By Sean Alexander
Your changes have been saved
Email Is sent
Please verify your email address.
You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.
Manage Your List
Follow
Followed
Follow with Notifications
Follow
Unfollow
Link copied to clipboard
In the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's easy to assume that each film will become a box office hit. History, however, has proven this presumption to be wrong. While no MCU movie has ever failed to make back its budget and generate additional revenue (until recently), several films have fallen short of box office expectations.
That being said, box office success doesn't necessarily equate to the overall quality of a film. Timing a release just right is critical, and missing the ideal window for a movie can severely hamper its results. Thankfully, reviews, audience ratings, and box office figures can provide valuable insight into the overall success of these less heralded and sometimes forgotten-about films in the MCU canon.
Related
10 Action Movie Box Office Bombs That Are Actually Great
An action movie's weak box office performance shouldn't dictate its quality. Movies like Dredd, Edge of Tomorrow, and Scott Pilgrim are solid proof.
10 Iron Man
Iron Man
PG-13
Superhero
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi
8
10
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
- Release Date
- May 2, 2008
- Director
- Jon Favreau
- Cast
- Robert Downey Jr. , gwyneth paltrow , Terrence Howard , Jeff Bridges , Leslie Bibb , Shaun Toub
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
- Main Genre
- superheroes
- Writers
- Mark Fergus , Hawk Ostby , Art Marcum , Matt Holloway
- Studio
- Marvel Studios
Year | 2008 |
Budget: | $140 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $98.6 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $319 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $585 Million |
The MCU's journey began in 2008 with a gamble called Iron Man. Despite surprisingly not reaching the billion-dollar mark that some fans might have assumed the progenitor of such a successful film franchise would achieve, the film's $585.8 Million worldwide gross was nothing to shake a stick at.
Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark laid the foundation for what would come, making Iron Man not just a movie but one of the most important cultural touchstones of the past generation. Looking back, its $140 Million budget was a fraction of current Marvel productions, which underlines the film's incredible success. It might not be the highest-grossing MCU film ever, but it's arguably the most important.
9 Ant-Man
Ant-Man
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Superhero
Sci-Fi
6
10
- Release Date
- July 17, 2015
- Director
- Peyton Reed
- Cast
- Paul Rudd , Michael Douglas , Corey Stoll , Evangeline Lilly , Bobby Cannavale , Anthony Mackie
- Runtime
- 117 minutes
- Main Genre
- Superhero
- Studio
- Marvel
Year: | 2015 |
Budget: | $130 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $57.2 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $180.2 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $519.3 Million |
With a relatively modest $130 Million budget, Ant-Man still managed to carve out its niche from the MCU. Despite the film's lower stakes, Paul Rudd's performance as Scott Lang captivated audiences and ensured that the rewatchable factor for this film was remarkably high.
Not every MCU film can hinge on the universe's fate, and Ant-Man showed that there was a charm to be mined out of a more intimate, character-driven affair. Despite a troubled production history that included director Edgar Wright dropping out to be replaced by Peyton Reed, this film still managed to pull in a worldwide gross of $519 Million, proving that success can come in many different sizes.
8 Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
PG-13
Superhero
Action
7
10
- Release Date
- February 17, 2023
- Director
- Peyton Reed
- Cast
- Paul Rudd , Evangeline Lilly , Jonathan Majors , Kathryn Newton , Michael Douglas , Michelle Pfeiffer , David Dastmalchian , Bill Murray , Corey Stoll
- Runtime
- 124 Minutes
- Writers
- jeff loveness
- Studio
- Marvel Studios
- Franchise
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Prequel
- Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Cinematographer
- William Pope
- Producer
- Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard
- Production Company
- Marvel Studios
Year: | 2023 |
Budget: | $200 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $106.1 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $214.5 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $476.1 Million |
The third installment in the Ant-Man series, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, fell short of the financial, critical, and audience demands set by its predecessors. With a hefty $200 Million budget, the film earned just $476 Million, making it the MCU's biggest box office disappointment relative to expectations.
Context, however, is essential. Ant-Manand the Wasp: Quantumania was released shortly after the coronavirus pandemic. So, it is hard to know whether superhero fatigue was responsible for this failure or that it was simply a result of the world still growing accustomed to returning to movie theaters. Regardless, the film failed to match the success of the previous entries, and not even the introduction of Kang the Conquerer could propel this film to the necessary heights.
7 Thor
Thor
PG-13
Superhero
Action
Fantasy
7
10
The powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.
