Comic Book Brain
Batman the Killing Joker featuring The Joker

Top Earning Superhero Movies

No adjustment in this list for inflation or ticket pricing.

For an example of the effect of inflation adjustment, the Tim Burton Batman from 1989 earned $411 million, adjusted for inflation, that converts into $1.2 billion in 2023 dollars; another example, Superman from 1978 earned $300 million converts to $1.444 Billion in 2023.

Another example: in 1989, the average movie ticket price was $3.97. In the year 2023, it is $10.45, that difference means that (hypothetically) the number of tickets sold for Batman 1989 would equal an earnings of $1,081,851,385.39 in 2023. But that doesn't really cover all the differences, because the higher costing IMAX and other specialty screen showings that are a part of the movie earning landscape today was simply not part of the movie offerings of 1989.



Top Earning World Wide Superhero Films

List Updated April 4, 2023

*Currently in release in movie theatres

  1. Avengers: Endgame (2019 Walt Disney/Marvel) $2,797,800,564 worldwide
  2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018 Walt Disney/Marvel) $2,048,359,754 worldwide
  3. Spider-Man No Way Home(2021 Sony) $1,901,231,491 worldwide earnings [Production budget of $200 million].
  4. The Avengers (2012 Marvel Studios) $1,511,757,910 Billion
  5. Avengers Age of Ultron (2015 Marvel Studios) $1.402 Billion
  6. Black Panther (2018 Walt Disney/Marvel) $1,346,913,161
  7. Iron Man 3 (2013 Marvel Studios) $1,212,795,474 Billion
  8. Captain America Civil War: $1,153,294,011
  9. Aquaman (2018 Warner Bros) $1,148,461,807 worldwide
  10. Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019 Walt Disney/Marvel) $1,131,927,996 worldwide
  11. Captain Marvel (2019 Walt Disney Marvel) $1,128,274,794 worldwide
  12. Dark Knight Rises (2012 Warners) 1,081,036,828 Billion
  13. Joker (2019 Warner Bros) $1,074,251,311 worldwide
  14. The Dark Knight (2008 Warners Bros) $1,004,558,444 Billion
  15. Doctor Strange II: Madness of the Multiverse (2022 Disney-Marvel) $954,863,075 worldwide earnings [Production budget of $200 million].
  16. Spiderman 3 (2007 Sony) $890.9 Million
  17. Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice (Warners 2016) $872,662,631
  18. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (2017 Marvel-Disney) $863,365,406 Worldwide
  19. Black Panther Wakanda Forever (Disney-Marvel 2022) $858,795,093 worldwide earnings [Production budget of $200 million].
  20. Thor: Ragnarok (2017 Walt Disney/Marvel) $853,977,126 worldwide
  21. Spider-Man: Homecoming (Sony 2017) $823,973,588
  22. Spiderman (2002 Sony) $821.7 Million
  23. Wonder Woman (2017 Warners) $816,501,312 Million
  24. Deadpool 2 (2018 20th Century Fox) $785,794,179 worldwide
  25. Spiderman 2 (2004 Sony) $783.8 Million
  26. Deadpool (Fox and Marvel) - $778,682,681
  27. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014 Marvel) $772.152 Million ($332 million domestic)
  28. The Batman (2020 Warner Bros) $770,345,583 worldwide earnings [Production budget of $180 million].
  29. Thor: Love and Thunder (Disney-Marvel 2022) $760,745,764 worldwide earnings [Production budget of $250 million].
  30. Amazing Spider-Man (2012 Sony) $752,216,557 ($262,030,663 Domestic)
  31. X-Men Days of Future Past (2014 Fox) $746,045,700 Million
  32. Suicide Squad (Warners 2016) $744,285,963
  33. Captain America 2 - The Winter Soldier (Marvel-Sony-Perception) $714,083,572 Million
  34. Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Columbia/Sony 2014) $708,294,944
  35. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2019 Walt Disney/Marvel) $622,674,139 worldwide
  36. Dr Strange (2016 Marvel Entertainment) $677,563,581 Worldwide
  37. Man of Steel (2013 Warners) $668,045,518 ($291,045,518 domestic)
  38. Big Hero 6 (2014 Walt Disney) $657,827,828 worldwide
  39. Thor The Dark World (2013 Buena Vista) $639,317,634 Million ($205,517,634 Domestic)
  40. The Incredibles (2004 Buena Vista - Pixar) $631.4 Million
  41. Hancock (2008 Sony) $624.4 Million
  42. Iron Man 2 (2010 Paramount) $623.9 Million
  43. Logan (2017 Fox) $617,415,993 million
  44. Transformers: The Last Knight (2017 Paramount) $605,425,157 Worldwide
  45. Iron Man (2008 Paramount) $585.2 Million
  46. Kong: Skull Island (2017 Warners) - $566,152,812 Worldwide
  47. X-Men Apocalypse(Fox) $543,368,024 worldwide
  48. Venom: Let There be Carnage (2021 Sony) $501,027,511
  49. Ant-Man (Marvel Studios 2015) $493.8
  50. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Paramount 2014) $493,333,584
  51. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023 Disney-Marvel) $473,056,931 worldwide earnings [Production budget of estimated at $200 million].
  52. X-Men The Last Stand (2006 Fox) $459.4 Million
  53. Thor (2011 Paramount) $449.3 Million ($181,030,624 Domestic)
  54. Shang Chi (2021 Disney) $432,230,054
