Any way you look at the last 25 years in film, there’s no denying that superhero movies have been a vital part of 21st-century big screen entertainment. Many refer to the release of “Iron Man” in 2008 as the official kickoff of what would become the moneymaking engine that resulted in a steady stream of blockbusters,

James Gunn‘s Superman has taken flight at the box office. The highly anticipated superhero tentpole, from DC Studios and Warner Bros., earned $22.5 million in Thursday previews and other sneak showings at the North American box office.