Superman Outearned Man of Steel — And The Numbers Are Brutal

So, who actually made Warner Bros. more money: Zack Snyder's 2013 'Man of Steel' or James Gunn's 2025 'Superman'? The answer is messier than a simple box office scoreboard, but the short version is this: the new one looks like the better business.

The profit headline

"Superman has generated $125 million in profit for Warner Bros."

That figure comes via Variety. Important caveats: the report does not spell out whether that $125 million is strictly theatrical profit or if it bakes in other revenue (licensing, tie-ins, etc.), and Warner Bros. has not put out official numbers. Still, put that next to the $42.7 million profit Deadline reported for 'Man of Steel' back in 2013, and 'Superman' is currently ahead by $82.3 million.

Wait, but didn’t 'Man of Steel' make more worldwide?

Yes. This is where the box office vs. profit conversation gets a little inside baseball. 'Man of Steel' pulled in more globally, but 'Superman' appears to be cheaper in key places that matter to the final math.

• Opening weekend: 'Superman' launched with $125 million and benefited from solid word of mouth.
• Domestic totals: 'Superman' sits at $353.3 million vs. 'Man of Steel' at $291 million.
• Worldwide totals: 'Superman' is at $614.1 million; 'Man of Steel' did $670 million.
• Reported production budgets: both were said to be $225 million.
• The real costs: Deadline pegged 'Man of Steel' at $258 million, plus an additional $58 million paid out to profit participants like Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, producer Charles Roven, and yes, Jon Peters. That is classic Hollywood accounting stuff that adds up fast.
• Talent pay on 'Superman': the highest upfront check reportedly went to Nicholas Hoult at $2 million, with leads David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan at $750,000 each. All three have performance-based bonuses, which, given the box office, will likely kick in.

So while 'Man of Steel' outperformed overseas, it also appears to have carried more cost on the back end. Meanwhile, 'Superman' kept upfront salaries relatively modest for its leads, which can translate to a cleaner profit picture early on.

Is 'Superman' a disappointment? Not if you follow the money

Some folks pointed at the worldwide number and slapped a "disappointment" label on 'Superman.' The profitability story says otherwise. And the studio behavior backs that up. After 'Man of Steel,' Warner Bros. shelved a straight sequel and fast-tracked 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.' This time, the follow-up is already on the calendar: 'Man of Tomorrow' arrives July 9, 2027. James Gunn has said he does not consider it a traditional sequel, but it is very much the next chapter.

The vibes matter too

Audience and critical response is a big part of this. 'Man of Steel' sparked endless debates about its bleak tone and, of course, the neck-snap heard round the world. 'Superman' has been greeted much more warmly by general audiences. It honestly feels like the first time the character has had this level of broad public goodwill since 1978's 'Superman: The Movie.'

Bottom line

Domestic box office winner: 'Superman.' Global box office winner: 'Man of Steel.' Profit winner, per trade reporting so far: 'Superman' by a wide margin. Just remember the fine print: Variety did not disclose the exact methodology behind that $125 million profit number, and Warner Bros. has not officially confirmed it. Still, add up the costs, the salaries, the reception, and the sequel momentum, and the 2025 film looks like the stronger business play right now.