Top Marvel and DC Movies Dominating 2025 Box Office

Even though 2025 hasn’t exactly been a strong year for superhero movies at the box office, both Marvel and DC released films that did reasonably well. That is especially true for James Gunn’s Superman, which proved that superhero movies can still appeal to younger audiences.

In fact, the majority of this year’s selections seem to be the type of releases that would have helped boost both Marvel and DC’s on-screen trajectories years ago.

Captain America: Brave New World

After a few rough patches, the Marvel Cinematic Universe found a solid stride with the box-office success of Deadpool and Wolverine. The studio continued that momentum with Captain America: Brave New World, which was the first movie to open in 2025 in the MCU.

The film takes place in a dystopian future where the Avengers have disbanded. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) has stepped up to become the new Captain America after Steve Rogers retired. He struggles to juggle his duties as the hero and his family life with a sceptical public and a Wakandan ex-partner Joaquin Torres/Falcon (Danny Ramirez). But when Sam uncovers a nefarious global plot, he must take matters into his own hands, which will lead him face-to-face with the president — who is also unexpectedly transformed into a crimson beastly Red Hulk.

Fans were eager to see the return of Captain America in a suit that is not only unique but is believed to be the first version to use a new material called Vibranium, which allows the character to fly and surf. They also were excited to see Harrison Ford take over as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who has been played by William Hurt in previous MCU films but died in 2022.

Other highlights of the film include a sequence in which The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson) commandeers American fighter jets to fire on other nations and an action scene with Sam and Falcon surfing on enemy missiles. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score is at 50%, which is not terrible but also not good.

Thunderbolts

The film had some great reviews and a surprisingly strong showing on streaming services. This helped make it the third highest Marvel movie of 2025 after Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. However, it was still below expectations and fell short of the milestones that Marvel Studios and its fans have come to expect from its releases in late April and early May.

After subduing Bob in his mind, the team returns to Earth, where they are hailed as heroes by Val de Fontaine at her press conference. She explains the conspicuous asterisk in the film’s title, revealing that the Thunderbolts will take on the name of New Avengers when they join her organization.

Despite the ominous sounding name, critics on social media have been calling Thunderbolts* one of the best Marvel movies in years. They have praised its well-rounded characters, particularly the performances of Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman. They have also appreciated the film’s representation of mental health, which is rare in superhero movies.

The film’s story is a good reminder that Marvel’s universe has grown to include more than just world-shaking disasters. It has also begun to explore more personal stories that highlight the importance of empathy and love over power and ill-gotten gains. Families can talk about these themes with their kids. They can also discuss the violence in the film and how it is used to show the importance of teamwork.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Set in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, this MCU entry follows the Fantastic Four—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)—after they are exposed to cosmic rays that give them extraordinary powers. Now, they must use those powers to protect Earth from the planet-devouring Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

The movie’s biggest highlight comes when the Fantastic Four go into space to try to negotiate with Galactus. The team is surprised to find the devourer willing to spare them if they give him their firstborn son Franklin. They refuse, so Galactus sends his herald after them to sling them back towards Earth. The FF have to think fast and get creative to escape, including using the gravitational pull of a neutron star to sling themselves back home.

While some fans were initially skeptical about this reboot, The Fantastic Four has performed well at the box office, with its opening surpassing that of Marvel’s previous blockbuster, Ant-Man. The film has also received positive critical reception, with a current 87% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This success could signal a turning point for the franchise, which was once considered one of Marvel’s worst mishandled properties. This success might even encourage Marvel Studios to consider reviving some of its other troubled projects, such as X-Men and The Inhumans.

Superman (DC)

The Man of Steel fights to bring truth, justice and hope to the world. He resides in the fictional American city of Metropolis, where he works at the Daily Planet alongside co-workers including editor-in-chief Perry White, photographer Jimmy Olsen and reporter Lois Lane. He uses his vast strength, superpowers and ability to fly to protect the people of Earth from dangerous threats such as Brainiac and General Zod. He is also the father of Jon Kent, a future successor to his heroic legacy.

During the Convergence limited series, Lois gives birth to a baby boy who she and Superman name Jon. The story explores their complex relationship and how being parents affects their work as superheroes. It’s an honest and thoughtful story that delivers the classic elements of the character with heart.

A lot of attention has been paid to the box office performance of this movie, and some fans have wondered whether or not it was a financial disaster. A Forbes contributor has broken down the film’s reported budget, and it doesn’t look like Superman made back its money in theaters. However, merch and VOD sales have helped to make up the difference. It’s still a big win for DC and an early sign that audiences are willing to give the franchise another chance. This is particularly encouraging given the poor reception of some of DC’s previous films.