Marvel vs. DC: 7 Epic Movie Showdowns in the Same Month!

Despite repeated statements from both Marvel and DC comic book corporations suggesting otherwise, the public continues to be captivated by the notion of a competitive rivalry between these two giants. Given their status as significant arms within larger media empires that dominate pop culture, it seems they have little reason to dispute. Nevertheless, internet users sustain the illusion of this “feud” by consistently comparing box office figures, superpowers, and other related facts, all in an attempt to determine which of America’s leading comic book companies is superior.

A fascinating aspect of these two companies’ connection lies in the unexpectedly high number of occasions where Marvel and DC comic book movie adaptations premiered during the same month. As superhero films proliferated in the 2010s, it was only a matter of time before this happened. Since there are a limited number of major weekends per year, it’s no surprise that some Marvel and DC blockbusters eventually ended up sharing the same month. Here are seven examples of these movies squaring off, or as we say, going “head-to-head” in the same month.

X-Men: First Class and Green Lantern

In June 2011, two superhero movies that were part of different comic book worlds were released. On June 3, 2011, “X-Men: First Class” was shown in theaters, aiming to breathe new life into the X-Men characters. Two weeks later, on June 17, “Green Lantern” premiered, with Warner Bros. hoping it would launch a new cinematic universe like how “Iron Man” did for Marvel. “X-Men: First Class” was successful enough to inspire three sequels. As for “Green Lantern”, its outcome is well known.

The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises

In July 2012, I found myself captivated by two blockbuster movies: “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” Interestingly enough, “The Amazing Spider-Man” kicked off the month over the Independence Day weekend, echoing the success of “Spider-Man 2” in 2004. On the other hand, “The Dark Knight Rises” made its debut towards the end of July, mirroring the release pattern of its predecessor, “The Dark Knight.” While “The Dark Knight Rises” undeniably reigned supreme at the box office that month, “The Amazing Spider-Man” still managed a respectable $260 million domestic gross.

Thor: Ragnarok and Justice League

In the past, it was logical to release Marvel and DC films during summer months side by side, considering that for many teenagers, every day feels like a weekend in June and July. This offers ample opportunity for two superhero movies to succeed. However, November only has one week of holidays, leaving minimal room for two films catering to the same demographic to prosper. Interestingly, this rule was broken in November 2017 when Thor: Ragnarok (released on November 3) and Justice League (released on November 17) both premiered within a three-week period. Surprisingly, Ragnarok emerged victorious in this box office face-off, with Justice League even experiencing losses in its global box office run.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Aquaman

Unlike November, there’s more space for several blockbuster films to thrive in December. For instance, movies like “Avatar” and “Sherlock Holmes” did exceptionally well at the box office during the last two weekends of December 2009. Consequently, it’s not surprising that Sony/Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros. chose December 2018 as an ideal time to introduce their Marvel and DC adaptations. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” premiered on December 14, followed by “Aquaman” a week later. Both films were profitable, but “Aquaman” exceeded all predictions and grossed over $1 billion worldwide.

Shazam! and Avengers: Endgame

In April 2019, Avengers: Endgame broke numerous box office records, making it seem almost overlooked that other superhero films were also released. Coincidentally, the low-key family comedy Shazam! debuted in cinemas during the same month’s first weekend. Despite their stark difference in scale, both movies managed to thrive in theaters without negatively impacting each other. While Endgame temporarily held the title of the highest-grossing movie ever at the global box office, Shazam! also performed well for itself.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and The Flash

In June 2023, history echoed as a live-action film from the DC Extended Universe hit theaters alongside a Spider-Verse sequel. On June 2, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was released in cinemas, and two weeks later, “The Flash” made its appearance in multiplexes. In this instance, “Spider-Verse” emerged victorious, with “Across the Spider-Verse” ranking among the highest-grossing animated films domestically. Unfortunately for “The Flash”, it fell significantly short of expectations, failing to surpass $110 million in domestic earnings. It’s worth noting that this was not due to “Spider-Verse” drawing away its audience. Instead, it seems that “The Flash” failed to connect with viewers. Essentially, Marvel and DC movies can comfortably share the same month.

Joker: Folie a Deux and Venom: The Last Dance

In October 2024, the follow-ups to two major October box office hits made a comeback. The film Joker: Folie a Deux started off October five years after the initial Joker movie broke the record for an October opening weekend. On the other hand, the month ended with Venom: The Last Dance, which followed in the footsteps of its two previous films that each earned over $200 million domestically when they debuted early in October. However, neither sequel managed to match the box office success of their original counterparts.

Despite earning less than $145 million domestically, The Last Dance managed to save some international respect. Conversely, Joker: Folie a Deux flopped at the box office, with its lifetime domestic earnings barely surpassing the first Joker’s opening day by $19 million. It appears that both of these blockbusters faced issues beyond just competing in the same comic book genre month.

2025-01-27 05:11