Spider-Manwas an icon long before theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)began, but despite big hits from heroes like Deadpool, I don’t think Spidey will ever be beat. Spider-Man first rose to prominence in Marvel Comics back in 1963. At the time, the young relatable teenage boy as a superhero was a completely new concept, but it proved to be a big hit with fans of the series.
At the same time, the character, wearing a full face mask and bodysuit, allowed for them to be nuanced with the hero that connected with all audiences. Anyone could be Spider-Man, and everyone developed a strong connection with this ground-level superhero icon. And now, decades later, that same principle still appears to bepropellingSpider-Man forward as the most successful superhero of all time.
And theperformance ofSpider-Man’sfilmsonly serve as further evidence of how this character is the most beloved and popular comic book hero of all time.
The Multiverse Saga Hasn’t Fared So Well After The Success Of The Infinity Saga
While the MCU got into a steady pace of releasing consistent billion-dollar hit films by the end of the Infinity Saga, Marvel’s latest film era has been decidedly less successful. Despite some highs during the Multiverse Saga so far,there have been a lot of lows.
However,Spider-Man: No Way Homeis far and away the highest-earning hit film of this era, with a box office of nearly $2 billion dollars. Since then, the closest any film has come in the MCU wasDeadpool & Wolverine, which made a little over $1.3 billion at the box office, which still leaves it trailing far behindNo Way Home.
But even looking back to the Infinity Saga,Spider-Manmovies consistently brought in high figures, andNo Way Homeis only narrowly beaten out byAvengers: Infinity War.
The MCU’s Recent Results Show Just How Successful Spider-Man’s Movie Empire Really Is
Spider-Man Has An Empire All His Own Beyond The MCU
And yet, looking at the most recent releases shows how much theMCU appears to have fallen out of favor. Over the last six releases, with several featuring major MCU characters, most have fallen short of even $500 million.
$381,530,585
$413,640,021
$1,338,071,348
$199,706,250
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
$845,555,777
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
$476,073,180
Source:The Numbers
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3climbed to an impressive $845 million, but even that fell short of the billion-dollar mark. AndDeadpool & Wolverinemanaged to break the barrier, but wasunable to get close to Spider-Man’s impressive takings.
No Way Home’sbox office proves that even when the appetite for superhero movies dries up, Spidey is in a league of his own.
This is made all the more remarkable when considering the fact that, despite an apparent slump in earnings across the board in the MCU, Spider-Man actually managed to earn more than ever before.No Way Home’sbox officeproves that even when the appetite for superhero movies dries up,Spidey is in a league of his own.
I’m Not Sure Spider-Man’s Movie Box Office Results Will Ever Be Bested
Spider-Man’s Success Keeps Climbing
Now, obviously there are other superhero movies that manage to exceed Spider-Man’s earnings.Avengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgameare currently theonly two superhero movies ever made to beat that record, but the point stands.
Spider-Man: No Way Homeholds the distinct honor of being theonly solo superhero film from a sub-franchise to make it into the top 10 highest-earning films of all time, at number seven, only beaten by James Cameron’sAvatarfilms,Titanic, andStar Wars: The Force Awakensoutside of the MCU.
It’s clear that Spider-Man holds a special place in many people’s hearts, and I don’t believe any hero could rival his record.Spider-Man: Brand New Daywill present another chance to prove this theory true, but for now,Spider-Manis clearly the most successful superhero from any comic book franchise.
