New York witnessed a significant box office face-off where “Toy Story 5” outperformed “Supergirl.” Warner Bros.’ attempt to reinvigorate the DC franchise through “Supergirl” faced a setback as the film lagged behind the animated success of Pixar’s blockbuster.
According to studio estimates, “Toy Story 5” continued its dominance at the box office, bringing in $70 million domestically and an additional $89.1 million internationally over the weekend. The Walt Disney release has accumulated $585 million worldwide in two weeks, securing its place as one of the top movies of the year.
Contrastingly, “Supergirl” struggled to gain traction. It opened with $38 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters and garnered $30 million from overseas sales. Directed by Craig Gillespie, the superhero spinoff is the second release under DC Studios’ new leadership, James Gunn and Peter Safran. Their previous endeavor, 2025’s “Superman,” earned a robust $618 million globally. In comparison, “Supergirl” floundered, with critics and audiences providing unfavorable feedback.
“You’ll hear general explanations like ‘the audience lost interest.’ Yes, they did,” noted David A. Gross of FranchiseRe.
“Supergirl” faced poor reviews, earning a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B-” CinemaScore. Its opening weekend positions it behind DC disappointments like “The Flash” ($55 million) and “The Green Lantern” ($53 million), barely edging past “Joker: Folie à Deux” ($37.7 million).
The downturn in superhero film interest puzzles analysts. The genre has seen a decline of about $3.5 billion annually since its 2017-2019 peak. Female-fronted superhero movies, such as “Wonder Woman” and “Captain Marvel,” had notable successes, yet interest appears to have waned.
The $170 million production cost for “Supergirl” coincides with Warner Bros. Discovery’s impending acquisition by Paramount Skydance. Conversations between David Ellison of Paramount and Gunn and Safran signal industry developments. The DC lineup includes “Clayface” releasing in October, and Gunn’s “Man of Tomorrow” set for July 2027.
Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures’ “Jackass: Best and Last” debuted, earning $8.4 million across 2,855 North American theaters. Although modest compared to “Jackass Forever,” it remains successful given its $10 million budget.
Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite” captured attention with strong per-screen performance. Debuting on seven screens, it averaged $54,158 per screen, and will expand its reach following A24’s acquisition after Sundance.
The indie horror “Obsession” maintained its audience, landing third place with $9.8 million in its seventh weekend. With a $233.9 million domestic total, the low-budget film demonstrates remarkable staying power.
Conversely, Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” slipped to fifth place in its third weekend, amassing $193.7 million globally.
Rentrak estimates for Friday through Sunday put “Toy Story 5” at the top with $70 million. Other top performers include:
- “Supergirl,” $38 million.
- “Obsession,” $9.8 million.
- “Jackass: Best and Last,” $8.4 million.
- “Disclosure Day,” $8.1 million.