- Release Date
- May 6, 2011
- Director
- Kenneth Branagh
- Cast
- Chris Hemsworth , Natalie Portman , Tom Hiddleston , Kat Dennings , Stellan Skarsgård , Idris Elba , Clark Gregg , Colm Feore
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
- Main Genre
- Superhero
- Writers
- Ashley Miller , Zack Stentz , Don Payne , J. Michael Straczynski , Mark Protosevich
Year: | 2011 |
Budget: | $150 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $65.7 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $181 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $449.3 Million |
Related
Gareth Edwards Possibly Directing Thor 5 Could Bring Asgard's Greatest Enemy to Light
If rumors are accurate and Gareth Edwards is indeed being lined up for Thor 5, he'd be perfect to bring Asgard's most terrifying enemy to the fore.
Directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, the first Thor unfolds like a Shakespearean drama set within the fantastical realms of Asgard and Midgard. Centered on the familial conflicts of Thor, Loki, and Odin, the film's stellar performances didn't entirely lead to broader success.
With a $150 Million budget, the film ultimately earned nearly $450 Million at the box office, a figure that its subsequent sequels would surpass. While Thor's box office figures might pale compared to later MCU entries, solid reviews and positive word of mouth led to commendable financial success, especially when contrasted against the other early films in the MCU.
6 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
PG-13
superheroes
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
7
10
Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.
- Release Date
- September 3, 2021
- Director
- Destin Daniel Cretton
- Cast
- Simu Liu , Awkwafina , Tony Leung Chiu Wai , Ben Kingsley , Meng'er Zhang , Fala Chen
- Runtime
- 132 minutes
- Main Genre
- superheroes
- Writers
- Dave Callaham , Destin Daniel Cretton , Andrew Lanham
Year: | 2021 |
Budget: | $150 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $75.4 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $224.5 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $432.2 Million |
In 2021, the MCU began to face real challenges at the box office, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings proved to be the canary in the coal mine. Released at the height of the pandemic, the film garnered generally positive reviews but struggled to find viewers to fill seats due to pandemic-related concerns.
Shang-Chi's relative obscurity as a character also undoubtedly contributed to this lack of financial success. A lighthearted tone and exciting visuals didn't do much to help, and this film failed to reach its ideal box-office numbers, even if some consider it one of the franchise's most underrated gems.
5 Eternals
Eternals
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Superhero
7
10
The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.
- Release Date
- November 5, 2021
- Director
- Chloé Zhao
- Cast
- Angelina Jolie , Gemma Chan , Richard Madden , Salma Hayek , Kit Harington , Kumail Nanjiani , Lia McHugh , Brian Tyree Henry
- Runtime
- 156 minutes
- Main Genre
- Superhero
- Writers
- Chloé Zhao , Patrick Burleigh , Ryan Firpo
Year: | 2021 |
Budget: | $200 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $71.3 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $164.9 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $402.06 Million |
Much like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals was also released amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting it behind the eight-ball from the start in achieving the MCU's customary box office success. Directed by Chloé Zhao and boasting a star-studded cast including Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, and Richard Madden, Eternals carried high expectations that it failed to meet.
Eternals' complex narrative and lack of audience familiarity didn't help, resulting in the film falling short of the half-a-billion mark. Unlike Shang-Chi, negative reviews from critics and audiences alike no doubt dampened its reception. Many fans felt the story might have been better served as a television series. Ultimately, Eternals failed in more ways than just box office returns.
4 Black Widow
Black Widow
9
10
Natasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.
- Release Date
- July 9, 2021
- Director
- Cate Shortland
- Cast
- Scarlett Johansson , Florence Pugh , Rachel Weisz , David Harbour
- Runtime
- 134 minutes
- Main Genre
- Action
- Writers
- Eric Pearson , Jac Schaeffer , Ned Benson
Year: | 2021 |
Budget: | $200 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $80.4 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $183.6 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $379.7 Million |
Related
Scarlett Johansson Reacts to Black Widow MCU Return Rumors
Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson addresses speculation about whether her eponymous character will make an MCU comeback.
Perhaps no MCU film's box-office success is more complicated to parse than Black Widow. Released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ during the pandemic, the film's box office fate stands as a stark reminder of the impact timing can have on a movie's success. Moreover, the film arrived after Black Widow had already been killed off during the events of Avengers: Endgame, leaving fans less invested in this story set during the fallout of Captain America: Civil War.
