James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Now Expected to Open Below Snyder’s ‘Batman v Superman’

James Gunn’s Superman is gearing up for its big screen debut, but early signs suggest it might fall short of matching the opening weekend success of Batman v Superman. Forecasts show the new film is expected to earn around $135 million in its U.S. debut, according to data from the National Research Group.

That’s a solid number, but still lower than the $166 million that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice pulled in back in 2016.

Still, things aren’t all that gloomy. If the projection holds, Superman would easily beat 2013’s Man of Steel, which opened with $116 million. It would also put the film near the top of DC’s best domestic openings, just ahead of The Batman and Suicide Squad, which both launched just under $135 million.

The numbers from NRG come with a range, between $125 million and $145 million—but not everyone is sold on that high of an opening. Some insiders at Warner Bros. and DC Studios are being more careful with expectations, guessing the launch could be as low as $90 million. A debut under $100 million might raise eyebrows, especially for a movie that’s supposed to kick off a whole new chapter for DC.

Others believe the hype could push the film even higher. Some analysts who monitor online buzz think it might climb as high as $175 million. That would be enough to top Batman v Superman as DC’s biggest opener ever. Right now, only The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight stand between it and that title, with openings of just over $160 million each.

Set to open on July 11, the movie is a key moment for DC Studios and its co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. It’s the first film fully made under their leadership and kicks off their new vision for the DC Universe. With Marvel still dominating the superhero scene, this release is a major test for DC’s future.

David Corenswet takes on the role of Superman, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The story focuses on Superman trying to juggle his Earth life as Clark Kent while dealing with his role as a hero. A new twist this time is the addition of Krypto, Superman’s dog.

The movie also brings in a group of supporting heroes and villains, including Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and others. The film is set for a global release the same week, and DC still has a few weeks left to build buzz through marketing.

A $135 million opening would still be a strong start and a big improvement over Man of Steel. But because it’s the first film of a rebooted universe, expectations are higher than ever. Whether Superman can fly past the numbers of its predecessors will depend on the next few weeks of promotion, DC Studios / Warner Brosand how excited audiences really are to see this new version.

What do you think? Will Superman break records or just play it safe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!