Be it from theMarvel Cinematic Universe, theDC Universe, or the franchises in between, several superhero movies over the decades deserved more at the box office. Thehighest-grossing superhero moviesprove just how successful the genre has been over the decades, yet the same cannot be said for every movie.
Even a series as successful as the one crafted by Marvel Studios has had its failures, with thelowest-grossing MCU moviesproving as much.Upcoming Marvel movieswill look to avoid these disappointments, as the MCU looks to reestablish its prior box office dominance. However, they will compete with theupcoming DC moviesof the DC Universe.
When looking back, not forward, several disappointing box office totals for superhero movies become evident. Some are tied to panned movies that audiences and critics alike did not care for, yet others are attached to some well-crafted, well-received superhero flicks. With that in mind, here are 10 superhero movies that deserved better at the worldwide box office.
10Thunderbolts* (2025)
The most recent installment on this list is aMarvel movie from 2025:Thunderbolts*.Thunderbolts*was not exactly a Marvel flop, earning a worldwide total of $382 million at the end of its theatrical run. However, this was against a production budget of $180 million, meaning that, when taking distribution, marketing, and other costs into account, it likely failed to turn a profit for Marvel Studios.
The primary reason why this is disappointing is just how goodThunderboltswas. Many classified the film as a true return to form for the MCU, as evidenced byThunderbolts' reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds an 88% critical approval rating and a 93% rating from audiences, typifying just how enjoyable it is.
With how importantThunderbolts*will be to the future of the MCU also considered, the film’s box office haul is disappointing.More should have given Marvel Studios another chance and seen the MCU’s best movie in years, which provided strong character work, an effective exploration of mental health, and a new superhero teamahead ofAvengers: Doomsday.
9Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
LikeThunderbolts*, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringscannot be considered an outright flop. The film earned $432 million against its $200 million budget, placing it in the same ballpark asThunderbolts*as an MCU film that likely failed to become profitable. This is also a disappointment, becauseShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsis truly great.
The film introduced a lesser-known Marvel Comics character and made him immediately compelling. This was on top of some of the best action choreography in the entire Marvel franchise, as well as a branch of Chinese mythology and lore that sets it apart from the rest of the MCU.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
The audiences that sawShang-Chiagree with these sentiments, with the film currently holding the highest audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' audience score sits at 98%, above big-hitters likeSpider-Man: No Way Home. Sadly, not enough people saw the movie to see this love spread worldwide at the box office.
8X-Men: First Class (2011)
TheX-Menfranchise, despite its popularity, has never had a movie gross more than $1 billion, except for Marvel Studios’Deadpool & Wolverine. For the earlier movies with smaller budgets, this was less of an issue. From 2011 onwards, though, theX-Menfranchise began competing with the MCU regarding production costs, starting withX-Men: First Class.
The movie cost $160 million, which proved to work in terms of the film’s quality. Concerning theranking ofX-Menmovies, when looking solely at the team-up movies and discounting the likes ofDeadpoolandLogan,First Classis the second-highest rated on Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie is highly rated and kick-started the youngertimeline ofX-Menmovies. These younger versions of the X-Men have some of the best casting choices in superhero cinema history, with James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Professor X and Magneto, respectively. Unfortunately,X-Men: First Classonly earned $353 million at the worldwide box office.
The film deserved to be seen by more people based on how well-received it was. Its successor,X-Men: Days of Future Past, earned over $745 million at the box office, a total thatX-Men: First Classarguably deserved.
As one of the first major movies released in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic,The Suicide Squadwas in a difficult position. It was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, meaning its theatrical haul totaled $168 million. Overall, this was a shame, given the movie’s many successful elements.
TheDCEU movie timelinecontained a lot of divisive projects, butThe Suicide Squadwas not one of them. The film is tied as the second-best-reviewed DCEU movie of all time withShazam!,second only toWonder Woman. It spawned a sequel in the form ofPeacemaker,which is now set to be a vital part of the rebooted DC Universe.
This, combined with the movie’s humor, action, style, and compelling characters, only proves just how goodThe Suicide Squadwas. Had it been released a few years earlier or later,The Suicide Squadmay have earned the box office totals it deserved.
