There was a time when Superman could not even leap over the box office in a single bound. Now, he is not just flying, he is breaking through records like a speeding bullet. James Gunn’s 2025 Superman has bulldozed past Man of Steel to become the highest-grossing solo Superman film in U.S. history. It cleared $300 million domestically in under three weeks, outran every other superhero in 2025, and punched its way into Warner Bros.’ all-time domestic top 15. But it is not just numbers, it is redemption.

This may finally be the cleansing thunderstorm that washes away the fifteen-year cinematic mudslide that was the DC Extended Universe.

For fifteen long years, beginning with Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight in 2008, the same year Marvel Studios launched Iron Man, DC Films struggled to keep pace with Marvel’s box office dominance. Year after year, a Marvel title would emerge as the ultimate superhero victor. However, the narrative appears to be shifting in 2025. James Gunn’s Superman has opened to a commanding $125 million domestically, slightly ahead of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which debuted at $118 million in the U.S. market.

Although Marvel’s The Fantastic Four achieved a marginally higher global opening, Superman has since gained considerable momentum. The latter's second-weekend drop of 53 percent was notably milder than The Fantastic Four's 66 percent decline. As of early August, Superman has grossed over $550 million worldwide, far outpacing The Fantastic Four, which is approaching $370 million. If trends hold, Superman may end DC Films’ fifteen-year losing streak at the global box office.

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Even if Superman triumphs, it will take more than one film to reestablish DC’s box office dominance.

The year 2026 looms like a sequel no one asked for, and the forecasts are not kind to DC Films. Spider-Man: Brand New Day appears ready to web up Supergirl and leave nothing but a cape in its wake. Two Avengers films are marching forward too, eager to compete with The Batman Part II. And, curiously, the cinematic chaos now includes Hideo Kojima, who has apparently thrown his enigmatic allegiance behind Fantastic Four. 

Still, James Gunn’s Superman marks a rare and meaningful victory for DC Films. Even if such triumphs remain intermittent, Marvel Studios' recent stumbles suggest the tides are shifting. With the post-Secret Wars reboot on the horizon, Marvel is preparing to renew audience interest with fresh narratives and younger blood. But for now, DC gets to enjoy something it rarely does, being on the winning side of a box office headline.

James Gunn’s 'Superman' Flies Past $300M, Surpassing Zack Snyder’s 'Man of Steel'

Do you think DC will beat Marvel this year and after that? Let us know in the comments down below!