As the popularity of cinematic universes has grown, studios have developed new ways to create connected narratives. These intertwined storylines have impacted box office performance.
Marvel’s strategy of investing in continuity across movie phases may have contributed to their success. However, they could improve their profitability by reducing the length of their movies and increasing female lead roles.
Top-grossing films
Marvel and DC movies have both had tremendous box office success. However, Marvel films have a better gross-to-budget ratio than DC’s. This is partly due to Marvel’s consistent releases and cohesive storytelling. They have also had a higher number of successful movies than DC’s.
“Avengers Endgame” is the highest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It cost less than $356 million to make, yet it has earned $2.79 billion at the box office. It has a 8.4 rating on IMDB and is the benchmark against which all other superhero movies will be compared.
Despite the positive ratings on IMDB, DC’s critic score percentage is slightly lower than Marvel’s. This may be because of the higher negative criticism they receive or longer movie run times. The exception to this is Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman”, which was well received by critics. Its box office earnings were less than “Aquaman”, but it earned more than the broken “Dawn of Justice”. The movie has a 7.8 on IMDB.
Franchise revenue
Marvel and DC both generate significant revenue from their movie franchises. However, Marvel has the better profit margin of the two studios. This can be attributed to their interconnected universe and cohesive storytelling. Additionally, they have fewer flops and higher critic score percentages.
The MCU has a unique approach to heroes and villains that sets it apart from DC’s. The MCU builds a tapestry of story arcs across movies that create a unified vision of the universe. Moreover, the MCU has a more diverse set of characters and offers a better experience for fans.
On the other hand, DC’s characters are often unrealistic or overpowered. For example, Superman is a god who can do anything and never messes up. In addition, they have trouble making compelling villains. The only consistent villain in the DCEU is Thanos, but he was a late addition to the franchise and has struggled to make an impact.
The MCU is the clear winner in terms of franchise revenue, but it is important to note that each studio has its own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Marvel is good at creating standalone movies that appeal to a wide range of audiences, while DC is better at developing its own characters and worlds. However, both studios have a long way to go before they reach the success of Marvel.
Global vs. Domestic earnings
Marvel and DC have been releasing movies in their respective superhero universes for years. Both studios are making money and have a strong following. However, there is a difference between how each franchise approaches their movies. While Marvel films have a consistent tone and quality, DC’s approach is more inconsistent. The result is that it has struggled to reach the same level of popularity as Marvel’s movies.
While Marvel has created an interconnected universe, DC films are more standalone. While this works for some characters, it can be limiting for others. In the case of Batman, for example, it has been a struggle to develop stories that allow the character to evolve. DC is also hampered by its share of flops, such as The Dark Knight trilogy.
Despite these challenges, the two franchises are growing and have been successful at drawing in audiences. The most recent release, Captain America: Civil War, has earned more than $1.1 billion. Meanwhile, 2025’s Superman has grossed over $595 million worldwide.
In addition to its box office success, Marvel’s approach has been successful in attracting audience members who are not familiar with the studio’s main characters. This is largely due to the fact that Disney owns all of Marvel’s major characters, while DC’s characters belong to several different studios. Some, like Spiderman and Wolverine, are from Sony, while others, such as The Fantastic Four and X-Men, are from Fox.
Audience reception
There is no doubt that audiences have a strong attachment to franchise films and cinematic universes. However, recent trends suggest that this may be changing. Marvel Studios has been a box office juggernaut since 2008, but the studio’s recent films have fallen flat. The studio may need to reduce its output or change its approach in order to recapture audience interest.
One possible reason for this decline is the increased competition from DC films. The DCEU started out strongly, but it seemed to lose steam after Man of Steel. Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad were both highly polarizing, and Justice League was not the big hit that many had hoped for. The studio also made a mistake in trying to launch too many movies at once, which may have hurt its overall results.
While DC has a number of popular characters, they have struggled to develop them into an overarching story. This is a major flaw in their movie-making process, and it could be why they have not been as successful as Marvel at achieving blockbuster success.
The good news is that the DCEU may be turning a corner. The studio is refocusing its efforts on creating compelling stories and character development. Perhaps this new direction will help them reclaim the box office crown from Marvel Studios.