Comic book adaptations for film and television are nothing new, and Marvel stands as one of the two dominant comic-book publishers consistently turning popular storylines into big-screen and small-screen productions (the other being DC Comics). Over the years Marvel has seen huge successes—like Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004)—as well as notable flops such as Elektra (2005) and Punisher: War Zone (2008).
Everything changed in 2008 with the launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): a connected series of films featuring characters who inhabit the same world and often join forces as the Avengers. The franchise’s launch was decisive and ushered in a new era of high-grossing superhero cinema.
The MCU continues to dominate the global box office. In 2019 alone the franchise released Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Below is a ranking of MCU films by worldwide box office gross, from lowest to highest. All figures are from Box Office Mojo and are not adjusted for inflation.
23. The Incredible Hulk
Universal Studios / Marvel Studios
Year: 2008
Worldwide Gross: $263.4 million
Domestic Gross: $134.8 million
Overseas Gross: $128.6 million
Although Mark Ruffalo would later become the MCU’s Bruce Banner, Edward Norton starred as the scientist in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Released shortly after Iron Man, the film drew mixed reviews and earned $263.4 million worldwide—roughly half of Iron Man’s haul. Still, the combined revenue of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk helped launch the MCU with nearly $800 million in 2008.
Note: Box-office numbers are through July 2019.
22. Captain America: The First Avenger
Marvel Studios
Year: 2011
Worldwide Gross: $370.6 million
Domestic Gross: $176.7 million
Overseas Gross: $193.9 million
Despite its title, Captain America: The First Avenger was the fifth MCU film released. The movie traces Steve Rogers’ transformation from a frail recruit to the super-soldier Captain America as he confronts the Red Skull and Hydra. Featuring Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson, the film grossed $370.6 million globally.
21. Thor
Paramount Pictures / Marvel Studios
Year: 2011
Worldwide Gross: $449.3 million
Domestic Gross: $181 million
Overseas Gross: $268.3 million
Chris Hemsworth debuted as Thor in this mythic origin story. After a reckless act damages a truce between Asgard and the Frost Giants, Thor is stripped of his powers and cast to Earth. Released between Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor earned $449.3 million worldwide and marked the last time an MCU film fell short of the $500 million mark for several years.
20. Ant-Man
Marvel Studios
Year: 2015
Worldwide Gross: $519.3 million
Domestic Gross: $180.2 million
Overseas Gross: $339.1 million
Paul Rudd stars as Scott Lang, a former convict who becomes the diminutive superhero Ant-Man after stealing a suit that can shrink its wearer. Ant-Man combined heist-comedy elements with superhero action and earned $519.3 million worldwide.
19. Iron Man
Marvel Studios
Year: 2008
Worldwide Gross: $585.2 million
Domestic Gross: $318.4 million
Overseas Gross: $266.8 million
Iron Man officially kicked off the MCU with Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, a brilliant playboy turned armored hero. The film’s success—$585.2 million worldwide—launched a decade-long franchise and set the tone for interconnected storytelling in blockbuster cinema.
18. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Marvel Studios
Year: 2018
Worldwide Gross: $622.7 million
Domestic Gross: $216.6 million
Overseas Gross: $406 million
The Ant-Man sequel reunited Scott Lang with Hope van Dyne, the Wasp, as the pair confront threats tied to the quantum realm and attempt to rescue Hope’s mother. Ant-Man and the Wasp outperformed its predecessor with $622.7 million worldwide.
17. Iron Man 2
Marvel Studios
Year: 2010
Worldwide Gross: $623.9 million
Domestic Gross: $312.4 million
Overseas Gross: $311.5 million
Iron Man returned in 2010, this time confronting corporate rival Justin Hammer and the Russian inventor Ivan Vanko. The sequel expanded the world-building begun in the first film and earned $623.9 million worldwide.
16. Thor: The Dark World
Walt Disney Studios
Year: 2013
Worldwide Gross: $644.6 million
Domestic Gross: $206.4 million
Overseas Gross: $438.2 million
The Dark World follows Thor as he faces a threat from Malekith, leader of the Dark Elves, during a rare cosmic alignment. Though darker in tone than the first Thor, the sequel grossed $644.6 million worldwide.
15. Doctor Strange
Walt Disney Studios / Marvel Studios
Year: 2016
Worldwide Gross: $677.7 million
Domestic Gross: $232.6 million
Overseas Gross: $445.1 million
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Dr. Stephen Strange, a brilliant neurosurgeon who becomes a master of the mystic arts after a life-altering accident. The film introduced a new, mystical corner of the MCU and achieved $677.7 million at the global box office.
14. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Marvel Studios
Year: 2014
Worldwide Gross: $714.3 million
Domestic Gross: $259.8 million
Overseas Gross: $454.5 million
Captain America: The Winter Soldier blends superhero action with espionage, as Captain America, Black Widow and Falcon uncover Hydra infiltration within S.H.I.E.L.D. The film was critically acclaimed and grossed $714.3 million worldwide.
13. Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel Studios
Year: 2014
Worldwide Gross: $773.3 million
Domestic Gross: $333.2 million
Overseas Gross: $440.2 million
Guardians of the Galaxy introduced a ragtag team led by Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) who, along with Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot, become reluctant heroes while protecting a powerful orb containing an Infinity Stone. Its humor, soundtrack and fresh tone helped the film earn $773.3 million worldwide.
12. Thor: Ragnarok
Disney Studios / Marvel Studios
Year: 2017
Worldwide Gross: $854 million
Domestic Gross: $315.1 million
Overseas Gross: $538.9 million
Thor: Ragnarok reimagined Thor’s adventures with a bolder, comedic tone while introducing Hela as a powerful antagonist. The energetic direction and expanded character dynamics helped the film surpass previous Thor entries, earning $854 million worldwide.
11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Disney Studios / Marvel Studios
Year: 2017
Worldwide Gross: $863.8 million
Domestic Gross: $389.8 million
Overseas Gross: $473.9 million
The Guardians returned in a sequel that explored family, identity and the team’s dynamics while delivering more cosmic action and humor. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 earned $863.8 million worldwide.
10. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Sony Pictures / Marvel Studios
Year: 2017
Worldwide Gross: $880.2 million
Domestic Gross: $334.2 million
Overseas Gross: $546 million
Spider-Man: Homecoming marked Spider-Man’s formal entry into the MCU with Tom Holland as Peter Parker and Tony Stark acting as a mentor. Balancing teen comedy with superhero action, the film grossed $880.2 million worldwide.
9. Spider-Man: Far from Home
Sony Pictures
Year: 2019
Worldwide Gross: $970.8 million
Domestic Gross: $319.7 million
Overseas Gross: $651.1 million
Set in the post-Endgame world, Spider-Man: Far from Home follows Peter Parker on a school trip to Europe that quickly turns into a battle against new threats. The film’s blend of humor and emotional stakes helped it approach the billion-dollar mark.
8. Captain Marvel
Marvel Studios
Year: 2019
Worldwide Gross: $1.13 billion (and counting)
Domestic Gross: $426.8 million
Overseas Gross: $791.4 million
Captain Marvel tells the origin of Carol Danvers and ties directly into events hinted at in Avengers: Infinity War. The film opened strongly and went on to exceed $1 billion worldwide, becoming one of the franchise’s major box-office successes.
7. Captain America: Civil War
Marvel Studios
Year: 2016
Worldwide Gross: $1.15 billion
Domestic Gross: $408.1 million
Overseas Gross: $745.2 million
Civil War pits heroes against each other after the Sokovia Accords impose oversight on the Avengers. With large-scale action and the addition of new characters like Black Panther and Spider-Man, the film became a massive hit, grossing $1.15 billion worldwide.
6. Iron Man 3
Marvel Studios
Year: 2013
Worldwide Gross: $1.214 billion
Domestic Gross: $409 million
Overseas Gross: $805.8 million
Iron Man 3 explores Tony Stark’s trauma after the Battle of New York, showing a more vulnerable side of the character as he faces the Mandarin and a series of personal threats. The film became a box-office juggernaut with $1.214 billion worldwide.
5. Black Panther
Disney Studios / Marvel Studios
Year: 2018
Worldwide Gross: $1.35 billion
Domestic Gross: $700.1 million
Overseas Gross: $646.9 million
Black Panther centers on T’Challa, the new king of Wakanda, who must defend his throne and his nation against challengers including Killmonger. Praised for its cultural impact and storytelling, the film grossed $1.35 billion worldwide and ranked among the highest earners of 2018.
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Marvel Studios
Year: 2015
Worldwide Gross: $1.41 billion
Domestic Gross: $459 million
Overseas Gross: $946.4 million
The Avengers reunite to face Ultron, an artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner that turns against humanity. The film introduced key characters like Wanda Maximoff and Vision and earned $1.41 billion worldwide.
3. The Avengers
Marvel Studios
Year: 2012
Worldwide Gross: $1.52 billion
Domestic Gross: $623.4 million
Overseas Gross: $895.5 million
The Avengers united for the first time to stop Loki and an alien invasion centered on the Tesseract. The film’s team-up spectacle and cultural impact propelled it to $1.52 billion worldwide, solidifying the MCU’s blockbuster status.
2. Avengers: Infinity War
Marvel Studios
Year: 2018
Worldwide Gross: $2 billion
Domestic Gross: $678.8 million
Overseas Gross: $1.4 billion
Caution: Spoilers below.
Infinity War brought together an unprecedented roster—Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange and Spider-Man—to stop Thanos from collecting all six Infinity Stones. The film’s high stakes and shocking climax made it one of the highest-grossing films in history with $2 billion worldwide.
1. Avengers: Endgame
Marvel Studios
Year: 2019
Worldwide Gross: $2,790,200,000 (and counting)
Domestic Gross: $854,200,000
Overseas Gross: $1,936,000,000
Caution: Spoilers below.
Avengers: Endgame served as the culmination of more than a decade of interconnected storytelling. After Thanos’ snap eliminated half of all life, the remaining heroes staged a desperate and emotional comeback. The film shattered box-office records and became the highest-grossing MCU release, raking in nearly $2.8 billion worldwide.