For a long time, Marvel Comics didn’t want to get into the movie business, choosing to stay pure to their readers and the comic book medium. Their original Captain America series in the late 1970’s was a huge commercial flop and the original Fantastic Four movie they shot never even made it to release. Meanwhile, their archrival, DC Comics, was killing it, cashing in on their staple franchises of Superman and Batman through the 1980’s. Marvel tinkered with releasing movies about their interesting, alternative comics like Howard The Duck and the Punisher and releasing too many awful Hulk movies, but was almost personal non grata on the silver screen.
That all came to a halt in 2000 when Marvel released the first X-men movie, which was a smash hit and went on to establish the comic as the coolest and most popular on the planet. Emboldened, Marvel changed their stance and started making movies like wildfire, releasing at least 8 more super hero films between 2003-2005, and regaining epic wins with the modern Spider-Man films. DC tried to counter but failed miserably; big box office successes of every Batman film the only thing keeping them solvent. While from 2000 on it seemed like Marvel couldn’t miss, first with the X-Men the Spidey, the Fantastic Four, and later huge Iron Man blockbusters. They even breathed new life into Captain America and made a cult-favorite, Kick Ass! But DC is still barely breathing with massive box office receipts every time they make a Batman film, it’s now their brand name that’s almost irrelevant in the movie business.
Who will rise in 2015 and beyond? Marvel has scheduled releases of an Avengers, Ant-Man, Fantastic Four, Deadpool, Captain America and X-Men films, while DC has Batman v. Superman coming out, but making Wonder Woman, Flash, and Justice League movies in the coming years.
But no matter whether you’re a Marvel fan or a DC purist, the competition is great for we, the comic fan and movie watcher. Take a look at this timeline of super hero movies, with a few of our comments. Feel free to comment about which films and super heroes were your favorites!
1951
Superman and the Mole Men. Dc Comics
This was based on the existing Adventures of Superman TV series.
1966
Batman, DC Comics
Based on the TV series, grossed $1.7 million
1977 Abar, the First Black Superman, original
Spider-Man, was a TV movie
Dr. Strange, Both Marvel Comics
1978
Superman, DC Comics
1979
Captain America
Captain America II: Death Too Soon, Marvel Comics
Two Cap movies in the same year? Back in the day the thinking was “let’s strike while the iron’s hot,” so they often released multiple sequels in the same year or as soon as possible.
1980
Hero at Large, original
No one’s heard of it these days, but this movie made over $15 million at the box offices, a big sum in those days.
Superman II, DC Comics
A huge hit, grossed $108 million worldwide.
1981 Condorman, original
1982 Swamp Thing, DC Comics
Wes Craven of Nightmare on Elm Street fame directed
1983 Superman III, DC Comics
1984 The Toxic Avenger, original
Brought in a huge $800,000 in profits, but certainly was the start of many
Supergirl, DC Comics
1986 Howard the Duck, Marvel Comics
1987 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, DC Comics
Pretty much a bomb; made only $15 million
1988 The Incredible Hulk Returns, Marvel Comics
The Toxic Avenger Part II, original
Made only $784,000 – less than the first one!
The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, Marvel Comics
The Return of the Swamp Thing, DC Comics
Made $192,000! For a DC Comics sequel! Someone surely got fired for this one!
1989 Batman, DC Comics
Tim Burton’s epic spin on Batman was a smash hit, grossing over $411 million worldwide!
The Punisher, Marvel Comics
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie, original
At least we’re headed in the right direction, as this film grossed $382,000. But how did they keep getting the financial backing to keep making them?
1990 The Death of the Incredible Hulk, Marvel Comics
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mirage Comics
Mirage Comics and New Line Cinemas finally caught lightning in a bottle with the alt-superhero genre, grossing over $201 million and establishing a franchise that’s still in play today.
Darkman, original
Grossed almost $50 million!
Captain America, Marvel
This 21st Century Film grossed $675,000! No wonder the studios were reluctant to get back into the Captain America business for so long.
1991 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, Mirage Comics
The Rocketeer, Pacific Comics
1992 Batman Returns, DC Comics
1993 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Mirage Comics
A big drop to $78 million.
The Meteor Man, original
Robert Townsend’s foray into the black Super Hero caricature made only $8 million.
The Fantastic Four, Marvel
Never was released!
The Crow, Caliber Comics
A cult classic! The Crow made $144 million.
1994 The Shadow, Street and Smith Pub
The Mask, Dark Horse Comics
Grossed over $351 million thanks to Jim Carey!
