Superman directed by James Gunn is soaring at the box office, surpassing the success of Good Heavens*. Starring David Korenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hault, Superman was released on July 11. Meanwhile, Good Heavens* hit theaters in May, featuring MCU stars like Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, and David Harbor.
While Good Heavens* received positive reviews from critics and Marvel fans, its overall box office performance fell short compared to most franchise films, including Captain America: Brave New World. It grossed $382.1 million worldwide, with $189.9 million domestically and $192.1 million internationally.
On the other hand, Superman also garnered favorable reviews, despite facing criticism for its political message and association with the DCEU. The film has been making waves, earning a total gross of $406.8 million, with a significant portion coming from the national box office.
What Superman Passing Thunderbolts* at the Box Office Means
The DCU is on the Rise
Superman had a reported budget of $225 million for production and $125 million for marketing. The film needs to gross between $450 million and $600 million to break even. With over $400 million in just its second weekend, Superman is on track to achieve the lower end of that range.
Conversely, Good Heavens* had a production budget of $180 million, setting its break-even point around $360 million without marketing costs. Factoring in the $100 million spent on marketing, the film needed to gross at least $560 million to cover all expenses. While it recouped its production costs, it fell short of recovering its marketing budget.
Currently, Superman is poised to outperform Good Heavens* financially, positioning itself as a greater success for DC Studios. Its total gross of $406.8 million is set to surpass Captain America: Brave New World’s total gross of $415.1 million in the near future.
Our Take on Superman Passing Thunderbolts* at the Box Office
Good Heavens* may have a challenging road ahead, as it had a weaker performance compared to Superman, especially for a film introducing a new faction of Avengers. Despite this, the film faced obstacles due to its cast members’ lack of prior leading roles in Marvel projects.
Similarly, Superman faced the steep challenge of revitalizing the DC brand for casual viewers post-DCEU. Surpassing many DCEU films financially, the film is well on its way to achieving that goal. However, Superman‘s box office success will depend on its continued ticket sales.
