In its second weekend in North American theaters, James Gunn's Superman held its own, generating $57.3 million in ticket sales and retaining its position as the top film, according to studio projections released on Sunday. The second weekend of Superman's release saw a 54% drop in the North American market, which is about average for a successful summer movie.

Every new release is outperformed by Superman

None of the new releases this weekend—I Know What You Did Last Summer, Smurfs, and Eddington—even came close to matching the triumph of the superhero films produced by Warner Bros. and DC Studios. But the real test is next weekend, when the Walt Disney Company releases Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Additionally, the movie has now made $400 million worldwide, improving its chances of earning $1 billion. The $225 million-budgeted Superman should be on the path to profitability in the next several weeks thanks to positive reviews and high audience ratings. The film is very important to the newly formed DC Studios, which is looking to launch a 10-year strategy for the comic book adaptation business. The floundering business was given to the new co-heads Gunn and Peter Safran to salvage after the former DC Extended Universe went down in flames.

I am aware of what you did last summer, and the Smurfs are unable to gain popularity

However, the situation at the North American box office was a little bleak outside of Superman. The two largest new releases—Sony Pictures' I Know What You Did Last Summer and Paramount Pictures' Smurfs—both flopped. I Know What You Did Last Summer's $13 million opening was a respectable figure for a film with a low budget of $18 million, but it was a sad beginning for a well-known horror franchise. The movie, which is set 27 years after the 1997 original, is directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. With $11 million, the Smurfs made their debut in fourth place this weekend. Rihanna is the voice of Smurfette in the most recent big-screen remake of the woodland blue species. However, the reviews were dismal (21% "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes).

Jurassic World and Formula One are still thriving

However, Superman is not alone in movie theaters. Older releases are performing well. This past weekend, Jurassic World: Rebirth from Universal Pictures came in second place, earning $23.4 million in its third week of release. F1: The Movie, a joint production by Apple Studios and Warner Bros., has also demonstrated legs, particularly in foreign markets. With $460.8 million after its fourth weekend, the Brad Pitt racing drama is still going strong.

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