‘Michael’ Takes Down ‘Supergirl’ in the Overseas Box Office Race

Supergirl has gotten off to a difficult start at the international box office, with Japan becoming one of its weakest early markets. The new DC Universe movie opened in second place behind Michael, and early numbers suggest it could deliver one of the lowest opening weekends for a DC film in Japan since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to early box office reports, Supergirl earned around $380,000 on its first Friday in Japan. That figure places it among the weakest Friday debuts for a DC movie in the country over the last 13 years. Only Shazam! Fury of the Gods opened with a lower first Friday, bringing in about $270,000.

Michael claimed the top spot at the Japanese box office, preventing Supergirl from opening at number one. Current projections estimate that Supergirl will finish its first three-day weekend in Japan with between $1 million and $1.5 million.

Audience reactions in Japan have also been mixed. The film reportedly received a 3.5-star audience rating, which is considered roughly equal to a B CinemaScore in the United States. That score puts it close to other comic book movies such as Batman v Superman, The Marvels, Wonder Woman 1984, and Birds of Prey. However, it falls below Superman, which earned a much stronger 4.2-star audience rating.

Looking at previous DC releases in Japan highlights the challenge. Films like Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Man of Steel, Joker, and Batman v Superman all opened significantly higher on their first Fridays. Even recent releases such as The Flash and Black Adam posted stronger opening-day numbers than Supergirl.

The film’s overseas performance comes as it continues its worldwide theatrical rollout. As of June 25, 2026, Supergirl has earned $7.8 million in the United States and Canada, along with another $5.2 million from international markets. That brings its global total to around $13 million so far.

Supergirl was produced on a reported budget of approximately $170 million, although some reports place the final production cost closer to $186 million. Industry estimates suggest the movie will need to earn roughly $315 million worldwide to reach its break-even point before marketing costs are considered.

Before release, expectations for the film shifted several times. Around three weeks before opening, analysts believed Supergirl could debut with more than $55 million domestically. Deadline reported that audience awareness was strong across all major age groups and compared favorably with films like The Mandalorian and Grogu, Thunderbolts*, and Shazam!.

However, those projections dropped as release approached. By June 20, forecasts had fallen to around $40 million for its domestic opening weekend. Shortly before release, Variety updated those estimates, predicting an opening between $47 million and $50 million from approximately 3,600 theaters across North America.

On its first day in U.S. theaters, Supergirl earned $13 million, including $7.8 million from Thursday preview screenings. While the domestic opening remains the biggest factor in determining the film’s early success, international markets such as Japan will also play an important role in its long-term box office performance. With Michael leading the Japanese box office and mixed audience reactions for Supergirl, the film now faces a tougher road as it looks to build momentum in the weeks ahead.

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