  55. The Wolverine (2013 Fox) $414,828,246 ( $132,556,852 Domestic)
  56. Batman (1989 Warner Bros) $411.3 Million
  57. X-Men 2 X-Men United (Fox 2003) $407.7 Million
  58. Eternals (2021 Disney) $401,708,534
  59. Black Adam (Warner Bros 2022) $392,952,111 worldwide earnings [Production budget of $195 million].
  60. Superman Returns (2006 Warner Bros) $391.1 Million
  61. Black Widow (2021 Disney) $379,631,351
  62. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018 Sony Pictures) $375,540,831 worldwide
  63. Batman Begins (2005 Warner Bros) $372.7 Million
  64. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Fox 2009) $373.1 Million ($85,058,003 Domestic)
  65. Captain America The First Avenger (2011 Paramount) $368.6 Million
  66. Shazam! (2019 Warner Bros) $365,971,656 worldwide
  67. X-Men First Class (Fox 2011) $353.6 Million
  68. The Mask (New Line 1994) $351.6 Million
  69. Batman Forever (Warner Bros 1995) $336.5 Million
  70. Fantastic Four (Fox 2005) $330.6 Million
  71. Megamind (Paramount/Dreamworks 2010) $321.9 Million
  72. The LEGO Batman Movie (2017 Warners) $310,850,384 Worldwide
  73. Superman (Warner Bros 1978) $300.2 Million
  74. X-Men (2000 20th Century Fox) $296,339,528 worldwide
  75. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Fox 2007) $289 Million
  76. Batman Returns (Warner Brothers/Polygram) $266,822,354 worldwide ($162,831,698 domestic)
  77. The Incredible Hulk (2008 Universal Pictures) $264,770,996 worldwide
  78. Unbreakable (2000 Walt Disney) $248,118,121 worldwide
  79. Hulk (2003 Universal Pictures ) $245,285,165 worldwide
  80. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Out of the Shadows (Paramount 2016) $244,625,744 Worldwide
  81. Batman and Robin (Warner Brothers) $238,207,122 worldwide
  82. The Green Hornet (Sony / Columbia) $227,817,248 worldwide ($98,780,042 domestic)
  83. Green Lantern (2011 Warner Bros) $219,851,172 worldwide
  84. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017 STX Entertainment) $219,536,630 Worldwide
  85. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (New Line 1990) $201,965,915 ($25,398,367 domestic)
  86. Harley Quinn Birds of Prey (2020 Warners) $201,858,461 worldwide
  87. Watchmen (2009 Warner Bros) $185,382,813 worldwide
  88. Ghost in the Shell (2017 Paramount) - $169,801,921 worldwide
  89. Hellboy The Golden Army (2008 Universal Pictures) $168,319,243 worldwide
  90. The Suicide Squad (2021 Warner) $167,400,219
  91. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020 Warner) $166,534,027
  92. Morbius (2022 Columbia Pictures) $163,865,530 worldwide earnings [Production budget of $75 million].
  93. Blade II (2002 New Line Cinema) $155,010,032 worldwide
  94. Power Rangers (2017 Lionsgate) - $140,246,402 worldwide
  95. V for Vendetta (2005 Warner Bros) $132,511,035 worldwide
  96. Blade (1998 New Line Cinema) $131,183,530 worldwide
  97. Blade: Trinity (2004 New Line) - $128,905,366 worldwide
  98. Shazam Fury O' the Gods (2023 DC Warner Bros) $120,275,118 worldwide earnings [Production budget of estimated at $100 million].
  99. Judge Dredd (1995 Walt Disney) $113,493,481 worldwide
  100. Superman II (1980 Warner Bros) $108,185,706 (domestic)
  101. Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24 Studios 2022) $107,366,679 worldwide earnings [Production budget of $25 million].
  102. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017 Fox) - $104,685,194 worldwide
  103. Hellboy (2009 Revolution Studios) $99,378,985 worldiwde
  104. Kick-Ass (2010 Lionsgate) - $96,188,903 worldwide
  105. TMNT (2007 Warner Bros) $95,802,916 worldwide
  106. Spawn (1997 New Line Cinema) $87,840,042 worldwide
  107. Sky High (2005 Walt Disney) $86,369,815 worldwide
  108. Catwoman (2004 Warner Bros) $82,102,379 worldwide
  109. Kick-Ass II (2013 Lionsgate) - $60,795,985 worldwide
  110. Teen Titans Go! (2018 Warner Bros) $52,090,236 worldwide
  111. The Crow (1994 Miramax) - $50,693,129 domestic
  112. Darkman (1990 Universal Pictures ) $48,878,502 worldwide
  113. The Shadow (1994 Universal Pictures) $48,063,435 worldwide
  114. The Rocketeer (1991 Buena Vista) - $46,704,056 domestic/worldwide
  115. Hellboy (2019 Lionsgate) $44,664,690 worldwide
  116. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021 Paramount) $40,064,325
  117. Mystery Men (1999 Universal Pictures) $33,461,011 Wworldwide
  118. Bloodshot (2020 Sony) 28,428,855 Worldwide
  119. The Powerpuff Girls (2002 Warner Bros) $16,426,471 worldwide
  120. Supergirl (1984 Tristar) $14,296,438 (domestic)
  121. Punisher: War Zone (2008 Lionsgate) $10,161,493 worldwide
  122. Batman Mask of the Phantasm [1993 Warner Bros) $5,635,204 Domestic only
  123. The Batman Movie (1966 William Dozier Productions / 20th Century Fox) $3,900,000 box office
  124. The Return of Swamp Thing (1989 Millimeter Films) $192,816 worldwide
  125. Defender (2009 Darius Films) $44,462 Worldwide

