List of highest-grossing superhero films


The following page lists the highest-grossing superhero films of all time, the highest-grossing superheroes at the box office, and the biggest opening weekends for superhero films. The figures have not been adjusted for inflation.

Highest-grossing superhero films

The top five highest-grossing superhero films and eight out of the top ten highest-grossing superhero films have been produced by Marvel Studios, within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The four Avengers films are the four highest-grossing superhero films of all time; Infinity War and Endgame are the only two superhero films to surpass a $2 billion worldwide gross, with ' being the highest-grossing film of all time. Most of the films on this list are from either Marvel or DC Comics. Of the 23 MCU films, only two are not in the top 50—' and The Incredible Hulk—even those two grossed more than $250 million. Of the 8 DC Extended Universe films, only two are not in the top 50—Shazam and Birds of Prey—even those two grossed more than $200 million.
FilmWorldwide grossYearSuperheroSource
'$2,797,800,5642019AvengersMarvel
'$2,048,359,7542018AvengersMarvel
The Avengers$1,518,812,9882012AvengersMarvel
'$1,405,403,6942015AvengersMarvel
Black Panther$1,346,913,1712018Black PantherMarvel
Incredibles 2$1,242,805,3592018The IncrediblesPixar
Iron Man 3$1,214,811,2522013Iron ManMarvel
'$1,153,304,4952016Captain AmericaMarvel
Aquaman$1,148,161,8072018AquamanDC
'$1,131,927,9962019Spider-ManMarvel
Captain Marvel$1,128,274,7942019Captain MarvelMarvel
The Dark Knight Rises$1,081,041,2872012BatmanDC
Joker $1,074,251,3112019JokerDC
The Dark Knight$1,004,558,4442008BatmanDC
Spider-Man 3$890,871,6262007Spider-ManMarvel
'$880,166,9242017Spider-ManMarvel
'$873,634,9192016Batman and SupermanDC
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2$863,756,0512017Guardians of the GalaxyMarvel
Venom$856,085,1512018VenomMarvel
'$853,977,1262017ThorMarvel
Wonder Woman$821,847,0122017Wonder WomanDC
Spider-Man$821,708,5512002Spider-ManMarvel
Spider-Man 2$788,976,4532004Spider-ManMarvel
Deadpool 2$785,046,9202018DeadpoolMarvel
Deadpool$783,112,9792016DeadpoolMarvel
Guardians of the Galaxy$773,328,6292014Guardians of the GalaxyMarvel
The Amazing Spider-Man$757,930,6632012Spider-ManMarvel
'$747,862,7752014X-MenMarvel
Suicide Squad$746,846,8942016Suicide SquadDC
The Matrix Reloaded$739,412,0352003NeoWarner
'$714,421,5032014Captain AmericaMarvel
The Amazing Spider-Man 2$708,982,3232014Spider-ManMarvel
Doctor Strange$677,718,3952016Doctor StrangeMarvel
Man of Steel$668,045,5182013SupermanDC
Justice League$657,924,2952017Justice LeagueDC
Big Hero 6$657,818,6122014Big Hero 6Marvel
'$644,571,4022013ThorMarvel
The Incredibles$633,019,7342004The IncrediblesPixar
Hancock$624,386,7462008HancockVincent Ngo
Iron Man 2$623,933,3312010Iron ManMarvel
Ant-Man and the Wasp$622,674,1392018Ant-Man and WaspMarvel
Logan$619,021,4362017WolverineMarvel
Iron Man$585,174,2222008Iron ManMarvel
'$543,934,7872016X-MenMarvel
Godzilla$529,076,0692014GodzillaToho
Ant-Man$519,311,9652015Ant-ManMarvel
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles$493,333,5842014Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesMirage
The Matrix$465,343,7871999NeoWarner
$459,359,5552006X-MenMarvel
Thor$449,326,6182011ThorMarvel

Highest-grossing superhero film franchises and series

This is a list of the highest-grossing superhero film series at the box office. The Marvel Cinematic Universe ranks as the highest-grossing film series of all time. The Incredibles ranks as the ninth highest-grossing animated franchise. A series must have at least two released films to get its own entry.





