New Report Suggests Superman’s Box Office Failed to Turn a Profit

Superman flew high at the box office, but a new report says the math on James Gunn's reboot doesn't quite land in the black from its theatrical run alone. Let's dig into what that actually means without glazing over.

So...did Superman make money in theaters?

Short answer: not on ticket sales alone, according to Forbes. The movie — the first theatrical release under DC Studios' new leadership with James Gunn and Peter Safran — was 2025's top superhero title but still fell short of a theatrical profit once you factor in how revenue is split.

• Opened: July 11
• Theatrical run: 84 days
• Domestic gross: $354,184,465
• International gross: $261,600,000
• Worldwide total: $615,784,465
• Production budget: $225 million
• Global marketing (P&A): $125 million
• Total upfront costs: about $350 million
• Estimated studio take from theaters after exhibitor cuts: roughly $308 million (per Forbes, before residuals and other backend costs)
• Result: that theatrical return came in below the combined production and marketing spend

Why that happens (and why the numbers feel wonky)

Theaters typically keep around half the ticket price, which means that big, shiny global totals don't translate 1:1 back to the studio. Forbes pegs Superman's theatrical net to Warner Bros. Discovery at about $308 million, which is roughly $42 million shy of the reported $350 million in production and marketing outlay — and that's before you get into residuals or other obligations. It's the sort of studio-accounting reality that looks strange next to a $600+ million headline number, but it's pretty standard for tentpoles with giant marketing spends.

How Superman makes up the difference

This is where the rest of the release strategy kicks in. Superman is now earning past the box office through premium digital sales, physical media, and its HBO Max debut on September 19. Add in merchandise and licensing, and those post-release streams help narrow — and potentially close — the gap left by theaters. So while the theatrical run itself didn't tip into profit, the movie isn't done making money.

Cast, context, and what comes next

Gunn's Superman stars David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and Edi Gathegi, and it planted the flag for the new DCU. DC Studios will follow it with Craig Gillespie's Supergirl, led by Milly Alcock, set for June 26, 2026. Gunn has also confirmed the direct sequel, officially titled 'Man of Tomorrow', for July 27, 2027. The pipeline is alive and moving, even if the first outing's theatrical math wasn't the victory headline the studio probably wanted.