NEW YORK – Warner Bros. is facing a tough moment with their DC movie lineup after “Supergirl” opened to disappointing numbers, especially when compared to the smash hit “Toy Story 5.” The Pixar film dominated the box office, raking in a whopping $70 million in its opening weekend alone, plus another $89.1 million from international audiences. In just two weeks, “Toy Story 5” has already grossed an impressive $585 million worldwide, making it one of the year’s biggest successes.
On the other hand, “Supergirl” struggled to gain traction. The film earned only $38 million in the U.S. and Canadian markets, with an additional $30 million from international sales. This underwhelming performance has raised concerns, particularly as it represents the second significant release from the newly established DC Studios under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, following the relatively successful “Superman,” which grossed $618 million globally.
Directed by Craig Gillespie, “Supergirl” faced a rough reception from both critics and audiences. After undergoing significant edits following test screenings, the film currently stands with a low 56% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B-” CinemaScore from viewers. This lackluster response places “Supergirl” among other disappointing DC releases like “The Flash” and “The Green Lantern,” which also struggled at the box office.
Industry analyst David A. Gross pointed out that superhero films have not been drawing audiences as they once did, especially before the pandemic. The superhero genre’s box office revenue has decreased significantly, dropping about $3.5 billion annually since its peak between 2017 and 2019. Even female-led superhero movies, which previously saw success with titles like “Wonder Woman” and “Captain Marvel,” are now facing challenges.
The disappointing debut of “Supergirl,” which cost around $170 million to produce, comes at a critical time for Warner Bros. Discovery, the film’s parent company. They are in discussions for an acquisition by Paramount Skydance, with the studio’s executives meeting with Gunn and Safran recently.
Looking ahead, the next DC film on the horizon is “Clayface,” a horror-themed take on the character, set to be released in October. Gunn is also working on a follow-up to “Superman,” titled “Man of Tomorrow,” which is currently in production and scheduled for release in July 2027. “Supergirl” stars Milly Alcock as Lara Zor-El, a character who is portrayed as more carefree and fun-loving compared to her heroic cousin, Superman.
In other box office news, “Jackass: Best and Last” opened with $8.4 million, a modest performance for the group’s latest stunt compilation. Meanwhile, Olivia Wilde’s new comedy “The Invite” had a stellar debut, averaging over $54,000 per screen, which is one of the highest per-screen averages of the year. This film, featuring notable stars like Seth Rogen and Penélope Cruz, is expected to expand its reach in the coming weeks.
The indie horror flick “Obsession” continued to perform well, grossing $9.8 million in its seventh weekend and reaching a total of over $233 million domestically. However, Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” slipped to fifth place, earning $8.1 million in its third weekend and accumulating nearly $194 million globally.
Here’s a look at the top 10 movies at the domestic box office:
1. “Toy Story 5,” $70 million.
2. “Supergirl,” $38 million.
3. “Obsession,” $9.8 million.
4. “Jackass: Best and Last,” $8.4 million.
5. “Disclosure Day,” $8.1 million.
6. “Backrooms,” $4.3 million.
7. “Scary Movie,” $3 million.
8. “Masters of the Universe,” $2.2 million.
9. “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity,” $2 million.
10. “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” $1.6 million.
