It looks like James Gunn’s Superman is going to double to profit of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, according to reports, despite making less at the worldwide box office.
When Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel launched in 2013, it was billed as the bold new beginning of a cinematic universe that Warner Bros. hoped could rival Marvel’s Avengers empire. The movie grossed more than $670 million worldwide, an impressive figure that secured Snyder a multi-film deal and birthed what would eventually be known as the Snyderverse.
Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel – HBO Max
Fast forward to 2025, and James Gunn’s Superman has proven to be a very different kind of beast. The numbers are in, and while Gunn’s Superman reboot didn’t eclipse Snyder’s Man of Steel at the global box office, it still stands as the more viable project—because of one critical metric: profit.
The Raw Numbers
Let’s break down the numbers to see how Superman was able to eclipse Man of Steel in terms of profit, according to a report out of Variety.
Worldwide Gross:
- Man of Steel: $670 million
- Superman: $614 million
Profitability:
- Man of Steel: $42.7 million
- Superman: $125 million
Rahcel Brosnahan as Lois Lane in Superman – YouTube, DC
So despite bringing in less overall revenue, Gunn’s Superman delivered nearly triple the profit of Snyder’s Man of Steel. This comes from a Variety report highlighting that Gunn’s film not only managed costs better but also performed stronger domestically, where studios retain a higher percentage of ticket sales.
Why Profit Beats Gross
The secret here is efficiency. Snyder’s film carried a production cost estimated at $258 million, with tens of millions more in residuals and participations. It played heavily overseas, including in China and Russia—markets where Hollywood sees a fraction of box office returns.
Lex Luthor in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
Gunn’s Superman, by contrast, leaned on North American audiences. The film launched with a $122 million domestic opening, outpacing Man of Steel’s $116.6 million debut, and ultimately became the highest-grossing solo Superman movie ever in the United States. While the worldwide tally came in lower, Warner Bros. saw far healthier margins.
Snyderverse Fans Won’t Like This…
Snyder loyalists—often referred to as “Snyder-Bros”—have long argued that Man of Steel laid the groundwork for DC’s most “ambitious” cinematic vision. But when executives crunch the numbers, the reality is unavoidable: James Gunn’s Superman is simply the more profitable venture. The Snyderverse ultimately failed, which is how we got to Gunn’s DCU in the first place.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 13: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Zack Snyder attends the Netflix Premiere of Zack Snyder’s REBEL MOON – Part One: A Child of Fire at TCL Chinese Theatre on December 13, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emilio Madrid/Getty Images for Netflix)
That doesn’t erase Snyder’s global reach, nor does it diminish the cultural moment Man of Steel represented in 2013. But for a studio trying to rebuild trust with audiences and shareholders, Gunn’s Superman offers something Snyder’s never did: a project that actually delivers a solid return.
The Bigger Picture
This profit margin makes Gunn’s Superman not just a win, but a strategic win over Man of Steel. Warner Bros. Discovery has been under enormous pressure to stabilize its DC brand after years of uneven results. By proving that the world’s most iconic superhero can be reintroduced profitably—even without hitting billion-dollar heights—Gunn has carved out a foundation that could sustain future installments.
James Gunn sits for an interview – YouTube, GQ
Meanwhile, Snyder’s film, for all its spectacle, remains an expensive reminder of Warner’s old playbook: go big, spend bigger, and hope it all pays off.
Final Thoughts
The comparison is going to sting for diehard Snyder fans. Yes, Man of Steel still holds the higher gross, But Gunn’s Superman is the project studio execs will point to as the smarter, safer, and more sustainable path forward. Because at the end of the day how much money you make on a project is irrelevant. It’s about how much money you make vs. the cost of making it.
That’s why a movie with a $800 break even point that makes $1 billion is less successful as a movie with a $150 break even point that makes $500 million.
Superman in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
And if nearly tripling Snyder’s profits wasn’t enough to ignite debate, just wait until the social media arguments start trying to spin this one. But the accountants have already decided who won.
How do you feel about Superman nearly tripling the profit generated by Man of Steel? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
