‘Michael’ Dominates ‘Supergirl’ at the Overseas Box Office

‘Supergirl’ has faced a challenging debut at the international box office, particularly in Japan, where it has struggled to gain traction. The latest DC Universe film opened in second place, trailing behind ‘Michael’, and early estimates indicate it may record one of the lowest opening weekends for a DC film in Japan since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initial box office reports reveal that ‘Supergirl’ earned approximately $380,000 on its first Friday in Japan. This figure ranks among the weakest Friday debuts for a DC film in the country over the past 13 years, with only ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ performing worse with about $270,000 on its opening day.

‘Michael’ secured the top position at the Japanese box office, hindering ‘Supergirl’ from achieving a number one debut. Current projections suggest that ‘Supergirl’ will conclude its first three-day weekend in Japan with earnings between $1 million and $1.5 million.

Audience feedback in Japan has been mixed, with the film reportedly receiving a 3.5-star audience rating, which is roughly equivalent to a B CinemaScore in the U.S. This rating aligns with other comic book films like ‘Batman v Superman’, ‘The Marvels’, ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, and ‘Birds of Prey’, but falls short of ‘Superman’, which garnered a stronger 4.2-star audience rating.

Examining previous DC releases in Japan underscores the difficulties faced by ‘Supergirl’. Films such as ‘Aquaman’, ‘Wonder Woman’, ‘Man of Steel’, ‘Joker’, and ‘Batman v Superman’ all had significantly higher opening day earnings. Even recent titles like ‘The Flash’ and ‘Black Adam’ outperformed ‘Supergirl’ on their opening days.

As ‘Supergirl’ continues its global theatrical rollout, its overseas performance remains critical. As of June 25, 2026, the film has accumulated $7.8 million in the United States and Canada, along with an additional $5.2 million from international markets, bringing its global total to around $13 million thus far.

Produced on an estimated budget of around $170 million, some reports suggest the final production cost may be closer to $186 million. Industry analysts indicate that the film will need to gross approximately $315 million worldwide to break even, excluding marketing expenses.

Prior to its release, expectations for ‘Supergirl’ fluctuated. About three weeks before its debut, analysts projected it could open with over $55 million domestically. Deadline noted strong audience awareness across various age demographics, comparing it favorably to films like ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’, ‘Thunderbolts’, and ‘Shazam!’.

However, those forecasts diminished as the release date approached. By June 20, estimates had dropped to around $40 million for its domestic opening weekend. Just before its release, Variety revised those projections, predicting an opening between $47 million and $50 million from approximately 3,600 theaters across North America.

On its first day in U.S. theaters, ‘Supergirl’ earned $13 million, which includes $7.8 million from Thursday preview screenings. While the domestic opening is crucial for assessing the film’s early success, international markets like Japan will also significantly impact its long-term box office performance. With ‘Michael’ leading the Japanese box office and mixed audience reactions for ‘Supergirl’, the film now faces a challenging path ahead as it seeks to gain momentum in the coming weeks.

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