‘Superman’ Soars with Highest Domestic Preview Numbers Of The Year

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James Gunn’s Superman film is taking off with great momentum. In its U.S. Thursday night previews, it raked in an impressive $22.5 million, setting a new high for preview earnings in 2023.

The grand total surpassed the previous year’s earnings of both Barbie (amounting to $22.3 million) and The Batman from 2022 ($21.6 million). Moreover, this figure represents the highest preview earnings achieved by Gunn so far.

Based on reports from Warner Bros and DC Studios, the upcoming film is projected to have a strong opening weekend, potentially earning between $115 million and $120 million over three days. On its first day alone, it’s expected to rake in approximately $55 million, with even more potential for growth throughout the weekend. Some industry experts are speculating that the film could even surpass $120 million.

It’s clear that there’s a great deal of excitement surrounding the 7PM IMAX show at AMC Citywalk in Los Angeles, as people are already struggling to secure their seats.

There’s been discussion online about whether political leanings or “MAGA sentiment” might influence box office earnings. However, data from EntTelligence, a box office analysis company, suggests otherwise. In fact, for PG-13 adventure films, theaters in red counties typically account for 33% of ticket sales, while blue counties contribute about 61%. The pattern holds true for Superman; so far, 60% of early ticket sales have come from blue counties, with 34% coming from red. Therefore, it appears that politics are not negatively impacting the movie’s performance at the box office.

It’s not realistic to assume that average moviegoers base their decisions on a director’s personal beliefs. Interestingly, as per EntTelligence, about 44% of the audience for Superman hails from metropolitan areas with over a million residents, which is consistent with typical movie-going demographics for films like this, suggesting that the film is performing well.

In this scenario, marketing significantly contributed to the success. Despite some studios lamenting that trailers are no longer captivating audiences, Warner Bros managed to triumph in this instance. According to EntTelligence, the theater trailer for Superman was seen by a massive 95.7 million people, thanks in part to its placement before Minecraft: The Movie. This extensive exposure undeniably fueled anticipation.

Compared to the openings of other superhero films directed by the same creators, The Batman grossed $56.6 million on its first day and a total of $134 million over the weekend. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, another film from the same team, earned $56 million on its opening day and went on to make $146.5 million in three days. Even Guardians Vol. 3 started with slightly less, at $48.1 million, but still ended up making $118.4 million over the weekend. So, it’s safe to say that Superman’s opening weekend earnings will likely fall within this range as well.

The film is receiving positive feedback, as indicated by a 78% “definitely recommend” rating on PostTrak from general audiences. It’s also gaining favor among families, with both children under 12 and their parents giving it top marks. According to one source, this endorsement can be trusted wholeheartedly: “You can count on that, for sure.

At the moment, it’s evident that “Superman” is dominating the weekend box office. “Jurassic World Rebirth,” from Universal, follows closely behind with an estimated earnings of $37 million. The racing movie “F1,” also from Warner Bros., trails slightly with approximately $10.7 million. Universal’s “How to Train Your Dragon” reboot is earning about $5.7 million, and Disney’s “Elio” is bringing in around $3.1 million.

In short, Superman is flying high, and Warner Bros looks like it has a solid hit on its hands.

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2025-07-12 02:19