Superman's $13M First Monday Beats Spider-Man: Homecoming at 2025 Box Office

Los Angeles, July 15, 2025 – James Gunn’s Superman, the inaugural film of DC Studios’ Phase One: Gods and Monsters, continues to dominate the box office, raking in an impressive $13 million on its first Monday. This figure surpasses the first Monday earnings of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming ($11.9 million in 2017, unadjusted for inflation), signaling strong audience momentum for the Man of Steel’s latest cinematic outing. With a global opening weekend of $220 million, including $125 million domestically, the David Corenswet-led reboot is proving to be a major win for Warner Bros. and DC Studios. NRIGlobe breaks down the numbers, reactions, and what this means for the DC Universe’s future.

Record-Breaking First Monday

Following a stellar $125 million domestic debut over the July 11–13 weekend, Superman maintained its box office prowess with a $13 million haul on Monday, July 14, 2025. This performance edges out Spider-Man: Homecoming’s first Monday take, positioning Gunn’s film as a standout in the competitive superhero genre. The strong Monday numbers, driven by positive word-of-mouth (82% on Rotten Tomatoes, A- CinemaScore), suggest the film is resonating with audiences beyond the opening weekend fan rush.

The film’s $22.5 million in Thursday previews, including $2.8 million from Amazon Prime member screenings, set a record for Gunn’s career, outpacing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($17.5 million) and Lilo & Stitch ($14.5 million) to become the best preview performance of 2025. Monday’s $13 million adds to a domestic cume of $138 million through four days, with the film projected to challenge Jurassic World Rebirth ($232.1 million domestic total) in the coming weeks.

Global and Domestic Performance

Superman launched with a global box office of $220 million, including $95 million from 79 international markets. Key regions like Mexico ($8.8 million), the UK ($9.8 million), and Brazil ($2 million opening day) contributed to a robust overseas performance, though Asia, particularly China ($6.6 million), showed softer results due to superhero fatigue. The film’s domestic opening of $125 million ranks as the third-best debut of 2025, trailing only A Minecraft Movie ($162.7 million) and Lilo & Stitch ($146 million), and marks DC’s first $100 million opening since Wonder Woman in 2017.

The film’s ability to outperform Man of Steel’s $116.6 million opening in 2013 (unadjusted) and compete with Spider-Man: Homecoming’s $117 million debut highlights its broad appeal. Social media buzz, with a 953.8 million reach across platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram, underscores the film’s massive online presence, surpassing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (709.7M) and The Batman (631.7M).

Why the Success?

Directed and written by James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios with Peter Safran, Superman introduces a lighter, more optimistic take on the iconic hero, contrasting Zack Snyder’s darker Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, the film blends nostalgia with a fresh narrative. The story follows Superman’s fight to prove his heroism against Luthor’s schemes, supported by a vibrant cast including Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner), and Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific). Critics have praised its “charming” and “playful” tone, with The Independent declaring it “makes you believe in superhero movies again.”

Gunn’s focus on character-driven storytelling, as opposed to spectacle-heavy superhero tropes, has resonated with audiences. “We’ve had a lot of ‘Super’ in Superman over the years, and I’m happy to have made a movie that focuses on the ‘man’ part—a kind person always looking out for those in need,” Gunn shared on Threads. The film’s 28% under-25 audience demographic and strong premium format sales (IMAX contributed $30 million globally) indicate its appeal to both younger viewers and families despite its PG-13 rating.

Comparisons and Context

The $13 million Monday haul not only outshines Spider-Man: Homecoming but also aligns Superman with other superhero benchmarks. For context, The Batman (2022) earned $134 million over its opening weekend, while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Gunn’s biggest opener, grossed $146.5 million. Superman’s Monday performance suggests staying power, unlike Batman v Superman ($166 million opening, but weaker legs due to a B CinemaScore). With a $225–$250 million budget, the film needs approximately $562.5 million globally to break even, a target it’s on track to achieve given its current trajectory and minimal competition until The Fantastic Four: First Steps releases in two weeks.

What’s Next for DC Studios?

As the first film in Gunn and Safran’s revamped DC Universe, Superman sets the stage for upcoming projects like Supergirl and Clayface in 2026 and the HBO Max series Lanterns. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the film as “the first step” in a 10-year plan to restore DC’s cinematic legacy after recent flops like The Flash and Shazam: Fury of the Gods. The film’s success, coupled with strong reviews and audience approval, signals a promising start for DC’s new era.

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