.jpg)
This past weekend’s North American box office saw DC’s Superman continue its victorious flight, while newcomers like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Smurfs struggled to keep up. The superhero epic once again proved the dominance of franchise films in summer cinema, while other genres fought to find their footing amid heavy competition.
‘Superman’ Soars in Second Weekend
Warner Bros.' Superman claimed the top spot for the second consecutive weekend, pulling in $58.45 million, a sharp but expected 53% drop from its record-breaking debut. Its domestic total now stands at $236.2 million, while its worldwide gross has surpassed $406 million. The rebooted saga, directed by James Gunn, has outperformed both Superman Returns and Captain America: Brave New World in cumulative earnings and continues to galvanize audiences.
‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ Holds Steady
Universal’s dinosaur thriller remained a box office powerhouse, earning $23.7 million in its third weekend. With a domestic total of $276.5 million, Jurassic World: Rebirth has maintained remarkable momentum, cementing its status as one of the summer’s biggest successes.
Horror and Nostalgia Offer Mixed Results
The reboot/sequel I Know What You Did Last Summer from Sony Pictures debuted in third place with $12.75 million. While decent for a horror release, it fell below industry expectations for a summer opening tied to a recognizable IP. Meanwhile, Paramount’s animated musical Smurfs launched with $11.08 million, also trailing projections despite a strong brand history and family-friendly timing.
A24’s original thriller Eddington opened modestly with $4.26 million, targeting niche audiences, while Disney’s Elio rounded out the top eight with $2.12 million in its fifth week, bringing its total to $69 million.
Weekend Box Office: Top 8 Films
| Rank | Title | Studio | Weekend Gross | Total to Date | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Superman | Warner Bros. | $58.45M | $236.2M | 2 |
| 2 | Jurassic World: Rebirth | Universal | $23.70M | $276.5M | 3 |
| 3 | I Know What You Did Last Summer | Sony | $12.75M | $12.75M | 1 |
| 4 | Smurfs | Paramount | $11.08M | $11.08M | 1 |
| 5 | F1: The Movie | Warner Bros. | $9.88M | $153.9M | 4 |
| 6 | How to Train Your Dragon | Universal | $5.40M | $250.8M | 6 |
| 7 | Eddington | A24 | $4.26M | $4.26M | 1 |
| 8 | Elio | Disney | $2.12M | $69.05M | 5 |
Analysis: Superheroes Still Dominate
The gap between Superman and other releases reinforces the franchise-heavy direction of modern cinema. Although horror and animation held promise this weekend, neither I Know What You Did Last Summer nor Smurfs delivered breakout success. Meanwhile, mid-budget and original films continue to rely on word of mouth and critical acclaim to stand out.
As the summer heats up, all eyes will be on whether any upcoming releases can dethrone the Man of Steel or if Superman will continue to dominate through July.
Sources:
Associated PressEntertainment Weekly
Screen Daily
.jpg&description=Weekend Box Office Report: July 18–20, 2025){kind=link}
0 Comments