Summary
- Successful MCU and DCEU movies have earned over $1 billion each at the global box office.
- Various comic book movies, from Iron Man 3 to Avengers: Endgame, have garnered financial and critical triumph.
- The superhero genre’s highest box offices show a range of different kinds of movie can succeed in cinemas.
The comic book movies of the MCU and the DCU have seen a number of successful titles earn over $1 billion at the global box office. The modern rise of comic book movies saw the genre become one of cinema’s most profitable, and has therefore seen many successful superhero titles. For example, the movies of the MCU have achieved considerable box office success, offering up considerable returns on their budgets and breaking many records in the process.
It’s not just Marvel movies that are successful, however. Some of the movies of the DCEU have earned respectable sums, with various other DC projects bringing further financial and critical success along the way. Many of the movies in question were able to earn over $1 billion at the global box office, establishing a select group of movies to pass the mark. Here is every billion dollar comic book movie, ranked from worst to best.
15 Iron Man 3 (2013)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,215,577,205
The first movie of the MCU’s Phase 2, 2013’s Iron Man 3 helped usher the franchise into a new era. With Robert Downey Jr. leading his third solo movie in the franchise, the narrative followed up on some of the plot threads of 2012’s The Avengers while also further exploring Tony Stark as a character. Due to the major box office draw of the MCU, Iron Man 3 was able to earn a little over $1.2 billion at the box office.
Successful though it may have been, Iron Man 3 is far from one of the MCU’s best movies. The poor handling of Iron Man’s iconic nemesis, the Mandarin, was harshly criticized, as were a number of other elements within its story. However, Downey Jr.’s charismatic performance as Stark continued to highlight the many strengths of both the character and of the MCU as a whole.
14 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,081,041,287
It’s no secret that Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is widely considered some of the best superhero cinema ever created. The director’s grounded approach to the Caped Crusader was one that won over audiences worldwide, and by the time the trilogy’s final installment came around, it proved to be a box office powerhouse. Despite often being considered the weakest of the trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises earned a little over $1 billion.
Christian Bale’s final bow as Batman provided an emotional and impactful ending to the series, even after arguably failing to clear the incredibly high bar set by its predecessor. Tom Hardy’s Bane was a villain that was unforgettable for many reasons, and the conclusion of Nolan’s trilogy rounded out the Batman saga in a novel and emotional manner. Though The Dark Knight Rises wasn’t quite able to live up to expectations, that did no damage to its overall box office success.
13 Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,402,809,540
With the MCU going from strength to strength, Avengers: Age of Ultron was released following a handful of the franchise’s best movies. Following the critical success of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, Age of Ultron was considered an enticing prospect, seeing the MCU’s Avengers once more band together to face the titular villain. The surrounding hype contributed to Avengers: Age of Ultron’s $1.4 billion box office take.
Unfortunately, there were many issues with Age of Ultron that hurt the finished film. Its handling of the eponymous villain was cause for some backlash, as was its decision to kill off Quicksilver shortly after introducing him. Though the film has many positive points, its shortcomings are difficult to ignore, making it one of the more divisive offerings from the MCU’s movie timeline.
12 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,131,927,996
Spider-Man: Far From Home sits in an especially difficult place within the MCU’s continuity. As the first solo movie released after the franchise-shattering events of Avengers: Endgame, interest in the MCU was higher than ever – as were expectations of the movie’s quality and narrative, especially considering Spider-Man has long been considered one of Marvel’s best heroes. This double-edged sword contributed to Spider-Man: Far From Home’s impressive $1.1 billion box office gross.
Far From Home brought Tom Holland’s Spider-Man back to the big screen, with the young Peter Parker grieving the heroic death of his mentor, Tony Stark. Having to balance contextualizing the fallout of Endgame with its own personal and emotional narrative was a difficult task, and though it made Far From Home feel a little underwhelming, the movie proved a solid epilogue to the Infinity Saga. Though the Spider-Man sequel might not have been as exciting or ground-breaking as other MCU movies, it still earned a respectable sum at the box office.
