Movie genres are reverting, with superhero films regaining prominence and sharing screen time with other productions.
Superhero Movies Shine in 2025
The superhero genre continues to captivate audiences worldwide, with a strong resurgence in the box office this year. This revitalisation is partly due to the hiring of James Gunn from Marvel to revamp the DC brand.
Superman Takes the Top Spot
In a significant box office victory for DC Studios, "Superman" (2025), directed by James Gunn, has become the top-grossing superhero film of the year. As of mid-2025, the movie has earned over $506 million worldwide, with $292 million domestically and $214 million internationally[1][2][4]. This marks a notable rebound from previous years when superhero films faced challenges[1][2][4].
Marvel's Fantastic Four Makes a Comeback
Marvel's "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" also performed strongly, with at least $241 million globally as of late July 2025[3]. This is a marked improvement over Marvel's other 2025 releases, Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World, which grossed $382.1 million and $415.1 million worldwide respectively but fell short of matching Superman's momentum[1][2][3]. The Fantastic Four's opening weekend was the fourth largest of 2025 and the best opening for a Fantastic Four film to date, signaling renewed Marvel audience interest[3].
No Sign of Audience Fatigue
These results suggest superhero movies in 2025 are maintaining strong box office appeal, with no evident audience fatigue. The genre has benefited from key releases that leverage iconic titles and fresh narratives, leading to a box office environment where both Marvel and DC can thrive concurrently[2].
IMAX Boosts Box Office Revenue
In addition to the success of superhero movies, many moviegoers are paying more money to see major releases on advanced screens such as IMAX. IMAX accounted for 20% or more of the opening weekend domestic box office revenue for "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," "F1: The Movie," and "Sinners." The Memorial Day weekend was led by "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" and Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" remake[5]. As a result, the box office is on track to outpace last year's figures[5].
A Healthy Superhero Box Office in 2025
The landscape of the superhero box office in 2025 is marked by DC's "Superman" leading and Marvel revitalising with "The Fantastic Four," both surpassing or challenging previous years' performances[1][2][3].
| Film | Domestic Gross | International Gross | Worldwide Gross | |------------------------------|----------------|---------------------|-----------------| | Superman (2025) | $292 million | $214 million | $506 million | | Fantastic Four: First Steps | $142 million | $99 million | $241 million | | Thunderbolts* (Marvel, 2025) | — | — | $382.1 million | | Captain America: Brave New World | — | — | $415.1 million |
*Data as of late July 2025.
Sources: [1] Box Office Mojo. (2025). Superman (2025). Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=superman2025.htm [2] Box Office Mojo. (2025). The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fantasticfour2025.htm [3] Box Office Mojo. (2025). Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fantasticfour2025.htm [4] Box Office Mojo. (2025). Captain America: Brave New World. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=captainamerica2025.htm [5] Box Office Mojo. (2025). IMAX Box Office. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/imax/ [6] Box Office Mojo. (2025). Memorial Day Weekend 2025. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/holiday/?id=memorialday2025.htm
The revitalized superhero movies in 2025 have significantly contributed to the entertainment sector's revenue, with "Superman" (2025) and Marvel's "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" recording impressive box office earnings in the movies-and-tv genre.
