James Gunn’S Superman may have skyrocketed at the global box office, but behind the scenes it appears DC Studios is still trying to get out of the financial red zone. A new report reveals that the film actually didn’t make a profit during its theatrical run, even though it was the biggest superhero movie of 2025.
According to Forbes, Superman it concluded its 84-day run with a worldwide total of $615,784,465. This breaks down to $354.2 million domestically and $261.6 million internationally.
Impressive numbers, sure, but when you take into account the film’s $225 million production budget and another $125 million invested in global marketing, the total spend reaches around $350 million.
This is where things get complicated. Theaters typically keep about 50% of box office revenue, meaning Warner Bros. Discovery would have taken home about $308 million from the total haul.
This figure cannot cover the combined costs of production and marketing, even before considering waste and other expenses. So while Superman might seem like a success on the surface, its theatrical earnings didn’t actually recoup its entire investment.
But it’s not all bad news for DC and WB. The film has since released on HBO Max, with its streaming debut on September 19. There’s also a good portion of revenue coming from digital purchases, Blu-ray sales, merchandise and licensing deals. These post-release flows are critical to making up for the initial box office deficit.
The next step in the launch of the DCU is Supergirldirected by Craig Gillespie and interpreted Milly Alcockwhich is expected to hit theaters on June 26, 2026. Gunn also confirmed this Superman will have a direct sequel, officially titled The man of tomorrowdue out July 27, 2027.
So while Superman may not have flown high enough to break even theatrically, he’s still an essential element in Gunn and Peter Safran’s evolving DC universe. And as long as fans keep coming for the next chapter, Warner Bros. Discovery will keep moving forward.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
