Superman raced into theaters faster than a speeding bullet with a domestic box office opening weekend of $125 million. It scored the third biggest debut of the year behind A Minecraft Movie (with $162 million) and Lilo & Stitch (at $146 million). The Man of Steel’s new movie earned $95 million internationally at 78 markets for a global total of $220 million. Imax screenings accounted for $19.1 million in North America and $30.4 million globally.

The new Superman movie introduces David Corenswet as the Man of Steel and was written and directed by James Gunn. It is set a few years after Superman became a superhero in Metropolis and is working as Clark Kent at the Daily Planet and dating Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan). It follows his attempts to reconcile living the regular human life of Clark with his alien heritage as a Kryptonian and how his efforts impact the world. Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who hates Superman with a passion, makes it his mission to destroy Superman and his reputation.

The movie features several other DC heroes and Superman supporting cast, including Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific/Michael Holt, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern/Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica/The Engineer, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., and Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl.

Superman is the opening act of DC Studios’ “Gods and Monsters” film series led by Gunn and Peter Safran. It will also include the movies Supergirl, Clayface, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, and Swamp Thing, and the HBO Max live-action shows Peacemaker, Lanterns, Waller, Paradise Lost, and Booster Gold.

“Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead,” Warner Bros. Discovery President & CEO David Zaslav said.

Corenswet is the ninth actor to star as Superman in live-action. Kirk Alyn was the first actor to portray the hero in the 1948 serial, Superman. George Reeves played him in the 1950s on the character’s first TV series, Adventures of Superman. Christopher Reeve starred in his first of four Superman movies in 1978. Dean Cain suited up in the 1990s on the TV series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Tom Welling portrayed the pre-Superman Clark Kent in Smallville during the 2000s. Brandon Routh was the next movie actor in 2006’s Superman Returns. Henry Cavill played him in Zack Snyder’s DC Universe, starting in 2013’s Man of Steel. Tyler Hoechlin starred in Superman & Lois as part of The CW’s Arrowverse, beginning in 2021.

“Gunn chose not to rely on big stars. Storytelling and filmmaking are doing the work here,” Gross said. “This is the original, comic book hero story about a flawed and reluctant everyman who uses his special powers to fight evil. That art is reliable and relatable.”