Who’d have thought that we’d see a time when a DC movie is performing better at the box office than the latest MCU tent pole? But that’s exactly what’s happening this year, withthe newly-launched DC Universe’s first film,Superman, delivering a solid box office performance while all three Marvel movies of 2025 underperformed. One of them, in fact, is playing in theaters in parallel toSuperman.The Fantastic Four: First Stepswitnessed a concerning second-weekend drop, and is poised to conclude its global run with a lower haul than that of the new DC film, which recently overtook an all-time classic domestically.
On its 25th day of release,Supermansurpassed the $317 million haul ofHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone— the blockbuster film that launched the Harry Potter film franchise nearly a quarter-century ago. Directed byChris Columbus,Harry Pottergrossed nearly $1 billion worldwide, and earned mostly positive reviews. It holds an 80% score on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, where the critics' consensus reads, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneadapts its source material faithfully while condensing the novel’s overstuffed narrative into an involving – and often downright exciting – big-screen magical caper.”
Columbus returned to direct the second film,Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, before handing over the reins of the franchise toAlfonso Cuarón.Mike Newellhelmed the fourth film, while the remaining four movies were directed byDavid Yates. The British filmmaker returned to direct three theatrical Fantastic Beasts spin-off movies, each of which made less money than the last. The Harry Potter books are set to be adapted into a new HBO series that recently began filming. The show will be released next year.
‘Superman’ Is Now One of the 100 Highest-Grossing Films in Domestic Box Office History
Superman, on the other hand, is supposed to start a franchise of its own. It comes only two years after the divisiveDC Extended Universeconcluded its run withAquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The new DC Universe is being spearheaded byJames GunnandPeter Safran, but the franchise was birthed at a time when superhero cinema was going through an evolutionary stage. Case in point, the recent underperformance of three MCU movies.Supermanopened to positive reviews, and is nowone of the 100 highest-grossing films in domestic box office history. You can watch the movie in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Follows the titular superhero as he reconciles his heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way in a world that views kindness as old-fashioned.