Despite being Scarlett Johansson's long-awaited solo adventure, Black Widow also suffered from sharing its spotlight with several new characters like Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh, and the Red Guardian, played by David Harbour. With a worldwide haul of $379 Million against a $200 Million budget, it's hard to call Black Widow a failure, especially with everything it was up against, but it was undoubtedly a financial disappointment.
3 Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger
PG-13
Superhero
Action
Adventure
Science Fiction
6
10
Steve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum". But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization.
- Release Date
- July 22, 2011
- Director
- Joe Johnston
- Cast
- Chris Evans , Haley Atwell , Sebastian Stan , Samuel L. Jackson , Hugo Weaving , Stanley Tucci
- Runtime
- 124 minutes
- Main Genre
- Superhero
- Writers
- Christopher Markus , Stephen McFeely , Joe Simon
- Studio
- Marvel
Year: | 2011 |
Budget: | $140 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $65 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $176.7 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $370.6 Million |
Captain America might have had a pivotal role in shaping the MCU, but his first solo adventure remains one of the franchise's least financially successful entries. Set primarily during World War II, the film's historical setting potentially contributed to its failure to connect to modern-day audiences.
With a budget of $140 Million, Captain America: The First Avenger earned $370 Million worldwide. While not considered a failure at its release, those numbers would cause significant hand-wringing if it happened to a Marvel property today. That being said, those metrics were still good enough to make this film one of the highest-grossing WWII films ever made, which gives this movie historical significance within the MCU.
2 The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Science Fiction
Superhero
6
10
Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.
- Release Date
- June 13, 2008
- Director
- Louis Leterrier
- Cast
- Edward Norton , Liv Tyler , Tim Roth , William Hurt
- Runtime
- 112 minutes
- Main Genre
- superheroes
- Writers
- Zak Penn , Stan Lee , Jack Kirby
- Studio
- NBC Universal
Year: | 2008 |
Budget: | $150 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $55.4 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $134.8 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $264.8 Million |
Related
Mark Ruffalo Wants a Standalone Hulk Movie: 'It Could Be Cool'
Mark Ruffalo, who plays Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the MCU, reveals he has ideas for an Incredible Hulk sequel but cannot share them.
Easily the most forgotten-about entry in the MCU, The Incredible Hulk continues to feel detached from the rest of the franchise, mainly due to Edward Norton's one-off performance as Bruce Banner. Featuring a distinctly different take than Mark Ruffalo would later adopt, Norton's presence in this film can't help but make the movie feel like a misfit toy in the MCU playchest.
Directed by Louis Leterrier, the film received mixed reviews and only amassed $264 Million at the global box office. That type of performance wasn't a red flag back in 2008. Still, there's almost no question arriving just five years after Ang Lee's interpretation of the Hulk's origins hampered financial returns. Unlike its fellow Phase One counterparts, this film failed to produce a sequel, cementing its place as a unique, if not unfortunate, entry in the MCU canon.
1 The Marvels
The Marvels
PG-13
Adventure
Fantasy
7
10
Carol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.
- Release Date
- November 10, 2023
- Director
- Nia DaCosta
- Cast
- Brie Larson , Samuel L. Jackson , Iman Vellani , Zawe Ashton
- Runtime
- 1 Hour 45 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Action
- Writers
- Nia DaCosta , Megan McDonnell , Elissa Karasik
- Production Company
- Marvel Studios, The Walt Disney Company
Year: | 2023 |
Budget: | $220 Million |
Opening Weekend: | $46.1 Million |
Domestic Box Office: | $84.1 Million |
Worldwide Box Office: | $204.7 Million |
The Marvels recently secured the distinction of becoming the lowest-grossing entry in the MCU to date. Released in 2023 as a sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel, the film's connection to Disney+ shows like Ms. Marvel and WandaVision failed to bring in a more extensive audience base, and the film struggled to break the $200 Million barrier worldwide.
With a budget of $220 Million, The Marvels faced challenges exacerbated by superhero fatigue and a lackluster year for the movies thanks to events like the WGA and SAG strikes. The film's significant drop in box office numbers, especially in its second weekend, marked an apparent downturn in audience interest. Warranted or not, The Marvels earned records for the lowest opening weekend in MCU history and the worst overall box office performance in the franchise's history, cementing it as the number one spot on this list.
- Movies
Your changes have been saved
Email Is sent
Please verify your email address.
You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.
Manage Your List
Follow
Followed
Follow with Notifications
Follow
Unfollow