The upcoming ‘Superman’ film — the first live-action release under the new DC Studios leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran — was said to be tracking with a projected domestic opening between $125 million and $145 million, according to NRG. However, multiple distribution insiders suggest a more realistic range could be closer to $90 million to $125 million — a strong debut but a plunge from the enormous original estimates of $175 million.

Early indicators remain promising, as ‘Superman’ became the top advance-ticket seller of the year within its first 24 hours, driven in part by its Amazon Prime Early Access screenings. Those paid preview showings are set for Wednesday, July 8, at 7 p.m. local time — three days ahead of the official July 11 release. Notably, the film’s presales have outpaced those of Marvel’s upcoming ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps.’

According to sources, ‘Superman’s’ opening weekend performance will largely depend on critical and audience reception. Unlike other high-profile releases like ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ ‘Superman’ benefits from near-universal recognition. As such, word-of-mouth is expected to play a crucial role in driving attendance.

Over the course of seven films — including 2016’s ‘Batman v Superman’ but excluding the theatrical release of ‘Justice League’ — the ‘Superman’ franchise has grossed $2.56 billion globally. ‘Batman v Superman’ opened with $166 million over Easter weekend, going on to earn $330.3 million domestically and $874.3 million worldwide. The 2013 reboot ‘Man of Steel’ debuted with $116.6 million and concluded its run with $291 million in North America and $670 million globally. Both film were directed by Zack Snyder.

The Wrap recently concluded that James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ needs a minimum of $700 million globally to be considered a success — a feat that is largely possible thanks to Gunn’s time at Marvel, bringing over an influx of fans to the DC side for his new universe.

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