Blankman, Original
1995 Batman Forever, DC
Grossed $336 million!
Judge Dredd, IPC Media
Did very well for an independent comic, grossing over $113 million.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, original.
Black Scorpion, original
1996
Barb Wire, Dark Horse Comics
Made only a few million. With Tank Girl and Barb Wire, the studios were striking out.
The Phantom, various
Darkman III, original
The Crow: City of Angels, Caliber Comics
They tried to cash on the death of Brandon Lee but this sequel made only $17 mil.
1997
Black Scorpion II: Aftershock, original
Batman & Robin, DC Comics
FINALLY Robin got some mention in the title! Hahaha It must have worked because this movie grossed over $238 million!
Spawn, Image Comics
$87 million – not too bad for an unknown!
Steel, DC Comics
1998 Star Kid, original
Blade, Marvel
1999 Mystery Men, Darkhorse Comics
2000 Crow: Salvation, Caliber Comics
Went direct to video. Hint: stop making Crow movies.
X-Men, Marvel Comics
Marvel finally cashes in with a winner at almost $300 million gross and the start of a franchise.
Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV
Are you kidding me? Four Toxic Avenger movies? This one doesn’t even have profit listed, so maybe it lost money?
Unbreakable, original
Was it a super hero movie? You bet ya, and M. Night Shyamalan enhanced his name – and $248 million for the studios.
2002 Blade II, Marvel
Spider-Man, Marvel
$821 million gross! Marvel now was officially whooping that DC Comic ass!
2003 Daredevil, Marvel
X2: X-Men United, Marvel
Made over $407 million and established the X-Men as the coolest comic on earth.
Hulk, Marvel
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, DC/Wildhorse Comics
2004 The Punisher, Marvel
Spider-Man 2, Marvel
Back-to-back winners, as it grossed almost $800 million.
Catwoman, DC
Blade: Trinity, Marvel
Elektra, Marvel
Constantine, DC
Grossed a surprising and legitimate $230 million.
2005
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, original
Gimicky name; Robert Rodriguez directed and it still only made $69 mil.
Batman Begins, DC
Fantastic Four, Marvel
2006 X-Men: Last Stand
Superman Returns, DC
2007 Spider-Man 3, Marvel
Killed it with an $890 million gross!
Ghost Rider, Marvel
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Marvel
Iron Man, Marvel
Not many people know that Jon Favreau directed.
2008 The Incredible Hulk, Marvel
Hancock, original
Hancock made $624 million at the box office? Really?!
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Dark Knight, DC
Grossed $1,004,558,444! The first super hero movie to hit the billion mark!
Punisher: War Zone, Marvel
2009 Watchmen, DC
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Marvel
2010 Kick-Ass, Marvel/Icon Comics
Made only $96 million but was one of those films who’s charm grew with time.
Iron Man 2, Marvel
Over $692 million gross, a legit cash cow.
Jonah Hex, DC
2011 The Green Horney, NOW comics
Thor, Marvel
X-Men: First Class, Marvel
Green Lantern, DC
Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel
Taking a big risk on resurrecting the Captain America name, they made a good film and made $370 million.
Power Rangers Samurai: Clash of the Red Rangers The Movie, original
2012 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Marvel
The Avengers, Marvel
Over 1.5 billion worldwide gross! Wow!
The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel
The Dark Knight Rises, DC
Over a billion gross.
Dredd, Rebellion Developments
2013 Iron Man 3, Marvel
1.2 billion gross, though Shane Black, not John Favreau directed.
Man of Steel, DC
The Wolverine, Marvel
2013 Kick-Ass 2, Marvel
Made only $60 million.
Thor: The Dark World, Marvel
2014 Captain America: Winter Soldier, Marvel
The Captain is truly back, with over $714 million grossed.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Marvel
X-Men: Days of Future Past, Marvel
Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel
Marvel hit a home run with this virtually unknown and quirky comic, making $792 million.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mirage Comics
2015 scheduled releases:
Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel
Ant-Man, Marvel
The Fantastic Four, Marvel
Deadpool, Marvel
Batman v. Superman, DC
Captain America: Civil War, Marvel
X-Men: Apocalypse, Marvel
Notables: 2017 a Wolverine sequel, Wonder Woman, Fantastic Four 2, Thor sequel
2018 Captain Marvel, The Flash, Justice League, Avengers, Inhumans, Aquaman, the Amazing Spider Man 3
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