What Caused ‘Superman’ to Slip on Rotten Tomatoes After Opening Weekend?
Superman is flying high at the box office, but the numbers tell two pretty contrasting stories.
On July 12, Warner Bros. reported that the film had reached an impressive $120 million domestic haul, with a global figure already touching $210 million. Those early screenings on July 9 kicked off a frenzy that had theater chains packed through opening weekend, even if not as much as expected.
On July 14, updated totals pushed the domestic opening to $125 million, with worldwide earnings climbing to $220 million. The film is tracking alongside Jurassic World Rebirth, which debuted earlier this month and has already crossed $500 million. That means Kal-El is keeping company with the summer’s biggest performers.
Audiences love it. CinemaScore tallied an A-rating, and PostTrak recorded strong word-of-mouth recommendations. Rotten Tomatoes audience reviews were equally upbeat and gave Superman a 93 percent score, while online chatter praised the cast’s chemistry and the nostalgic touches woven through the action.
Despite that, the critics’ score took a noticeable dip. When the embargo lifted on July 9 and the first reviews went live, the film sat at a stellar 90 percent. By July 12, after a larger batch of reviews had been posted, the score had fallen to 82 percent. This eight-point slide is raising eyebrows.
How could a film celebrated in sold-out theaters see its critical rating lose ground so quickly?
The Drop Wasn’t Random
Image via Unsplash/serhii_bobyk
Rotten Tomatoes reveals early scores before many critics have weighed in. Those first numbers often reflect a select group who saw advance screenings. By the weekend, additional voices join the conversation, and that broader mix can reshape the score. In Superman’s case, many late-arriving reviews were positive enough to land in the “fresh” category but carried only moderate praise.
A significant chunk hovered at 3 out of 5. On Rotten Tomatoes, that still counts as a positive review even when the tone of the article sounds uncertain. Publications with those mid-range ratings are not raving about the film. They note that it moves fast, includes big set pieces, and features strong leads, yet they also describe scenes as rushed and overloaded. When grouped together, those comments weigh down the overall impression.
Some reviews pointed out that the film attempts to juggle too many storylines. Superman confronts international crises, sparring world leaders, and an ensemble of heroes introduced all at once. Critics praised David Corenswet for bringing a warmer side to the character and Rachel Brosnahan for her lively portrayal of Lois Lane, but many said the movie could have benefited from a tighter focus.
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor was described as entertaining and strange, but he competes for screen time with Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and Green Lantern. This approach thrilled some fans, but others found the narrative chaotic. The divide in these reviews explains why the film’s critical score drifted downward even as audience enthusiasm grew.
Mixed Signals Behind a Positive Label
A deeper look at the Tomatometer shows why a high percentage can feel misleading. When someone scrolls through Rotten Tomatoes and sees 82 percent, they might assume that most critics offered glowing write-ups. But it’s a bit more nuanced.
Of the 112 rated reviews early in the week, several reviewers shared that they left the theater entertained but unsure if the film had a lasting impact. However, the site’s system doesn’t allow for a middle-ground category. A critic who feels torn must pick fresh or rotten. That leads to many mid-tier reactions propping up a score that suggests a stronger consensus than what exists on the page.
There were also minor quirks that influenced the average. A couple of identical reviews appearing under different uploads gave some extra weight to those opinions. At the same time, a low-score review from a major outlet had not been added by July 12, which temporarily softened the balance.
These details are common on aggregator sites and are often corrected over time. The point is these scores easily fluctuate this early in a debut. Audiences comparing the 93 percent audience rating to the 82 percent critic rating might feel surprised, yet both numbers reflect different systems and sampling.
A Box Office Heavyweight with Room to Grow
Financially, Superman’s start is a victory. AMC Burbank led all locations with $261,000 through opening weekend. Other top theaters included AMC Lincoln Square in New York and Regal Irvine Spectrum in Los Angeles. Those crowds helped push the film into the year’s top three openings alongside A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch.
Studio executives predicted a second-weekend hold around 50 percent, which mirrors how Matt Reeves’ The Batman performed after its first frame. Premium formats like IMAX and PLF accounted for 42 percent of ticket sales. Clearly, demand is strong for the larger-than-life presentation.
International numbers told a more cautious story. By July 14, overseas grosses stood at $95 million. Markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea combined for $13.3 million, and European territories like France, Italy, and Spain tallied $9.6 million together.
Analysts cited competition from Jurassic World Rebirth and Warner’s own F1 as contributing factors. Plus, Superman films historically rely on domestic appeal, and this reboot follows that trend. That said, Warner Bros. is looking at the long game, with projects like Supergirl and the HBO Max series Lanterns already in the pipeline to expand the new DC universe.
Looking Ahead for the Man of Steel
Image via Unsplash/Robert Schwarz
The current mix of praise and criticism has not slowed excitement for what comes next. Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern and Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific have sparked interest in possible spinoffs, while Milly Alcock’s surprise appearance as Supergirl teases more stories ahead. Social media buzz has spread fan art pairing Superman with Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps, which arrives July 25. Tracking suggests that the film will open in a similar range and allow both titles to benefit from shared momentum as superhero fans keep heading back to theaters.
By mid-July, Superman’s reputation as a strong, audience-pleasing reboot was clear, even as critics continued to weigh in with more measured reactions. The drop in the number of ratings from 90 to 82 percent is part of the complexity of gathering so many viewpoints into a single percentage.