Unknown Box Office

Swamp Thing (1982 Embassy Pictures) Unknown box office ($3 million production budget)

The Toxic Avenger (1984) Unknown Box Office

Doc Savage (1975) Unknown Box Office

Sources

List based on world wide earnings (not domestic market earnings).

Note on sources: Boxofficemojo, Deadline Hollywood and Thenumbers

The January 2022 Top Earning List


Amazon Rush Comic Book

Marvel Comics

The Crisis in Confidence at Marvel

Are the franchises dying? Star Wars

Disney approaches the crossroads – Summer of 2023

Disney vs its vassal companies – 2023

The Disney and Marvel future 2020 and beyond

Marvel summary of productions, November 2020

Marvel's plans mean expansion 2020

The Superhero Movie War 2019

Kicking Marvel in the kneecaps 2019

Alan Dean Foster vs. Disney

Disney Buys Marvel Comics for $4 billion - 2009 The House of Mouse buys the House of Ideas

Disney spends $71.3 billion to get 21st Century Fox - March 2019

Kirby Estate vs Marvel/Disney

Disney on the racks

Jack Kirby's Shorts 2010

Star Wars: The Rise O'Skywalker Log

Captain Marvel Review

Captain Marvel II - the Superman problem: the hero is an overpowered, unrelatable hero

Disney and Slave Labor

Marvel currently rules the cinematic world - May 2019

My Marvel Wish List - March 2019


Comic Book Movies

The Coming Comic Book Movies 2023-2026

Superhero Movies

Top Earning Comic Book Superhero Movies


Screen Reviews

Short Review: She-Hulk, Attorney-at-Law

Fast review: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves – a Film with antecedents Harry Potter plus Guardians of the Galaxy plus Lord of the Rings, etc.

Fast review: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves – a Film with antecedents Harry Potter plus Guardians of the Galaxy plus Lord of the Rings, etc.


You will see Amazon links on this web site because I am an Amazon affiliate. I earn from qualifying purchases.


Verdusa Spider Tee

Verdusa Spider Tee – Amazon


Original Page May 2012 | Updated December 28, 2021