Avengers: Doomsday & Secret Wars Mean the Russos Can Achieve a Feat Only 2 Directors in History Ever Have

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most financially successful movie franchise ever, so it’s no surprise that many of its stars are among the highest-paid and most popular actors. Zoe Saldaña recently became the top-grossing lead actor of all time, thanks in part to her work in the Avatar films, as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy series and Avengers: Infinity War. She surpassed Scarlett Johansson, who previously held the record through Avengers: Endgame. Chris Pratt or Robert Downey Jr. could potentially break her record in 2026, and Marvel actors consistently achieve incredible box office success.

Considering how much money Marvel movies have made over the last twenty years, it’s surprising that so few Marvel directors are among the highest-earning filmmakers ever. Only two directors who’ve worked on Marvel’s shared universe—Joe and Anthony Russo—appear in the top ten. Now, the Russo brothers are returning to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which could put them on track to break some box office records themselves.

Joe and Anthony Russo Can Match Steven Spielberg and James Cameron at the Box Office

According to data from The Numbers, films directed by Joe and Anthony Russo have earned a total of $6.762 billion worldwide. The bulk of this success – almost $5 billion – comes from Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Only two directors, James Cameron and Steven Spielberg, have overseen films that have grossed more money. Now that the Russos are returning to direct Marvel movies, they have a real opportunity to reach that same level of box office success before the Multiverse Saga concludes.

With the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday this December, directors Anthony and Joe Russo are close to a major milestone: earning $10 billion at the box office. To reach this, both Doomsday and the next Avengers film, Secret Wars, will need to each earn over $1.6 billion worldwide. While that’s a lot of money, especially considering recent changes in the movie industry, these two films seem like strong contenders to achieve that level of success.

The Avengers films have consistently been incredibly successful for Marvel, with each of the four previous movies earning over $1 billion at the box office. Even the lowest-performing film, Avengers: Age of Ultron, made $1.405 billion. While it’s impossible to guarantee any movie will reach that milestone, the upcoming Doomsday and Secret Wars films are likely to perform very well, potentially reaching $1.6 billion, given the franchise’s history. Disney and Marvel are clearly investing heavily in marketing, as shown by the four trailers already released for Doomsday. Both films are expected to have long and successful runs in theaters, as they will be the major attractions during the next two holiday seasons.

The Multiverse Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its share of successes and challenges, but it still includes some of the franchise’s most popular films. Notably, Deadpool & Wolverine earned $1.338 billion, and Spider-Man: No Way Home grossed $1.921 billion. This is positive news for the upcoming film Doomsday, as marketing for both previous hits focused on bringing back beloved characters and storylines. Doomsday is also using nostalgia to attract audiences, which suggests it could be very popular when it releases this December.

Could the Russos Fail to Match Spielberg and Cameron?

Although Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are expected to be huge successes, it’s worth considering if the Russo brothers might fall short of earning $10 billion in total from these films. Many factors could influence the outcome, but audience reaction will likely be the most important. If Doomsday receives lukewarm or negative reviews, it could seriously hurt the film’s long-term performance. Movies like these typically earn the most money during their opening weekend, with attendance dropping off as the initial excitement fades.

For a movie to earn $1 billion worldwide, it needs to maintain strong audience interest over several weeks. This usually happens when people enjoy the film and recommend it to others, encouraging repeat viewings. If the new Avengers: Doomsday film receives positive reviews and enthusiastic reactions from fans, it has a good chance of performing well for a long time. However, if reviews and fan responses are lukewarm, the film’s box office numbers could drop quickly after its opening weekend. The current situation is different from when Avengers: Endgame was released, as Marvel’s popularity and the quality of its films have changed since then.

If Doomsday doesn’t perform well, it could negatively affect excitement for Secret Wars. The two movies are closely linked, and a lukewarm reception for Doomsday might lessen enthusiasm – and potential earnings – for Secret Wars. While neither film is expected to fail, movies that underperform often don’t stay popular for very long. Interestingly, Doomsday and Secret Wars have a unique release schedule compared to other Avengers films. They won’t face much competition from new releases in January, meaning they’ll be the main blockbuster attractions during that time.

Just because a movie is part of a successful franchise doesn’t automatically mean it will earn over $1.6 billion. Look at Avatar: Fire and Ash – it has the lowest critic score of any film in the Avatar series (66%) and is expected to be the lowest-grossing installment. Currently at $1.44 billion worldwide, its performance is significantly lower than previous films, mainly because audience interest has waned. While Fire and Ash stayed at the top of the domestic box office for five weeks, that was more due to a lack of competing movies than the film’s quality. It likely would have performed even worse if released during a busier time. A similar situation is unfolding with Doomsday, which is nearing $1 billion but won’t reach exceptionally high numbers because it hasn’t generated strong positive buzz.

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2026-02-14 21:43