Superman: James Gunn’s Reboot Beats 1978 Classic, Earns $21M+ In Previews, Check Rotten Tomatoes Score

James Gunn’s Superman is flying high at the global box office. The first movie under Gunn and Peter Safran’s leadership at DC Studios has pulled in over $21 million in preview screenings overseas. This total includes $2.8 million from Amazon Prime’s early access shows on Tuesday, along with collections from early screenings that began at 2 PM yesterday.

But beyond the numbers, Superman is also winning over the audience’s hearts. The film holds a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated Superman film in history. It has even surpassed the 1978 Richard Donner classic, which had an 86% score. This success is a major win for Gunn, Safran, and Warner Bros, who faced online trolls when the first trailer dropped last year.

Superman Breaks Preview Records, Beats James Gunn’s Previous Films

The preview numbers have smashed Gunn’s own record from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which earned $17.5 million in previews. It also topped other major 2025 releases, beating Disney’s Lilo & Stitch reboot ($14.5 million) and Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World ($12 million).

Initial industry tracking had predicted a $100 million weekend for Superman, with some experts expecting a figure as high as $130 million. But the strong preview numbers suggest it might cross those early expectations. For many casual moviegoers, the fresh critical response is what’s drawing them in. The film currently stands at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the second-best-reviewed Superman film ever, just behind Donner’s 1978 version.

CBFC Cuts Kissing Scenes From Superman India Release

In India, however, the film faced some censorship. The CBFC muted several curse words and removed two kissing scenes between Superman and Lois. The first was from their early meeting, while the second was a floating kiss that was featured prominently in the trailer. This edited version of the film was released in Indian theatres today.

On social media, Superman has been generating massive buzz. According to RelishMix, the film has reached a staggering 953.8 million people across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and X. This puts it ahead of films like The Batman, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Joker: Folie à Deux, and just behind Deadpool & Wolverine, which has a social reach of 1.15 billion.

As of now, the record for the biggest Superman previews still belongs to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which earned $27.7 million in 2016. But with this momentum, James Gunn’s Superman is clearly soaring in the right direction.