Context:

James Gunn's 'Superman' marks a significant milestone for DC Studios by opening with $122 million in U.S. and Canada ticket sales, signaling a potential rejuvenation for the franchise amidst recent box office disappointments. The film, which represents a new direction for the DC cinematic universe, was met with favorable reviews, earning an 82% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 'A-' CinemaScore. Internationally, 'Superman' garnered $95 million across 78 markets, with relatively modest returns from China. Despite not surpassing the launch of Snyder's 'Batman v Superman,' it exceeded 'Man of Steel's' debut and was praised for its innovative approach, skipping traditional origin stories. The release faced stiff competition from 'Jurassic World Rebirth' and 'F1,' both strong contenders in the box office race, with 'Jurassic World Rebirth' experiencing a significant drop in its second weekend and 'F1' maintaining steady performance despite high production and promotional costs.

Dive Deeper:

• James Gunn's 'Superman' opened with $122 million in the U.S. and Canada, marking a crucial launch for DC Studios as they attempt to revitalize their cinematic universe after a series of lackluster performances from other DC titles.

• This film represents a new era under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, who were tasked with redefining DC’s superhero films, and it was met with generally positive reviews, achieving an 82% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

• Internationally, 'Superman' achieved $95 million in 78 markets, with modest earnings in China, highlighting the challenges of capturing a global audience for American cultural icons.

• The film diverged from previous iterations by omitting the Kansas origin story, beginning instead with Superman's first defeat, and featured a cast including David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

• While it did not surpass the opening of 'Batman v Superman,' 'Superman' performed better than 2013's 'Man of Steel' and faced competition from 'Jurassic World Rebirth' and 'F1,' both of which have been significant players in the box office landscape.

• Despite the competition, 'Superman' managed to dominate large-format screens, causing 'Jurassic World Rebirth' to see a 57% drop from its opening weekend, though the latter had a strong global start.

• Apple Studios' 'F1,' starring Brad Pitt, continues to perform well despite its high production costs, indicating a robust presence in the box office alongside 'Superman' and 'Jurassic World Rebirth.'