James Gunn’s Superman Rockets to $217M Debut, Director Gets Candid About the Film’s Emotional Core—“It’s the Man, Not Just the Cape”

Hollywood has a new box office hero, and it’s not just the guy in the red cape—it’s the man behind the camera.

James Gunn’s Superman has soared into theaters with a jaw-dropping $217 million global opening, including $122 million from the U.S. alone—making it the biggest solo Superman debut in history (non-inflation adjusted) and the third-largest domestic launch of the year, trailing only A Minecraft Movie and Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch.

Gunn took to social media with heartfelt gratitude, thanking fans for embracing a different kind of superhero story—one focused not on superpowers, but on humanity.

“I'm incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm and kind words over the past few days,” Gunn wrote. “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 of the equation—a kind person always looking out for those in need.”

That message, rooted in compassion, appears to be striking a powerful chord with audiences worldwide.

“That this resonates so deeply with so many people across the world,” Gunn added, “is in itself a hopeful testament to the kindness and quality of human beings. Thank you. ❤️”

The strong debut is also music to the ears of Warner Bros. Discovery, which sees Superman as the first major domino in Gunn’s ambitious DC Universe (DCU) reboot.

“This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen,” said Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav in a statement. “Superman is just the first step.”

Zaslav confirmed that upcoming projects include the feature films Supergirl and Clayface, as well as the Lanterns series on Max, all part of DC Studios’ new decade-long strategy to reshape its cinematic universe.

Still, the question remains—can Superman maintain altitude in the weeks ahead? While its domestic numbers are strong, international box office tracking has been modest so far. Some industry pundits speculate the film needs to hit $700 million globally to be a true success, but Gunn brushed off the chatter.

“That number is just complete and utter nonsense,” he said last month, calling the rumored threshold wildly inaccurate.

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Gunn’s reboot isn’t just another superhero spectacle—it’s a course correction. By grounding Superman in empathy and moral clarity, Gunn may have reignited what the character means to modern audiences. If DC can keep this tone of hope, heart, and heroism alive, the DCU might finally be on the path to reclaiming its cinematic legacy.