Part 5/9:
Looking back, Man of Steel debuted in 2013 with about $116 million domestic, not accounting for Thursday previews which, if included, would push it close to $128 million. Adjusted for inflation, that opening might be around $180 million today. Notably, Man of Steel was the launching pad for the Snyderverse, and its solid opening set a strong foundation.
The critical concern now is whether Superman will surpass its predecessor. Early projections suggest it might struggle even to beat the original Man of Steel’s opening, raising alarms given the film’s hefty budget.