The Top 10 Highest-Grossing Marvel Movies of All-Time

The Marvel Heroes of the Marvel Comics Universe

Marvel Worldwide Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics, is an iconic American publisher of comic books and related media. Headquartered in New York City and founded in 1939 by pulp magazine publisher Martin Goodman under the name Timely Publications, Marvel has since gone on to become one of the largest entertainment enterprises in the world and accounts for a 33.5 percent share of the comics market as of last year. Marvel’s modern incarnation dates from 1961, when the company launched a number of popular superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steven Ditko, and many others. Some of Marvel’s most popular characters include Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, the Silver Surfer, Daredevil, and the Avengers superhero team. Marvel Worldwide Inc.’s parent company, Marvel Entertainment, LLC, is an American entertainment company formed from the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc. in 1998. Marvel Entertainment, LLC is widely known for the recent film productions of Marvel Studios, LLC, a television and motion picture studio based in Burbank, California. As of the start of the 2013 movie season, films based on Marvel’s properties–including the Marvel Cinematic Universe films–represent the highest-grossing U.S. franchise of all-time with a worldwide gross of over $12 billion. Acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2009 for $4.64 billion, Marvel Studios’ films are released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, while the company’s characters and properties have since appeared at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts attractions. With just under 50 official live-action Marvel Comics films released and currently in production, the Marvel film universe is continuing to expand–Ant-ManAvengers: Age of Ultron, and The Fantastic Four are among the titles scheduled to hit theaters next year. With one iconic superhero taking half of the top spots, read on to discover the top 10 highest-grossing Marvel films of all-time and see if your favorite Marvel film made the list.

10. Guardians of the Galaxy – $687.57 million

The most recently released film on this list, Guardians of the Galaxy is an August 2014 film based on the superhero team of the same name. Directed by James Gunn, the film features an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket. Centered around a team of extraterrestrial misfits on the run, the film was a critical and commercial success. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is set for a 2017 release.

Video by Marvel Entertainment/YouTube.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8MykckiOiU

9. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – $708.98 million

The Amazing Spider-Man 2, directed by Marc Webb, serves as a sequel to the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man. Released in May 2014, the film stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone reprising their roles as Spider-Man/Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, along with Jamie Foxx as Electro and Dane DeHaan as the Green Goblin/Harry Osborn. The film received mixed critical reviews and is the lowest-grossing theatrical Spider-Man adaptation of all-time. Two additional Amazing Spider-Man films are scheduled for 2016 and 2018 releases.

Video by Marvel Entertainment/YouTube.com

8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $714.08 million

Released in April 2014, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the sequel to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. The film stars Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Anthony Mackie as the Falcon, Sebastian Stan as the villainous Winter Soldier, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the plot centers around the three heroes uncovering a S.H.I.E.L.D conspiracy while facing a mysterious assassin. A third Captain America film is set for a 2016 release.

Video by Marvel Entertainment/YouTube.com

7. X-Men: Days of Future Past – $746.05 million

The seventh and highest-grossing installment of the X-Men film series, X-Men: Days of Future Past, was released in May 2014. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film’s plot focuses on the ultimate X-Men ensemble fighting a war for the survival of humankind across two time periods. The film stars Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen as Magneto, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Halle Berry as Storm, and many others. A sequel, X-Men: Apocalypse, in scheduled for release in 2016.

Video by X-Men Movies/YouTube.com

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6. The Amazing Spider-Man – $757.93 million

Released in July 2012, The Amazing Spider-Man–based on the character’s longest-running comic book of the same name–is the fourth theatrical Spider-Man film produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment. A reboot of Sam Raimi’s earlier trilogy, the Marc Webb-directed film tells the story of Spider-Man (played by Andrew Garfield) and his quest to stop the mutated Dr. Curt Connors (played by Rhys Ifans) from spreading a dangerous serum. The Amazing Spider-Man holds the record as the highest-grossing reboot of all-time.

Video by Marvel Entertainment/YouTube.com

5. Spider-Man 2 – $783.77 million

Directed by Sam Raimi and written by Alvin Sargent, Spider-Man 2 was the second film in Raimi’s Spider-Man film trilogy based on the Marvel superhero of the same name. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco reprise their respective roles as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, and Harry Osborn for the 2004 film. Spider-Man, released to widespread critical acclaim, focuses on Parker struggling to lead a double life while attempting to stop Doctor Octopus (played by Alfred Molina) from destroying New York City. The film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2005.

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4. Spider-Man – $821.71 million

After being stuck in development for nearly 25 years, Spider-Man was released in 2002 to universal acclaim. Directed by Sam Raimi, the original live action Spider-Man film stars Tobey Maguire as Pater Parker, a teenager who turns to crime-fighting after developing spider-like super powers. The film also stars Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin, Kirsten Dunst as Parker’s love interest Mary Jane Watson, and James Franco as Harry Osborn. Spider-Man was 2002’s third highest-grossing film and at the time, was the most successful film based on a comic book.

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3. Spider-Man 3 – $890.87 million

Released in 2007, Spider-Man 3 was the final film in the Sam Raimi-directed Spider-Man trilogy, once again starring Tobey Maguire, Kirstin Dunst, and James Franco in their original respective roles. Set months after the events of Spider-Man 2, the film’s plot centers around Osborn’s desire for vengeance as the New Goblin, a behavior-altering extraterrestrial Symbiote that attaches itself to Parker, and the hunt for Flint Marko/the Sandman (played by Thomas Haden Church), the true killer of Parker’s uncle. The film received mixed reviews but was a box office smash.

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2. Iron Man 3 – $1.2 billion

Iron Man 3, released in May 2013 and directed by Shane Black, is the sequel to 2008’s Iron Man and 2010’s Iron Man 2. The film stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Gwyneth Paltrow as “Pepper” Potts, Don Cheadle as Col. James Rhodes/Iron Patriot, and Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian. Iron Man 3 is centered around Stark, attempting to recover from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the events of The Avengers, and the investigation into a terrorist organization led by the Mandarin. The film is the sixth highest-grossing film of all-time.

Video by Marvel Entertainment/YouTube.com

1. The Avengers – $1.5 billion

Released in May 2012, The Avengers was written and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble Marvel Comics cast including Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark, Chris Evans as Captain America/Steve Rogers, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk/Dr. Bruce Banner, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Tom Hiddleston as the villainous Loki, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, is the fastest film to gross $1 billion, and is the third highest-grossing film of all-time behind Titanic ($2.2 billion) and Avatar ($2.8 billion).

Video by Marvel Entertainment/YouTube.com

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Written by Derrick Krom

Derrick is a recent graduate of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia where he received a B.A. in English and Communication Studies. Throughout his life, Derrick has traveled the country and even got to study abroad in London, England for four amazing months. He's a guitar player, avid music fan and lover of literature, film, and all things entertainment.