11 Aquaman (2018)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,148,161,807
Looking back over the entries in the DCEU’s movie timeline, it seems clear that the franchise’s fate was perhaps inevitable. The earliest movies in DC’s first shared movie universe were regularly criticized as needlessly gritty and dark, although the iconic nature of its characters helped keep audiences invested in its story. The first solo outing of one of the franchise’s most comedic and intriguing heroes, 2018’s Aquaman, proved an interesting prospect, and that promise meant that the movie was able to earn $1.14 billion globally.
It’s clear that Aquaman tried to bring the DCEU in a different direction, taking a more lighthearted and fantastical approach than many previous movies. Though the film still had a number of weaker points, it proved a thoroughly entertaining experience, with Jason Momoa’s take on the hero earning particular praise. Despite the eventual collapse of the DCEU, Aquaman remains one of the franchise’s most popular movies.
10 Captain Marvel (2019)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,131,416,446
Captain Marvel was released at an optimum time within the MCU. Bridging the gap between the release of 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, the 1990s-set movie told the origins of one of the most powerful heroes in the entire franchise. Considering the massive global interest in the MCU after the unforgettable ending of Infinity War, Captain Marvel was able to earn $1.1 billion at the box office.
Though its story had nothing to do with the conclusion of the Infinity Saga, Captain Marvel was more than deserving of its success. It offered up something that had been sorely missing from the MCU: female-led sci-fi that put an unexpected spin on the comics. As well as introducing the Kree-Skrull conflict and the titular hero, the movie delved into Nick Fury’s origins and offered up a satisfying and exciting self-contained narrative, earning its success on its merits as much as its timing.
9 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,153,304,495
Captain America: Civil War took a much-loved and pivotal comic book story arc and introduced it into the MCU, while also rounding out the trilogy of one of the franchise’s greatest heroes. The promise of a story with the potential to shatter the MCU’s Avengers as well as the appearance of many prominent figures from the franchise was an enticing one, and led to impressive success. Captain America: Civil War went on to earn a $1.15 billion gross box office.
As a landmark title in the franchise, Civil War’s narrative holds up exceptionally well. It boasts some of the best character development in the entire MCU, particularly where it pertains to Captain America and Iron Man. As it featured multiple MCU heroes, it was a major moment in the franchise’s wider story, balancing multiple characters and ideas in a single narrative.
8 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,043,180,185
Deadpool & Wolverine’s place in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga allowed for the movie to tap into endless possibilities. Bringing Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool back to the big screen accompanied by Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was a recipe for instant success, bringing one of the most iconic comic book duos to life together for the first time. As a result, Deadpool & Wolverine’s box office figures proved to be some of the best in the Multiverse Saga.
As well as Deadpool & Wolverine’s cast featuring the returns of many actors in superhero roles, there were also significant references to popular fan-casts. This tapped into the fan service potential of the Multiverse while also blending perfectly with Deadpool’s fourth wall-breaking nature. Making the most of the previous success of both Deadpool movies and the entire MCU turned out to be an undeniable recipe for success.
7 Black Panther (2018)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,346,913,171
Widely recognized as one of the MCU’s best solo movies, 2018’s Black Panther is also a member of the billion dollar comic book movie club. It was released as part of the MCU’s Phase 3, fleshing out the franchise’s narrative ahead of the Infinity Saga’s exciting climax. Bringing back Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa for a solo movie after his debut in Captain America: Civil War proved successful, as Black Panther earned $1.34 billion at the global box office.
The many strengths of Black Panther as a movie are well-documented, with several factors contributing to its critical and commercial success. Its celebration of Black and African cultures, combined with a number of incredibly talented cast members bringing its story to life, were major aspects of its popularity. Almost every element of Black Panther was praised on some level, making it one of the MCU’s most consistently popular movies.
6 The Avengers (2012)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,518,812,988
Released in 2012, The Avengers remains a major MCU landmark as the franchise’s first ever team-up movie. Bringing together Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye under the watchful eye of Nick Fury, The Avengers introduced a new element to the shared universe that had previously been missing. The draw of the cinematic team-up was undeniable, as The Avengers took $1.5 billion at the box office.
