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An undocumented superhero from another planet scaled the weekend  boxoffice heights, putting $122M into exhibitors’ eager hands.

Hollywood handicappers had projected a $130-140M launch for Warner Bros./DC Studios’ PG-13 sci-fi action adventure SUPERMAN. After it did  $22M from Thursday previews plus an earlier IMAX sneak, the 🐝🐝🐝🐝 accelerated to $140-150M. By mid-weekend, it had cooled to $115-121M.  BUDGET BUZZ: $225M to produce.

SUPERMAN’s playing at 4,135 theatres ($29,504) and benefiting bigtime from its IMAX and premium large format screens. It’s a movie people want to see on the biggest possible screen and they’ll wait a week if they can’t get in immediately. That waiting-to-see-it-right audience could give SUPERMAN a strong second weekend hold.

SUPERMAN did a softer than hoped for $95M internationally, for a global total of $217M. It’s tracking best & equally well for first choice with men under & over 25 (each 18 points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics love it at 82% and paying audiences are overjoyed at 93%.

James Gunn (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) directed & co-produced SUPERMAN with Peter Safran, with whom he heads DC studios and its newly imagined DC Universe. SUPERMAN stars David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane & Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

Domestic ticket sales this weekend were $197.7M, according to Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. That’s up 26.1% from the prior weekend and up 58% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $4.70B, up 14.98% from $4.09B in 2024. The prior weekend showed 2025 up 14.62% vs. last year. But on 6/8, Comscore had 2025 up 26.08%.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Universal/Amblin Entertainment’s JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH was #2 in weekend two with $40M
(-56.5%) at 4,324 theatres ($9,251). It’s done $232.1M domestic & $529.5M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $180M to produce.

Next weekend (7/18) 🐝🐝🐝🐝: Paramount Pictures’ PG comedy adventure SMURFS will bring families with popcorn hungry kids to about 3,200 theatres.

Directed by Chris Miller (SHREK THE THIRD), it stars Rihanna voicing  Smurfette. It’s tracking best for first choice with women over 25 — that’s moms with kids — (equal to norm).

The franchise’s last episode, THE SMURFS, opened 7/29/2011 and did $142.6M domestic & $563.9M worldwide on a production budget of $110M.

Sony/Original Film’s R rated franchise reboot I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER will be a magnet for horror fans at about 3,000 theatres.

Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER), its stars include franchise veterans Jennifer Love Hewitt & Freddie Prinze Jr. It’s tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (five points over norm).