Breaking records with a steady stream of movies and TV shows, Marvel is the highest-grossing movie franchise in the world. Among the top-grossing film franchises in the US and Canada (Harry Potter, James Bond, Lord of the Rings, etc.), Marvel ranks second with $10.2 billion ahead of Star Wars. While this may surprise some, this number does not include the X-Men or Spider-Man franchises. Thanks to an endless supply of material from generations of comic books, the Marvel Universe will never end.
While looking at the list of top-grossing Marvel movies may raise a few eyebrows, it’s important to note that the box office total represents the movie’s lifetime gross, not just the opening total (according to Box Office Mojo). As streaming services and total subscribers have grown significantly in recent years, it’s easy to imagine how the line has come a long way in its lifetime. Let’s take a look at the top 10 highest grossing Marvel movies in the US and Canada.
10. Iron Man 3 (2013)
$409,013,994
Starting with one of the old additions to the roster, Iron Man 3 surprised the audience everywhere with the triumphant return of beloved Tony Stark. After repeated, terrible terrorist attacks and attempts on his life by treacherous enemies, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) must muster all his ingenuity and technology to defeat this new, persistent enemy. After the success of the first two Iron Man films, it only makes sense that audiences would go all out with this sequel, which turned out to be a watchable and entertaining film.
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9. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
$411,331,607
In the most recent series, Multiverse of Madness, Doctor Strange stands out as one of the more visible and thematic additions. Haunted by strange dreams and visions of a universe-hopping teenager, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) faces new and unimaginable dangers as he tries to save new and old friends. Filled with elements of action, comedy and horror, this Sam Raimi Marvel film has carved out a place in the universe that fans are celebrating.
8. Captain Marvel (2019)
$426,829,839
The first Marvel film to feature a superstar, female lead, Captain Marvel brings new characters and emotions to the cinematic universe. One of the first official members of the Avengers Initiative, Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) embarks on a journey of self-discovery to unravel her hazy past and become Captain Marvel. With more than 90 hits and music from bands like Trash, Heart and No Doubt, there’s a successful and uplifting feel to this unique Marvel movie.
7. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
$453,829,060
Today, the latest release on this list is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: the emotional, full-length sequel to the highly acclaimed original Black Panther. Torn by the sudden disappearance of their fearless leader, Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the family and kingdom band together to protect Wakanda against the threat of theft and destruction of what they built from the previously unknown, underwater kingdom. While the film isn’t the strongest in terms of overall quality or texture, the visual effects and tribute to Boseman make it fit the universe.
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
$459,005,868
The second installment of the Avengers ensemble film, Avengers: Age of Ultron is set to make money despite the quality of the film. Born from the minds of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), a technology called Ultron has decided that humanity is a disease that must be eradicated from the earth. Although not as well-received as other films of this genre, Ultron still offers plenty of fun and good performances to enjoy.
5. The Avengers (2012)
$623,357,910
The start of the Avengers film ensemble: The Avengers debuted as the third-highest-grossing film of all time. Created by Loki (Tom Hiddleston) as a result of reckless terrorism and the invasion of Earth, the Avengers Initiative is officially out in force to protect humanity from certain destruction. Ever since it was announced in 2008 that this blockbuster starrer would be released in 2011 with the main Avengers movie, it didn’t surprise anyone that it was an instant hit.
4. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
$678,815,482
Juggling an impressively large cast of superheroes for the third Avengers installment, Avengers: Infinity War jumps leagues above its predecessors in multiple respects. Determined by his goal to acquire all infinity stones and wipe out half of all life, Thanos (Josh Brolin) proves himself as The Avengers’ most formidable foe yet. Since this very re-watchable movie capitalizes on near-non-stop action as well as emotional adversity, its lifetime gross has gone up exponentially and will most likely continue to do so.
3. Black Panther (2018)
$700,059,566
A truly unique addition to the Marvel cinematic universe, Black Panther developed a huge following well before its actual release date, promising a fortuitous and long-lasting future to come. King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is next in line as the leader and protector of Wakanda but is suddenly challenged by a shadow from the past, one with a chip on his shoulder and a score to settle. The Kendrick Lamar and Ludwig Göransson Black Panther music is also to be thanked for its achievements in popularity, winning a Best Score Oscar and Grammy as well as a Grammy for “King’s Dead” from Lamar’s curated Black Panther album.
2. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
$804,793,477
The newest and most exciting Spider-Man movie is Spider-Man: No Way Home; an insanely fun cast-blending experiment that combines all Spider-Man iterations into one glorious adventure. After Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland) true identity is announced on the news, he seeks the help of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to undo what has been done, sparking a chain of events that bring multiple universes crashing together. With the promise of every actor who’s played Spider-Man and their respective foes to be included, even the most skeptical viewers deemed it necessary to see this movie as soon as possible.
1. Avengers: Endgame (2019)- Marvel Top grossing
$858,373,000
Serving as the epic conclusion to the ensemble cast of Avengers movies, Avengers: Endgame is an emotionally charged experience of nostalgia, revenge, and redemption. Set years after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, the remaining Avengers woefully re-unite to attempt to undo the devastating actions taken by Thanos. With a 3-hour runtime, Endgame sets out to settle scores, finish off multiple subplots, and leave audiences with a satisfactory goodbye to their favorite movie saga.