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,

Superman is soaring to a record-breaking opening weekend after surpassing all previous James Gunn efforts in just its Thursday previews alone.