Even the most impressive runs in the movie industry, sports, technology, and everything in between eventually have to come to an end. Whether it's a sports dynasty finally not making it to the Super Bowl or NBA Finals, a movie franchise pulling in huge box office numbers every year, or, in this case, one superhero juggernaut being a standalone force in the industry.
Dating back to 2009. Marvel has stood at the top of the superhero world. Any pushback from its biggest rival, DC Studios, fell by the wayside-until this year, and that's all thanks to James Gunn's hit film, Superman.
DC Studios Set to Snap Marvel's Shocking Office Run
The last year that DC Studios outperformed Marvel with any single movie at the box office came in 2008, when The Dark Knight hauled in over $1 billion worldwide and $533 million domestically, as Box Office Mojo detailed. That marked the same year that the MCU debuted Iron Man, officially launching the MCU, as ScreenRant revealed.
Although Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man finished with a strong $585 million worldwide and $318 million domestically, it wasn't even within striking distance. However, from that point on, Marvel has owned the battle of superhero juggernauts, a run that's poised to end in 2025.
Barring the comeback equivalent of the New England Patriots' rally after being down 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI in 2017, Superman will bring the title back to DC Studios.
'Superman' Standing Alone Above Marvel's 3 Movie Releases in 2025
The newest addition to the Superman franchise, starring David Corenswet, currently has a box office total of $578 million worldwide and $331 million domestically.
Although those totals will land behind six other films worldwide, including Lilo & Stitch, A Minecraft Movie, Jurassic World: Rebirth, How to Train Your Dragon and Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, it's firmly positioned to fend off Marvel's three movie releases.
Two of Marvel's three 2025 films are finished at the box office, and they aren't drastically far off. However, Fantastic Four: First Steps leads the way and still would need a torrid finish at the theater to make up the difference. The new Fantastic Four movie has currently earned $434 million worldwide and $230 million domestically.
Just behind Marvel's newest Fantastic Four is Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*.
While this year is poised to mark the end of a shocking run, Marvel is well-positioned to reclaim the superhero crown in 2026, with releases that include Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, both set to be released next year.
'Superman' Poised to Finally Bring Marvel's Unbelievable Box Office Streak to an End first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 10, 2025
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