6Birds of Prey (2020)
Bird of Preyis very similar toThe Suicide Squadin terms of tone and style. The movie may not be the best in the DCEU, but it was solidly enjoyable in a variety of ways. At 79%, the movie is the third-best-reviewed in the DCEU afterWonder Womanand the joint-secondShazam!andThe Suicide Squad.
Margot Robbie was excellent as Harley Quinn, as was the rest of the cast, and the action, helmed byJohn Wick’s Chad Stahelski, was excellent. All of this means the movie deserved to earn more than its $205 million. Against a $100 million budget,Birds of Preywas considered a flop, but it certainly did not deserve to be.
5Blue Beetle (2023)
Blue Beetlewas released during a period of uncertainty for the DCEU. The DCU was beginning, so the four DCEU movies of 2023 were considered dead on arrival.Blue Beetlewas one such movie, drastically reducing its box office prospects, causing the film to earn $130 million worldwide against a budget of $125 million.
LikeThe Suicide SquadandBirds of Prey, though,Blue Beetlewas well-received by fans and critics alike. It is the fourth-best-reviewed DCEU property after the aforementioned projects in the franchise, with praise going towards its central star, Xolo Maridueña, its humor, heart, and action sequences. Sadly, its status as one of the DCEU’s final movies meant too few people saw it in theaters.
4Watchmen (2009)
Watchmenmay not have been overly beloved upon release, but it has received somewhat of a cult following. Many consider it a faithful adaptation of the obscure comic book series, with some of the strongest visuals and performances in the entire genre. Despite this, it only earned $187 million against a $150 million budget.
The popularity of the comic book series, as well as that of the 2019 TV show, proves thatWatchmenas a property deserved better from a theatrical standpoint.
3The Marvels (2023)
The Marvelsholds the unwanted record of being the MCU’s biggest flop, earning only $206 million against a whopping $370+ million budget.The Marvelsmay not be thebest movie in the MCU, but it holds enough good aspects to argue that it should not be the franchise’s lowest-grossing movie.
The Marvels’central trio of leads is fantastic, individually and together. The action sequences are dynamic and well-choreographed, and the story includes some of the MCU’s most unique sequences, from aCats-inspired Flerken chase to a musical sequence. Evidently,The Marvelshas many good aspects that prove it deserved more than it received at the box office.
2Batman Begins (2005)
As far as thebest superhero movies of all timego, Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy is often counted among them.Batman Beginsmay not be quite as revered asThe Dark Knight, but it proved how seriously superhero movies can be taken. It nailed a grounded Batman origin story in a way many did not think possible.
In many ways,Batman Beginswas responsible for ushering in the golden age of superhero movies alongside Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy. Despite that,Batman Beginsonly earned $375 million against a budget of $150 million. If anything proves that this movie deserved better, it is the reception of its sequels.
The Dark Knightearned over $1 billion at the box office, withThe Dark Knight Riseseven going beyond that to earn $1.1 billion. Clearly, in the three years betweenBatman BeginsandThe Dark Knight, audiences caught the former at home and realized what they had missed, driving them to the theaters for the latter.
Batman Beginsis arguably better thanThe Dark Knight Risesand almost matchesThe Dark Knight, yet it earned over $700 million less than both. The sheer quality ofBatman Beginsproves it did not deserve to just barely scrape into profitability.Batman Beginsdeserved to earn as much as its successors, if not more, based on its genre-wide impact.
1Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm
Perhaps the biggest case of a superhero deserving more at the box office isBatman: Mask of the Phantasm.Before the release of Nolan’s trilogy,Batman: Mask of the Phantasmwas considered the bestBatmanmovie ever made. It perfectly continued the tone ofBatman: The Animated Series, provided an excellent villain, an all-timer Batman love-interest, and an excellent Dark Knight.
The late Kevin Conroy is renowned as an excellent Batman, providing all the nuance and gravitas the Caped Crusader needs to. All of this, and the film’s now-cult favorite status, proves how exceptionalBatman: Mask of the Phantasmwas.
Despite that, it only earned $5.6 million at the worldwide box office against a $6 million budget. Given how strongBatman: Mask of the Phantasmis, the movie definitely deserved more. Beyond anyMCUorDCUmovie, this goes down as the most upsetting case of a movie not earning what it deserved.
