Superman Lands on HBO Max: A Fresh Take on the Iconic Hero
Hey, superhero fans! If you’re looking to cap off the year with some classic action, Superman (2025) just hit HBO Max. Directed by James Gunn, this reboot kicks off the new DC Universe and has already made waves as the top superhero movie in the US this year. It raked in about $350 million at the domestic box office, putting it in the top five earners for 2025. Not bad for a fresh start, right? Even though we’re still months away from 2026, no other big superhero flicks are dropping this year, so Superman gets to soar solo for now.
But let’s talk numbers – is this a blockbuster win or a sign of changing times? Compared to past hits, $350 million feels solid but not explosive. It’s the lowest-grossing top superhero movie since 2020’s Birds of Prey, when theaters were mostly shut down due to COVID. Skip that weird year, and you’d have to go back to 2014 for something similar. That year, Guardians of the Galaxy (also from Gunn!) or Captain America: The Winter Soldier topped the charts, depending on how you slice “superhero.” Adjust for inflation, and those Marvel movies likely outpace Superman. Go even further to 2011, and Thor barely edged out the competition amid Harry Potter and Transformers dominance. The point? Superhero movies aren’t printing money like they used to, but Superman still stands tall.
Don’t get us wrong – this isn’t shade on the film itself. Critics and fans rave about it as one of the best standalone Superman stories since the 1978 classic, maybe even ever. It’s the first DC hero to claim the year’s top superhero spot since Wonder Woman in 2017. That’s huge for DC! Looking ahead, 2026 starts strong with Supergirl, a spin-off inspired by one of the hottest recent superhero comics. Marvel’s got heavy hitters like Spider-Man in summer and Avengers at Christmas, though, so expect them to reclaim the throne. Still, Superman proves DC can compete.
What makes Superman 2025 special in a crowded field? It beat out Marvel’s B-team this year: the anti-hero squad in Thunderbolts, a TV-spin Captain America in Brave New World, and even the rebooted Fantastic Four: First Steps. No Spider-Man or Batman showdown here – Superman hasn’t topped the box office without facing the big guns since the days when he was the only superhero game in town. But in 2025, he pulled it off against these mid-tier rivals, showing real staying power.
The movie dives right into the action, skipping the usual origin story. Its opening crawl drops you into a world where superheroes already exist – Superman’s been around, just lost a major battle, and now he’s back. This bold move sets it apart from past DC efforts. Remember 2013’s Man of Steel? It leaned hard on Christopher Nolan’s gritty Dark Knight vibe, with Nolan even getting story credit. That led to the messy Batman v Superman pivot. Or 2006’s Superman Returns, which tied itself to the old 1970s films. Gunn’s version? It’s a clean break, unburdened by baggage. No endless fan-service jokes like Deadpool & Wolverine (2024’s champ) or lore overload like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023’s winner). Even Thunderbolts felt tired despite good reviews.
This fresh approach tweaks Superman’s image too. Often seen as too powerful or “godlike” to be relatable, the film humanizes him from the jump. It introduces a bunch of new DC characters without overwhelming you, hinting at future adventures. And yeah, it nods to real-world vibes – promoting kindness and hope in a middle-of-the-road way that feels like a gentle pushback against tougher times. In a year where even Minecraft the movie crushed superheroes at the global box office, Superman offers a hopeful reset. It’s like a reminder that starting fresh is always possible, even if the superhero world feels a bit wobbly.
Stream Superman on HBO Max now and see why it’s sparking buzz for the new DC era. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just dipping in, this one’s worth the watch!
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