The 10 Biggest Superhero Movie Opening Weekends Ever

Over and over again, superhero films have demonstrated an impressive ability to earn substantial revenues at the cinema, attracting viewers who are excited to witness their beloved heroes engaging in grand struggles between good and evil on the silver screen. However, there’s one studio that dominates during opening weekends, and that is none other than Disney.

Despite experiencing a recent decline, Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe has primarily been a dominant force in cinemas since Robert Downey Jr.’s witty Iron Man debuted in 2008. This marked the beginning of Phases One, Two, and Three of the MCU, along with the epic Infinity War storyline that captivated audiences for over a decade with its massive, cosmic CGI battles.

It’s worth noting that all four Avengers films have placed among the top ten highest-grossing movies, with one of them being the second-highest earner ever. In comparison, just a single non-Marvel superhero film shows up on the list, and interestingly, it’s an animated production.

Actually, the sole superhero film on this list that isn’t produced by Walt Disney Studios is Spider-Man: No Way Home, which instead comes from Sony Pictures Releasing.

As a die-hard movie buff with a soft spot for superheroes, it’s disappointing to note that none of the top 10 highest-grossing opening weekends in the superhero genre belongs to DC. However, if you look closer, you’ll find that ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016), ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012), and ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008) managed to secure the 13th, 14th, and 15th spots on that list, respectively.

Below, take a look at the 10 biggest superhero movie opening weekends of all time.

Top 10 Biggest Superhero Opening Weekends

10. Black Panther: Wakanda Forver

On November 11, 2022, the movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” was launched, a follow-up to the 2018 hit “Black Panther”. During its opening weekend in domestic cinemas, it earned an impressive $181 million. In total, the film collected over $859 million at box offices worldwide.

9. Incredibles 2

In the summer of 2018, on June 15th, Disney-Pixar’s animated movie sequel to “The Incredibles” from 2004, titled “Incredibles 2“, was unveiled. The opening weekend saw it earning $182 million at the domestic box office, and during its cinematic run, it raked in over $1.2 billion globally.

8. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

On May 6, 2022, the movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was launched and earned an impressive $187 million during its opening weekend. This film is a follow-up to the 2016 release, “Doctor Strange”, which ultimately raked in a total of $677 million at box offices worldwide.

7. Avengers: Age of Ultron

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the second installment of the Avengers series titled “Avengers: Age of Ultron” premiered in cinemas on May 1, 2015. During its opening weekend, it earned a whopping $191 million. By the conclusion of its theatrical run, this film had amassed an impressive total of $1.4 billion globally.

6. Black Panther

On its initial release on February 16, 2018, the movie titled “Black Panther” earned an impressive $202 million during its first weekend in cinemas. Eventually, it garnered a staggering $1.3 billion at box offices worldwide, all while being produced with a budget of just $200 million.

5. The Avengers

On its initial release on May 4, 2012, “The Avengers” collected an impressive $207 million during its opening weekend. With a global box office total of $1.5 billion, it ranks fourth among the highest-grossing movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when last published.

4. Deadpool & Wolverine

On July 26, 2024, the much anticipated movie collaboration between Deadpool and Wolverine hit the screens, earning a staggering $211 million in its opening weekend. Over time, this film raked in an impressive total of $1.3 billion at box offices worldwide.

3. Avengers: Infinity War

The blockbuster film “Avengers: Infinity War” premiered on April 27, 2018. During its initial weekend in cinemas, it earned an impressive $257 million, and ultimately amassed a global gross of approximately $2 billion, placing it as the second highest-earning MCU movie to date.

2. Spider-Man: No Way Home

On December 17, 2021, I had the privilege of witnessing the spectacular debut of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” In its opening weekend alone, this movie raked in an impressive $260 million. As the story unfolded, it continued to captivate audiences worldwide, ultimately grossing a staggering $1.9 billion. This remarkable achievement makes “Spider-Man: No Way Home” the third highest-grossing release within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

On December 17, I watched Spider-Man: No Way Home and was amazed by its $260 million opening weekend earnings. The movie went on to gross a total of $1.9 billion worldwide, earning it the title as the MCU’s third highest-grossing release.

