You know that rush when a film doesn’t just hit big, it shatters expectations—like a pit stop gone perfectly wrong, or right, depending on how you squint at it. That’s what hit me this weekend scrolling through the latest numbers. Warner Bros/DC’s Superman clawing its way to $604.5M globally, mostly on domestic muscle at $347M, while Apple’s F1—handled by WB—zooms to $603.4M, fueled by a whopping $417.5M from overseas. It’s like these two are dueling in some alternate cinematic universe, one leaning on home turf heroics, the other conquering foreign tracks. And then there’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, that anime juggernaut from Toho and Aniplex, already blasting past $200M worldwide, with Crunchyroll/Sony adding $34.7M offshore—not even counting Japan’s haul yet.
F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski, dipped just 37% in its ninth weekend, tacking on $6.1M. Brad Pitt’s biggest ever, folks—surpassing even his China record, where it crossed $50M, one of only three studio pics to do so this year. Tops like China at $59.2M, Korea $35.2M, France $30M… it’s the kind of overseas love that makes you wonder if racing flicks are the new universal language. Or maybe it’s just Pitt, sweating through those high-octane scenes—someone whispered the cockpit shots were reshot in a blistering heatwave, adding that gritty edge. Gorgeous. Grating on the nerves, sure, but gorgeous again when the engines roar.
Global Box Office
| Film | Global Total | Domestic Total | International Total | Top International Markets | IMAX Global |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | $603.4M | $185.9M* | $417.5M (69%) | China ($59.2M), Korea ($35.2M), France ($30M), UK ($29.7M), Mexico ($19.9M) | $94.4M |
| Superman | $604.5M | $347M | $257.5M (42.6%) | UK ($22.2M)**, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, China | $94.4M |
| Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle | >$200M | Not yet released | $34.7M (Sony markets)*** | Philippines ($4.2M), Thailand ($6M), Hong Kong ($7.1M), Indonesia ($6.2M), Malaysia ($5M) | $28.5M |
Superman, meanwhile, feels more grounded in its American roots—$257.5M international, about 42.6% of the total. But don’t sleep on the global IMAX tally hitting $94.4M; that’s where the capes and krypton really shine, pulling viewers into those larger-than-life battles. As a lifelong disciple of comic-book cinema, I can’t help but smirk at how DC’s still got that punch, even if it’s skewing domestic. Reminds me of Berlinale chats where we’d debate if superheroes are fading—nah, they’re evolving, crossing that six-century mark like it’s just another villain to smash.
Shift gears to horror, because why not? New Line/WB’s Final Destination: Bloodlines finally bowed in China—first time the franchise ever screened there, thanks to some censorship thaw like we saw with Alien: Romulus last year. $8.2M opener amid local competition, pushing international to $157.4M and global near $300M at $295.5M. Audiences responding? Hell yes. It’s that raw, unflinching terror—flawed, human mistakes leading to chaos—that hooks you. Cynical as it sounds, but in a world of polished blockbusters, horror’s messy authenticity wins.
Asia’s on fire with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle. Sony’s markets added $10.5M, Korea opened with a killer $13M, Philippines at $4.2M (top anime ever there), Thailand $6M (biggest anime/animated of all time). Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia—all setting records as highest-grossing anime. IMAX global at $28.5M, Japan overtaking Mugen Train as top ever, Korea’s debut besting Avatar: The Way of Water. More markets coming: North America, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, UK, Spain, France, Germany. As someone who’s chased anime highs at TIFF panels, this feels like a cultural tidal wave—sci-fi infused with emotional gut-punches, family bonds fraying under demonic pressure. Loved the intensity. Hated how it lingers… still intrigued, though.
Weapons from New Line/Warner Bros holds steady, down 31% with $13.2M, offshore $83.5M, global $199.4M. UK leads at $11.6M. Then The Bad Guys 2 from Universal/DreamWorks: $12M added, international $83M, global $149.1M—pacing above the original excluding China. Italy opened No. 1 at $1.7M; France held best in market with -5%.
Jurassic World Rebirth hits $508.6M international (third studio title over $500M), global $844.1M. Freakier Friday drops 35%, $6.2M weekend, international $42.8M. Materialists adds $6.2M, international $48.6M. The Fantastic Four: First Steps nears $490.1M global, international $232.8M—top superhero in Italy, Spain, Mexico, Latin America.
Behind-the-scenes? These numbers scream trends—anime’s global domination, horror’s border-crossing grit, superheroes’ domestic lean but international potential. Apple/Warner Bros team-up on F1 shows how streaming giants muscle into theaters; Toho’s Demon Slayer proves cult followings pay off big.
Weekend Box Office Breakdown (August 22–24, 2025)
| Rank | Film | Global Weekend Gross | Domestic Weekend Gross | International Weekend Gross | % Drop (Domestic) | Total Global Gross (to Aug 24) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KPop Demon Hunters | $18.0M | $18.0M | N/A* | – | $18.0M |
| 2 | Weapons | $21.1M | $15.6M | $5.5M | -36.2% | $199.4M |
| 3 | Freakier Friday | $15.4M | $9.2M | $6.2M | -35.6% | $113.3M |
| 4 | The Bad Guys 2 | $12.7M | $5.1M | $7.6M | -32.2% | $149.1M |
| 5 | The Fantastic Four: First Steps | $11.7M | $5.9M | $5.8M | -34.7% | $490.1M |
| 6 | Superman | $8.2M** | $3.43M | $4.8M** | -34.7% | $604.5M |
| 7 | Nobody 2 | $4.7M | $3.7M | $1.0M | -60% | $16.5M |
| 8 | The Naked Gun | $3.7M** | $2.95M | $0.8M** | -40% | $47.6M |
| 9 | Honey Don’t! | $2.95M | $2.95M | N/A* | – | $2.95M |
| 10 | Jurassic World Rebirth | $8.3M | $2.1M | $6.2M | -29.1% | $844.1M |
Superman’s Domestic Dominance Warner’s caped crusader pulls most from home at $347M, but that $604.5M global milestone hints at broader appeal—think IMAX spectacles drawing crowds worldwide.
F1’s Overseas Engine Brad Pitt’s racer revs $417.5M abroad, 69% of its $603.4M total; China’s $59.2M makes it his best there, underlining action’s cross-cultural throttle.
Demon Slayer’s Anime Assault Toho’s Infinity Castle slays Asia with records in Philippines, Thailand, and more—over $200M global, with North America and Europe still to unleash the demons.
Horror’s China Breakthrough Final Destination: Bloodlines debuts $8.2M in mainland cinemas, first for the franchise; censorship easing lets gore flow, pushing toward $300M worldwide.
Sequel Stamina Across Genres From Weapons’ steady $199.4M to Jurassic World Rebirth’s $844.1M, follow-ups like The Bad Guys 2 prove franchises thrive on familiar thrills mixed with fresh bites.
Fantastic Four’s Regional Reign Nearing $490M, Pedro Pascal’s Marvel entry tops superhero charts in Latin America—domestic skew aside, it’s a reminder capes still conquer select territories.
Anyway… where does this leave us? Chewing on how films bridge worlds—or expose divides. If you’re itching for that theater escape, catch these while they’re hot. What’s your take—superhero fatigue or just the beginning? Drop a comment; let’s hash it out.
