David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan in “Superman.”
James Gunn’s Superman reboot is soaring toward a big opening at the box office, but it is still coming in short of industry projections.
Superman — which stars David Corenswet as the new Man of Steel, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor — is eyeing a $55 million Friday take domestically, which includes $22.5 million in Thursday preview ticket sales, according to Deadline.
The film, which is playing in 4,135 North American theaters, is projected by Deadline to make $115 million, but the trade publication said the film could possibly stretch its ticket sales to $120 million.
No matter where the number lands, the Warner Bros. release will earn more than enough to knock last weekend’s No. 1 film, Jurassic Park Rebirth, off the top of the box office perch.
Even though Superman will have the bragging rights of being the new No. 1 film in North America, its projected domestic tally falls far short of early tracking numbers released by the National Research Group on June 18 (via The Hollywood Reporter).
At that time, NRG projected a $125 million to $145 million opening weekend for Warner Bros.’ DC superhero film, and later adjusted its forecast to a $130 million opening (via THR).
Trade publications were a bit more conservative this week, as Variety projected an opening between $120 million and $130 million, while Box Office Pro cast a wider net with $115 million to a $135 million opening weekend for Superman.
Superman has a $225 million budget before prints and advertising, Variety reported.
Meanwhile, the Scarlett Johansson-led dinosaur adventure Jurassic World Rebirth, which stomped out the competition in its extended 4th of July opening weekend, is projected by Deadline to drop 60% from its Friday to Sunday opening take of $92 million to $37 million from 4,324 North American theaters this weekend.
If that tally holds, it will boost the Universal Pictures release’s running tally to $229.1 million.
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‘F1: The Movie’ Is Running Steady In Box Office Top 5
The Formula 1 racing drama F1: The Movie, produced by Apple Films and distributed by Warner Bros., is projected by Deadline to earn $10.7 million in its third weekend from 3,412 North American theaters.
If the projection holds, it will boost the Brad Pitt film’s running tally to $133.8 million.
Universal Pictures’ live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon is projected by Deadline to earn $5.7 million domestically for a No. 4 finish, which if the estimate holds will up the film’s domestic tally $237.7 million.
The trade publication also projects that the No. 5 spot will go to Disney-Pixar’s animated adventure Elio will earn $3.1 million through Sunday, to up its domestic take to $62.8 million.
Note: This box office report will be updated throughout the weekend as new numbers become available. The final numbers for this weekend’s box office will be released on Monday.