DC Comics' Iconic Character 'Superman' is on the Brink of Shattering a 17-Year-Old Tradition
In the realm of comic book movies, the box office has been a thrilling battleground for Marvel, DC, and other notable franchises. Here's a roundup of some of the highest-grossing comic book films from 2006 to 2025, highlighting key milestones and blockbusters from Marvel, DC, and more.
2025:
The year saw the release of two highly anticipated films: Fantastic Four: First Steps and the reboot of Superman. Fantastic Four debuted with a massive $118 million domestically and $218 million worldwide, marking Marvel’s biggest opening since "Deadpool & Wolverine" in 2024. Meanwhile, Superman opened with $24.9 million domestically, already crossing $500 million globally.
Other notable Marvel & comic book films from previous years (2006-2024):
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) had a major opening of about $211 million domestically.
- Kick-Ass (2010) and its sequel Kick-Ass 2 (2013) grossed approximately $96 million and $60 million worldwide, respectively.
- Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) and its sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) earned $414 million and $410 million worldwide, respectively.
- The King's Man (2021) grossed $125 million worldwide.
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), an animated comic book movie, was a major hit, though the details of its gross are not provided.
- Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2025) is anticipated to be another major animated success, but its earnings are currently unknown.
The Current Box Office Competition:
As we move towards 2026, the spotlight is on the competition between Superman and Fantastic Four. Superman is projected to top Fantastic Four, which, if it happens, will mark the first time a DC movie has been the highest-grossing comic book movie of a year since 2008, when the title was held by The Dark Knight.
Upcoming Releases:
- The Batman Part II is scheduled to release in a year with two Avengers movies. While the Avengers movies are highly anticipated, they are unlikely to beat The Batman Part II.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set for release in 2023.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a future release in the Spider-Man series, projected to outperform Supergirl at the box office in 2026.
For a fully detailed year-by-year gross ranking, box office tracking sites like Box Office Mojo or The Numbers provide exhaustive and updated statistics beyond this summary.
[1] Box Office Mojo: https://www.boxofficemojo.com/ [2] The Numbers: https://www.the-numbers.com/ [3] Deadline: https://deadline.com/ [4] IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/ [5] Variety: https://variety.com/
In the ongoing rivalry among comic book movies, both Superman and Fantastic Four are poised to make a significant impact in 2025 as they compete for the highest grossing film in the genre, potentially placing DC back on top since 2008's The Dark Knight. Meanwhile, the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day is predicted to surpass Supergirl in box office earnings. The world of movies and television, encompassing genres like action, adventure, and drama, continues to provide viewers with entertainment offerings that span various comic book franchises.