The Avengers works on many levels, and continues to hold a place as one of the most enjoyed movies in the MCU. The balance of multiple heroes, as well as the carefully-written dynamic between them, was a particular strength. The Avengers also boasts some of the best and most organic comedy in the entire MCU, helping it to remain one of the franchise’s greatest offerings more than a decade after release.
5 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,921,847,111
Among the highs and lows of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, one movie stands out as a marked high. The cast of Spider-Man: No Way Home brought many characters from previous movies back to the big screen in an especially ambitious multiversal team-up. The considerable hype leading up to the film’s release combined with the continued popularity of its titular hero made for a hugely successful release, and Spider-Man: No Way Home earned $1.92 billion at the box office.
The triumphant return of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man alongside some of his best villains and the vindication of Andrew Garfield’s version of the hero made for surprisingly powerful cinema. No Way Home captured the essence of Spider-Man as a character while also serving as a love letter to his cinematic history. The carefully guarded secrets kept by No Way Home’s marketing only further fueled the movie’s box office success.
4 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Total Worldwide Gross: $2,048,359,754
The beginning of the two-part conclusion to the MCU’s Infinity Saga, Avengers: Infinity War served as a major turning point in the franchise. The Phase 3 movie brought an unprecedented number of heroes together in one place for the first time as they teamed up to fight against Thanos. One indicator of the film’s success was that Avengers: Infinity War earned $2.04 billion at the global box office.
Infinity War continues to be considered one of the best movies in the entire MCU for several reasons. The combination of a wealth of varied characters was deftly executed, bringing the iconic comic book arc to life in live-action in an unforgettable manner. The movie’s shocking ending also proved to be an unforgettable cinematic experience, further contributing to Infinity War’s massive success with both critics and audiences alike.
3 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Total Worldwide Gross: $2,707,800,564
There have been few cinematic events as grandiose as Avengers: Endgame. The culmination of 11 years of movies in the shared universe and the resolution of Infinity War’s shocking climax was subject to huge anticipation ahead of its release, which was instantly gratified with major box office success. The record-breaking movie earned colossal figures at the box office: Avengers: Endgame earned a whopping $2.7 billion worldwide gross.
Endgame’s success was down to far more than its place in the MCU. The movie’s emotional beats and rewarding character moments made it an especially rewarding experience for Marvel fans, and it clearly showcased the extensive potential of comic book movies on a visual and narrative scale. Endgame’s importance and financial take is something that marks it as a hugely important movie not just in the MCU, but in the wider world of cinema.
2 Joker (2019)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,074,251,311
One of the most prestigious comic book movies of all time, 2019’s Joker broke new ground for the genre in more ways than one. The Todd Phillips movie featured Joaquin Phoenix as the iconic villain, and told a revised origin of Batman’s most infamous nemesis. Joker’s critical success also translated to major box office performance, earning a little over $1 billion worldwide.
Phoenix earned an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Arthur Fleck/Joker, and the movie itself also won the Oscar for Best Picture. The movie provided a fascinating insight into the human side of the villain, as well as interpreting one possible origin story for the character. Joker’s success was a clear reflection of audiences’ appreciation of the movie, which introduced a new aspect to the comic book genre that translated to massive critical success.
1 The Dark Knight (2008)
Total Worldwide Gross: $1,006,222,205
There are very few comic book movies as well-loved and consistently appreciated as 2008’s The Dark Knight. The second movie in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy tapped into the core of both the titular hero and his nemesis the Joker, offering a gritty and grounded take on the iconic characters. As well as earning significant critical praise, The Dark Knight took just over $1 billion at the box office.
As well as Nolan’s brilliantly realized take on Gotham, Heath Ledger’s turn as the Clown Prince of Crime continues to astound even years after release. The Dark Knight is widely regarded as the greatest comic book movie ever made, offering an unprecedented and realistic insight into the world of Batman. In many regards, it’s by far the best comic book movie from the MCU, the DCU, or beyond to earn over $1 billion at the box office.
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