1. Avengers: Endgame

“On April 26, 2019, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ was released and made an astonishing $357 million during its debut weekend. With a worldwide box office collection of approximately $2.7 billion, it currently ranks as the second highest-grossing film ever, surpassed only by ‘Avatar,’ which has amassed $2.9 billion.”

The Most Underrated Superhero Movies

1. The Adventures of Captain Marvel

The story of comic-book movies traces back to a simple “Shazam!” The very first superhero to transition from comic strips to the silver screen was Captain Marvel, starring in the action-packed serial, “The Adventures of Captain Marvel.” While its script, featuring the Big Red Cheese battling the villain ‘The Scorpion,’ might not earn a Nobel Prize in Literature (or even an Eisner Award), the series’ dynamic direction by William Witney and John English successfully emulates the vibrant essence of early comics. If you admire the evolution of this genre, it’s worth watching how it all began.

2. Big Hero 6

In the heart of thrilling sci-fi sequences, accompanied by an adorable robot companion, “Big Hero 6” skillfully combines Disney’s charm with Marvel’s action. While the Disney elements shine brighter in this instance, the narrative is dominated by a villain who steals a teen prodigy’s microbots technology, making it complex and sometimes overpowering the heartfelt aspects dealing with grief and loss. Despite this, science has shown that soft-hearted robots are the best, and Baymax (Scott Adsit) takes the cake as the most endearing of them all.

3. The Dark Knight Rises

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’d say that “The Dark Knight Rises” was my personal, grand yet somewhat overstuffed finale of Christopher Nolan’s extraordinary Batman saga. Striving to surpass the greatness of “The Dark Knight,” it seems that in some aspects, its ambition outreached its grasp – an observation that might explain its unexpectedly mixed reception among devoted Nolan followers. Regardless, if more comic-book films aimed for something beyond mere entertainment, we, the audience, would undeniably benefit.

4. Hellboy II: The Golden Army

The sequel, “The Golden Army,” significantly surpassed the original “Hellboy” in numerous aspects. Characters that were dull in the initial film were replaced, even poking fun at Hellboy’s former milquetoast companion being shipped off to Antarctica. The antagonists in this installment are far more captivating and, given their motivation of “Humanity is flawed,” they almost embody tragic heroism. The visual effects are more refined, the monster designs are distinctively Del Toro’s, and every character has increased tension as they navigate higher stakes. Even secondary characters like Abe Sapien receive development and a romantic interest! If anything, Guillermo del Toro should have received his Oscar for this film instead of “The Shape of Water.

5. The Mask of Zorro

The original design for the current wave of superhero films was constructed like a sequel to an unmade movie, known as a legacyquel. In this case, the fictional character Zorro, portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, handed over his identity and skills to Antonio Banderas in the film. Directed by Martin Campbell (later known for Casino Royale), it boasted thrilling action scenes and witty humor from Hopkins. Notably, Catherine Zeta-Jones made her cinematic debut in this production as the daughter of the original Zorro.

6. The Phantom

When The Phantom appears online (not frequently), it’s often to poke fun at Billy Zane’s purple costume, which mirrors the old Lee Falk comics, or its catchphrase “Slam evil!”. However, there are impressive action sequences in the movie, and Billy Zane is quite endearing as The Phantom. Catherine Zeta-Jones, young and stunningly beautiful, plays an immoral pirate. I’m not a fan of the confusing laser battle between Zane and Treat Williams at the end, and the movie seems to be a condensed version of a more intricate story (or perhaps multiple stories by Falk). The Phantom has a horse and a wolf as his companions, and in one scene they communicate without words through barks and growls. That’s hard to top, Batman.

