Superman Breaks Opening Records, Faces Right-Wing Backlash

James Gunn's new Superman film has made a strong box office debut, earning approximately $56.5 million on its first day and projecting an opening weekend gross between $115 million and $120 million, which closely matches the 2013 Man of Steel's $116 million weekend but is unlikely to surpass The Batman's $134 million opening. The movie serves as the first installment in the rebooted DC Universe and features a star-studded cast, receiving favorable reviews with an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite facing backlash from right-wing media and MAGA supporters over Gunn's comments framing Superman as an immigrant and a symbol of human kindness, the film's commercial success indicates the controversy did not significantly impact audience turnout. The film also marks a creative departure from Zack Snyder's darker take, with Gunn's vibrant approach earning praise from critics and even the family of Christopher Reeve, the original Superman actor. Warner Bros. is positioning this reboot as a fresh start after previous mixed receptions, with the film's budget reported to be lower than Man of Steel's. Meanwhile, in the Indian box office, Rajkummar Rao's gangster film Maalik opened reasonably well with Rs 4.02 crore on Friday and grew to Rs 15 crore over the weekend, while the Vikrant Massey-Shanaya Kapoor film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan underperformed, with Superman emerging as a top choice for audiences there as well.