Marvel Movies vs DC Movies

Want to know the best Marvel Movies and DC Movies?  How about the worst Marvel Movies and DC Movies?  Curious about Marvel Movies and DC Movies’ box office grosses or which Marvel Movies and DC Movies picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Marvel Movies and DC Movies got the best reviews from critics and audiences…how about which ones got the worst reviews? Well, you have come to the right place…. because we have all of that information.

As a kid I remember always hearing about which comic book company was the best.   Many of my friends were in the DC comic camp. Batman, Superman, Flash, Green Lantern and of course the classic Saturday morning cartoon, Justice League of America (1973-1986), were the strengths of their argument. My favorite superhero was Spider-Man, who was and still is one of Marvel comics most popular superheroes….so that put me in the less crowded camp of Marvel. As an adult the same argument seems to be still being asked…only now it is which comic company is bringing the best superhero movies to the big screen.

This Marvel Movies vs DC Movies page will look at the DC/Marvel movies that have released in theaters and will be ranked by box office grosses, critical reception and award recognition. Also included in this page are 10 possibly interesting facts about DC/Marvel comics and movies. Finally, there is a Marvel Movies vs DC Movies section that compares each companies’ average results.

Christopher Reeve's Superman is still standing tall in the rankings almost 40 years later.
Christopher Reeve’s Superman is still standing tall in the rankings almost 40 years later.

Marvel Movies vs DC Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (0 to 5 stars) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards. (Main stat table follows)

Marvel Movies vs DC Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort Marvel Movies vs DC Movies by either Marvel or DC.
  • Sort Marvel Movies vs DC Movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
  • Sort Marvel Movies vs DC Movies by adjusted worldwide box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
  • Sort Marvel Movies vs DC Movies by worldwide yearly box office rank
  • Sort Marvel Movies vs DC Movies how they were received by critics and audiences.  60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Marvel Movie and DC Movie received.
  • Sort Marvel Movies vs DC Movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score.  UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
2014's Guardians of the Galaxy...yet another smash for Marvel Movies
2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy…yet another smash for Marvel Movies

Possibly Interesting Facts About Marvel Movies vs DC Movies

1. DC (Detective Comics) was formed in 1934. Marvel Comics was formed in 1939. Currently these two companies have a 80% share of the comic book market.

2. DC’s first big successes were when they introduced Superman in 1938 and Batman in 1939. Marvel’s first big successes were the introductions of the Fantastic Four in 1961, Spiderman in 1962 and the X-Men in 1963.

3. DC’s first superhero big screen adaptation was 1966’s Batman the Movie starring Adam West as Batman. Marvel’s first big screen movie was 1986’s Howard the Duck which was produced by George Lucas.

4. DC had the first big successes on the big screen. The Superman franchise that started in 1978 and their Batman franchise that started in 1989 became some of the biggest box office hits of all-time.. Marvel had to wait until 2002’s Spiderman before they got to experience the massive box office success that DC had been receiving.

5. Since 2002…..Marvel has become the king of the superhero box office…..although DC has the successful Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy in their corner….Marvel can boast the Iron Man franchise, The Avengers franchise, the Captain America franchise, the Thor franchise and X-Men franchise.

6. Only two superhero movie have been nominated for a Best Picture Oscar® nomination (Joker & Black Panther)……..there have been two superhero movies that have earned Worst Picture of the year awards…..1986’s Howard the Duck and 2004’s Catwoman.

7. Want to know how big Marvel movies have become? The Disney company bought the rights of the Marvel movies and other Marvel properties for 4.4 billion dollars in 2009.

Heath Ledger in DC's The Dark Knight (2008)
Heath Ledger in DC’s The Dark Knight (2008)
Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences. 
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160 thoughts on “Marvel Movies vs DC Movies

  1. My brother was a Marvel collector and I was the DC collector! lol! so my heart belongs too…..Superman! we had tons of comic books from back then, we ended up selling them to someone from Edison Lighthouse, a group from the seventies! great review, and as you can see, a great deal close to my heart, voted up! nell

    1. Hey Nell….glad to see you understand the heated debate between Marvel and DC fans….I remember when they actually had a comic that featured Spidey fighting Superman….I was rooting for Spiderman as I am sure you were rooting for Superman…now that would make a good movie. It is a shame you sold them….the older the comic the more worth they have to collectors…I still have my somewhere….probably my mom’s house….but I treated them way too rough to worth much…but those memories of reading those comics is priceless….thanks for stopping and thanks for the votes.

  2. Thanks for this thorough review! your top 5 choices happen to be mine too! A.great hub, which I share as well.

    1. Hey Andielynn23….I am glad your boyfriend was not disappointed in The Avengers….my wife who had no interest in the movie was equally amazed at the quality of the movie….she actually went and bought the DVD before I did…I appreciate the comment and the visit.

  3. I remember taking my boyfriend to see Avengers and the whole ride there he kept taking about how he hoped that Marvel didn’t screw it up. After the movie he was speechless for a moment and then said “That was AWESOME”

    1. Hey Andielynn23….I am glad your boyfriend was not disappointed in The Avengers….my wife who had no interest in the movie was equally amazed at the quality of the movie….she actually went and bought the DVD before I did…I appreciate the comment and the visit.

  4. Adjusted for Inflation Worldwide Box Office Dollars = These numbers stagger me. But I guess if you are entertaining the public then there is money to be made.

    1. Hey mckbirdbks…it is always good to hear from you. There is money to be made in the superhero world. The Batman franchise is just printing money left and right….it makes you wonder how soon they will reboot the Batman franchise….I bet by 2019 we will have a new Batman. Thanks for the comment and the visit.

  5. Bat man and Robin were my favorite, and remain so. Great hub. A lot of research went into this and it shows. Thank you for sharing..

    1. Hey always exploring…..thanks for the comment. Batman and Robin is considered one of the worst superhero movies….but it still made a ton of money….and some people love Arnold’s villian….Mr. Freeze. Plus having George Clooney in a movie always makes a movie better.

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