something we desperately needed.” Another said, “This Superman feels right.” Nostalgia is playing a significant role, with many comparing the film’s emotional tone to that of the original 1978 version and applauding the remixed classic theme music.
While Warner Bros. has not officially confirmed the final numbers, early indicators suggest James Gunn’s Superman is poised for an exceptional theatrical run.