Highest-grossing opening weekends

The highest-grossing worldwide opening weekends only include countries where the film opened the same week. All days until the first Sunday are included in countries where the film opened before Friday.
RankFilmGross YearSuperheroSource
1'$1,223.62019AvengersMarvel
2'$640.52018AvengersMarvel
3Captain Marvel$456.72019Captain MarvelMarvel
4'$422.52016Batman/SupermanDC
5The Avengers$392.52012AvengersMarvel
6'$392.42015AvengersMarvel
7Spider-Man 3$381.72007Spider-ManMarvel
8'$379.52016Captain AmericaMarvel
9Iron Man 3$372.52013Iron ManMarvel
10Black Panther$371.42018Black PantherMarvel
11Deadpool 2$300.42018DeadpoolMarvel
12'$295.82019Spider-ManMarvel
13Justice League$278.82017Justice LeagueDC
14Suicide Squad$267.02016Suicide SquadDC
15Deadpool$264.72016DeadpoolMarvel
16'$262.92014X-MenMarvel
17'$256.52017Spider-ManMarvel
18Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2$252.52017Guardians of the GalaxyMarvel
19The Dark Knight Rises$248.92012BatmanDC
20Joker$248.42019JokerDC
21Logan$247.42017WolverineMarvel
22Incredibles 2$235.82018The IncrediblesPixar
23'$231.82017ThorMarvel
24Wonder Woman$228.32017Wonder WomanDC
25Iron Man 2$220.82010Iron ManMarvel
26Venom$207.42018VenomMarvel
27Man of Steel$202.02013SupermanDC
28Iron Man$201.22008Iron ManMarvel
29Godzilla$2002014GodzillaToho
30The Dark Knight$199.72008BatmanDC
30'$195.12013ThorMarvel
31Spider-Man 2$189.42004Spider-ManMarvel
32The Amazing Spider-Man$188.22012Spider-ManMarvel
33Hancock$182.52008HancockVincent Ngo
34'$179.02006X-MenMarvel
35Doctor Strange$172.82016Doctor StrangeMarvel
36'$170.22014Captain AmericaMarvel
37Aquaman$166.82018AquamanDC
38'$166.62016X-MenMarvel
39Ant-Man and the Wasp$161.72018Ant-ManMarvel
40Guardians of the Galaxy$160.72014Guardians of the GalaxyMarvel
41Shazam!$159.12019Shazam!DC
42'$158.22009WolverineMarvel
43X2$154.82003X-MenMarvel
44The Wolverine$139.62013WolverineMarvel
45The Amazing Spider-Man 2$137.82014Spider-ManMarvel
46Dark Phoenix$136.62019X-MenMarvel
47Spider-Man$125.92002Spider-ManMarvel
49$116.12011X-MenMarvel
50Ant-Man$113.62015Ant-ManMarvel

Timeline of gross records

Highest-grossing superhero films

At least seventeen films since 1964 have held the record for highest-grossing superhero film. Spider-Man has held the record twice, Batman and the Avengers have held it three times each, and Godzilla held it at least six times. Films based on DC Comics have held the record four times, films based on Marvel Comics have held it five times, and Toho films held it at least six times.
TitleYearRecord-setting grossSuperheroSource
Ghidorah1964$1,040,000 GodzillaToho
Ghidorah1965$2,340,000GodzillaToho
Invasion of Astro-Monster1970$3,583,000GodzillaToho
'1970$3,900,000BatmanDC
Invasion of Astro-Monster1971$4,200,000GodzillaToho
Godzilla films1974$10,000,000+ each GodzillaToho
Godzilla vs. Megalon1976$20,000,000GodzillaToho
Godzilla vs. Gigan1977$20,000,000GodzillaToho
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla1977$20,000,000GodzillaToho
Godzilla films1977$20,000,000+ each GodzillaToho
Superman1978$43,697,365SupermanDC
Superman1979$134,218,018SupermanDC
Superman1980$260,000,000SupermanDC
Superman1981$300,218,018SupermanDC
Batman1989$411,348,924BatmanDC
The Matrix1999$463,517,383NeoWarner
Spider-Man2002$821,708,551Spider-ManMarvel
Spider-Man 32007$890,871,626Spider-ManMarvel
The Dark Knight2008$1,004,558,444BatmanDC
The Avengers2012$1,518,812,988AvengersMarvel
'2018$2,048,359,754AvengersMarvel
2019$2,797,800,564AvengersMarvel




Highest-grossing opening weekends

Fifteen films since 1965 have held the record for highest-grossing worldwide opening weekend for a superhero film. Seven of the films are based on Marvel Comics, while six films are based on DC Comics. Batman has held the record four times, while Superman, Spider-Man and the Avengers have held the record three times each.
TitleYearRecord-setting grossSuperheroSource
Ghidorah1965$200,000 GodzillaToho
Godzilla vs. Megalon1976$383,744+ GodzillaToho
Superman1978$7,465,343SupermanDC
Superman II1981$14,100,523SupermanDC
Batman1989$40,489,746BatmanDC
Batman Returns1992$45,687,711BatmanDC
Batman Forever1995$52,784,433BatmanDC
Spider-Man2002$125,900,000Spider-ManMarvel
X22003$154,800,000X-MenMarvel
Spider-Man 22004$189,400,000Spider-ManMarvel
Spider-Man 32007$381,700,000Spider-ManMarvel
The Avengers2012$392,500,000AvengersMarvel
'2016$422,500,000Batman/SupermanDC
'2018$640,500,000AvengersMarvel
2019$1,223,600,000AvengersMarvel


Highest-grossing superhero films by year

The following is a list of the highest-grossing superhero film by year since 1966. Some years have no superhero films. Batman has topped six years, while Godzilla has topped twelve years, the most of any superhero. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has topped ten years, while the Godzilla films have topped twelve years, the most for a franchise. Films based on Marvel Comics have topped eighteen years, the most for a source.