'Superman' Tops Box Office Again With $57.3M in Second Weekend
James Gunn’s superhero reboot continues to dominate the summer box office while horror and animation debuts struggle to keep up.
James Gunn's Superman is proving it’s not just a one-week wonder. The DC Studios blockbuster brought in $57.3 million during its second weekend in North American theaters, holding tight to the No. 1 spot, according to Sunday studio estimates.
The Kryptonian comeback dipped just 54% from its domestic debut — a pretty standard drop for summer tentpoles — bringing its worldwide total to $406.8 million in just two weeks.
Despite a trio of new films (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Smurfs, and Eddington), none came close to denting Superman’s box office dominance. The movie, budgeted at around $225 million, is expected to fly into profitability thanks to strong reviews and solid audience scores.
It’s also a crucial title for DC Studios, marking the start of its 10-year cinematic reboot under co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran. Up next? 2026’s Supergirl and Clayface.
Meanwhile, F1: The Movie, co-produced by Apple Studios and Warner Bros., is still racing ahead. The Brad Pitt–led motorsports drama earned another $9.6 million domestically and $29.5 million overseas, pushing its global total to $460.8 million in its fourth weekend.
Newcomers Struggle at the Starting Line
Sony’s I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot kicked off with $13 million, a modest opening for a once-iconic horror franchise. The film, set nearly three decades after the 1997 original, stars Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders. Reviews were rough (38% on Rotten Tomatoes), and the movie landed a “C+” CinemaScore — not ideal for word-of-mouth.
Smurfs, Paramount’s latest take on the classic blue crew, debuted with $11 million, landing in fourth place. Despite Rihanna voicing Smurfette, critics weren’t impressed (21% on Rotten Tomatoes). Viewers were a bit kinder with a “B+” CinemaScore. With a $58 million production cost, the film is banking on its $22.6 million international launch to stay afloat.
Ari Aster’s new film Eddington had a quiet debut, opening with $4.2 million across 2,111 screens. The pandemic-era Western stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal in a political showdown that has sharply divided critics and viewers alike. The $25 million film received a “C+” from CinemaScore, echoing the lukewarm reception of Aster’s 2023 misfire, Beau Is Afraid.
Hollywood’s Hot Streak Continues
Despite a few stumbles, the summer box office is having a moment. Comscore reports a 15.9% bump over last year’s numbers, with domestic ticket sales hitting $2.6 billion so far this summer.
Here’s a quick look at the Top 10 Movies This Weekend (Domestic):
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Superman – $57.3M
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Jurassic World Rebirth – $23.4M
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I Know What You Did Last Summer – $13M
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Smurfs – $11M
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F1: The Movie – $9.6M
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How to Train Your Dragon – $5.4M
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Eddington – $4.3M
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Elio – $2M
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Lilo & Stitch – $1.5M
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28 Years Later – $1.3M
With Disney’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps set to hit theaters next weekend, all eyes are on whether Marvel can snatch the crown from the Man of Steel — or if Superman will stay king of the summer box office.
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