James Gunn’s Superman is flying high just hours after ticket sales launched, with official data from Fandango revealing the Amazon Prime Early Access screenings have outpaced all other ticket launches in 2025—including Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
It’s a stunning early reversal of fortunes as DC could be set to take the super hero box office throne away from Marvel after years of Disney dominance in the super hero genre.
Amazon Prime Screenings Break Records
According to Fandango, the July 8th Amazon-exclusive preview showings for Superman became the best first-day ticket seller of the year, topping even early sales for Fantastic Four. The film’s Amazon screenings are part of a partnership that gives Prime members early access to IMAX and 3D showings—a limited rollout that nonetheless racked up massive interest.
Lex Luthor in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
Seats for these limited screenings are already filling up on ticketing platforms, while comparable screenings for Fantastic Four are seeing noticeably less traction.
General Tickets Now on Sale
Beyond the Amazon screenings, full nationwide ticket sales for Superman opened today alongside the debut of the film’s final trailer. The trailer heavily showcases Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor and displayed several high-impact action moments, including our first look at the character many believe to be Ultraman.
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The momentum for Superman isn’t limited to just ticketing metrics. In a recently released 2025 Moviegoing Trends & Insight Study, based on a survey of more than 5,000 moviegoers, Fandango listed Superman among the most anticipated films of the summer.
A follow-up survey of 9,000 ticket buyers highlighted Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor as one of the most anticipated performances of the year—indicating the film’s appeal stretches beyond its title character.
Superman Surpasses Fantastic Four in a Reversal of Fortune for DC
Fandango previously reported strong advance ticket sales for Fantastic Four: First Steps, with the Marvel reboot ranking among the platform’s top-performing presales of 2025. However, Superman has now reportedly blown past those Fantastic Four ticket sales, becoming the #1 first-day ticket seller of the year.
It marks a notable reversal of fortune for DC. For nearly two decades, Marvel Studios held an overwhelming lead at the box office, with juggernauts like Avengers: Endgame setting records few films have come close to touching.
Superman withstands fire in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
But since Endgame’s 2019 release, Marvel’s dominance has wavered. Projects like Eternals, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels, and most recently Thunderbolts underperformed. Several attempts by Marvel to course correct with multiverse storytelling and legacy characters have yielded mixed results.
That perceived instability may have opened the door for James Gunn’s DC reboot to capture mainstream attention. With fresh casting, a clear creative direction, and strong early interest from moviegoers, Superman now appears positioned to challenge Disney Marvel’s grip on the superhero genre—something that seemed nearly impossible just a few years ago.
Early Box Office Projections Suggest $100M+ Opening
While no official tracking numbers have been released yet, industry chatter and early estimates suggest Superman could be heading for a domestic opening between $155 million and $175 million in its first weekend.
Superman saves a little girl in the Superman teaser trailer – YouTube, DC
Still, a $100 million+ opening would place Superman among the top box office debuts of 2025 and make it one of the biggest Superman movie openings of all time.
Do you think Superman can defeat Fantastic Four in ticket sales? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
I have my issues with James Gunn, but I’m still rooting for Superman over the Fantastic Four. I still have a sliver of hope for the future of DC, which is more than I have for Marvel.
[…] 1978 Christopher Reeve-led “Superman.” Will “Superman” save the industry? Strong pre-ticket sales suggest it has enough wind under its cape to soar well above Hollywood’s […]
[…] 1978 Christopher Reeve-led “Superman.” Will “Superman” save the industry? Strong pre-ticket sales suggest it has enough wind under its cape to soar well above Hollywood’s […]