It's a headline that would have been unthinkable a few years ago: for the first time in over a decade, a superhero movie may not cross the $700 million mark at the worldwide box office.
And we won't have one in the top 5 highest-grossing movies of the year, as well. Plus, there are only two superhero movies in this year's top 10 so far. And they may drop out as the year ends with some pretty big titles.
As a recent MovieWeb article points out, this is a significant moment for a genre that has been the undisputed king of the box office for the better part of two decades.
But what does this mean for Hollywood and for filmmakers?
We're going to unpack that today, and much more.
Let's dive in.
The 2025 Worldwide Box Office Right Now
Here's what the box office looks like this year. As you can see, the top ten holds a lot of sequels and remakes and family stuff, but it does not hold many superhero movies.
In fact, with a new Avatar movie coming out this year and Tron: Ares and Running Man and Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good .... will there even be superhero movies in the top 10 when we're all done?
Look, I think Superman will be there, but that might be it.
This is an unprecedented thing that we could not have foreseen years ago. It felt like these movies were automatically making a billion for a while.
2025 Top 10 Credit: Box Office Mojo
The New Box Office Reality
The numbers, when taken at face value, are stark. The highest-grossing superhero film of 2025, Superman, is projected to gross around $597.3 million worldwide.
While that's a respectable number for most films, it's a far cry from the billion-dollar blockbusters we've seen in the past.
Other major releases like The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Captain America: Brave New World are also seeing numbers that are just fine.
But what happened to these movies being automatic high-grossers?
The Changing Tide
I think what we're actually experiencing is a bit of fatigue. We went through Marvel's opus and saw that it culminates. Their new movies have been fun, but they have not felt like they're must-see movies.
At least, not right now.
I think Superman did well because people are excited for what the new DC looks like. And the film being well-reviewed helped it make money.
We'll have to wait and see what the next DC releases do.
Upcoming films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday could be the next wave of billion-dollar hits. But they could also do just fine, as well.
Although that would hurt those studios.
But those Marvel titles are years away and should help reset the public's perception of these kinds of movies.
Right now, people are looking for originality. If you look at the 2025 box office, you'll see movies like Sinners, Weapons, and even F1 doing really well.
These are new ideas that got different people excited about going to the movies.
What This Means for Filmmakers
So, what are the takeaways for those of us who aren't working with nine-figure budgets or experimenting in comic book land?
- Originality is King (Again): The superhero fatigue is real. Audiences are craving new stories, new worlds, and new characters. This is a huge opportunity for filmmakers to fill that void. Your original screenplay and your unique vision have never been more valuable. Write your spec!
- Genre is a Playground: The success of films that blend genres, like Weapons, shows that audiences are open to new and unexpected takes on familiar tropes. Don't be afraid to mix and match, to deconstruct and reconstruct genres in your own work.
- Focus on Character and Story: At the end of the day, what makes a film connect with an audience is a compelling story and characters we care about. The most successful superhero films, from the early days of Spider-Man to the height of the MCU, understood that was key. But you can do it on a much smaller scale and still be successful.
- The Mid-Budget Film is Not Dead: The decline of the guaranteed blockbuster may lead to a renewed interest in more moderately budgeted films that can turn a healthy profit without needing to break box office records. This could be a boon for filmmakers who can tell compelling stories on a smaller scale that have big genre upsides.
Summing It All Up
The superhero genre isn't going away. But it is changing. I do think counting on them to hit a billion is just too much to ask. That means these studios should rethink how much money they spend on these movies and how much it would take to be profitable.
And it means filmmakers should be excited about original storytelling coming back and being embraced by audiences everywhere.
So, get out there and tell your story. The world is waiting for it.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