7. The Punisher

Frank Castle resides in an underground hideout akin to that of a Ninja Turtle, engages in combat with scuba-clad ninjas (much like a Ninja Turtle), speaks in a manner reminiscent of Dolph Lundgren, clashes with the Yakuza within an antiquated amusement park (where numerous adversaries simultaneously ride one of the large slides while discharging machine guns), and in one instance, following Frank’s detonation of a mobster’s residence, a journalist exclaims, “Good heavens, it’s the Punisher!” This initial film adaptation of “The Punisher” may not be the most prominent portrayal of the character, but in my opinion, it undeniably offers the most enjoyable viewing experience.

8. Sky High

Before purchasing Marvel, Disney attempted to establish their own comic-book universe through “Sky High”, an idea somewhat reminiscent of both “X-Men” and “Harry Potter”. The story revolves around a school for aspiring superhumans. In this school, students are categorized as heroes (similar to jocks) or sidekicks (akin to nerds). “Sky High” cleverly mirrors societal stereotypes with its engaging narrative and an endearing ensemble of adult characters, featuring Kurt Russell, Lynda Carter, Cloris Leachman, and Bruce Campbell. Although it didn’t generate enough revenue for a sequel, the quality of the movie stands alongside any well-known Marvel productions available for streaming today.

9. Spider-Man 3

The final Spider-Man film directed by Sam Raimi has been unjustifiably criticized – even by Raimi himself who once stated in an interview that it “didn’t function particularly well.” While it’s true not everything in it is perfect, there are several aspects that excel, such as the powerful action sequences from the Maguire trilogy, including the thrilling mid-air rescue of Gwen Stacy from a construction accident. For many viewers, the portrayal of Venom was the main issue, particularly Raimi’s use of the black suit as an extended joke, such as the scene where a “sinister” Peter under the influence of his alien costume dances through New York City streets. It’s true these scenes seem out of step with the trend towards darker and grittier superheroes in movies at that time. However, when viewed as Raimi intentionally satirizing the concept of a “dark” comic book movie, the entire experience becomes more coherent and enjoyable.

10. Superman III

In an era when every superhero film must encompass a universe-threatening battle with grandiose stakes and spectacular visual effects, there is merit in a modest, intentionally comedic production like “Superman III.” Portions of it resemble a Tati-inspired comedy, where Superman occasionally transverses, much like an adaptation of an eccentric issue from “The World of Metropolis.” Alternatively, segments offer a subtle yet potent critique of capitalism – a system Superman has often confronted since his initial escapades in “Action Comics.” Moreover, it’s challenging to entirely disregard a film where Superman becomes corrupt and his first act is straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa, seemingly just to irritate a modest souvenir vendor. Truly, he exhibits super-rude behavior!

11. Swamp Thing

The trailers boldly declared, “The comic book legend is alive!” Two years prior to “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Wes Craven directed this adaptation of the terrifying monster from DC Comics. Ray Wise portrays the scientist who becomes a sentient mass of mud due to a horrific lab accident in this film. Craven’s vision was larger than his budget, as the Swamp Thing costume appears more impressive in the subsequent sequel. However, Craven’s “Swamp Thing” offers an appealing blend of fear, silliness, and poetic reflections on nature. Although Swampy is set to return in a new movie (rumored to be directed by James Mangold, who worked on “Logan”), it’s worth revisiting the origins of his cinematic existence before that happens.

12. Teen Titans Go! To the Movies

For enthusiasts of meta-comedy: Mark your calendars, as the big-screen adaptation of the long-running Cartoon Network series featuring DC’s teen sidekicks could relentlessly scrutinize the concept of superhero films even more harshly than “The LEGO Batman Movie.” (Did you know Will Arnett voices Slade in it?) When Robin expresses his frustration that only other DC heroes are getting movies (he’s not far off!), the Titans venture to Hollywood and learn they can only get their own spinoff if no other heroes exist. In classic superhero fashion, they journey through time to prevent Superman, Batman, and the Justice League from ever putting on a cape or mask. And here’s an exciting twist: Nicolas Cage plays Superman! “Teen Titans Go! to the Movies” is not only underappreciated, it’s also highly rewatchable, particularly for parents with kids who enjoy light-hearted comedy.

2025-07-16 00:28