The budget of James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy has been revealed, and at $225 million, it will need to break a DC box office record to be considered a success.
It feels like just yesterday Gunn was announced as the new head honcho at the DCU, and now there’s just weeks to go until his first big movie, Superman: Legacy, will usher in the new era for the superhero franchise.
Safe to say the film – like the Man of Steel himself – has the weight of the world on its shoulders. Not only is it tasked with setting the tone for Gunn’s reimagined universe, but it also follows the long, uneven road of the DCEU.
Ultimately, Superman: Legacy needs to be the course correction DC has desperately needed, while also outperforming its predecessors at the box office, according to one insider.
James Gunn’s Superman must soar past Man of Steel
A top talent agent close to the project told The Wrap that Superman: Legacy will need to cross the $700 million mark to be considered successful. This would put it above the current highest-grossing solo Superman movie, Man of Steel, which made $667 million in ticket sales.
It’s slightly less than Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman, which drew in more than $800 million when it landed in theaters in 2016. However, it’s not counted in this particular record, as it has Batman in the title too, drawing in fans of both cape-wearers.
The insider went on to predict that the issue won’t be competition from other summer 2025 blockbusters. Legacy drops on July 11, The Fantastic Four: First Steps lands on July 25, and Jurassic World: Rebirth releases on July 2.
“While release dates are important, I don’t think the challenge is Jurassic World: Rebirth or any other film,” the agent said.
“The challenge is almost entirely a question of whether Superman resonates with today’s audience. Did they successfully update an Eisenhower-era character so the 2025 Gen Z audience can identify with him?
“The simple brand recognition of Superman will probably take them to or close to $500 million worldwide, but anything above that will be because the audience identifies with the title character.”
If anyone can do it, it’s the Guardians of the Galaxy helmer, who turned a ragtag team of misfits into one of the MCU’s most popular teams on the big screen. But for now, it’s a waiting game to see whether his Superman outing will live up to its legacy.
Superman: Legacy flies into theaters on July 11, 2025. Until then, check out the cast and the characters they play, everything we know about the Clayface movie, and what we know about Peacemaker Season 2.
