Top-Grossing Marvel Movies of All Time

Comic books adapted into films and television series are nothing new. Marvel is one of the dominant forces that routinely turns its most famous comic book storylines into big-screen and small-screen productions (the other major player being DC Comics). Over the years Marvel’s output has ranged from massive hits like Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004) to notable flops such as Elektra (2005) and Punisher: War Zone (2008).

Everything shifted in 2008 with the launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): a series of interconnected films featuring characters who coexist in the same world and occasionally team up as the Avengers. The response was immediate and enthusiastic, ushering in a new era of high-grossing superhero cinema.

The franchise has continued to expand and succeed. In 2019 alone, the MCU released Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Below is a ranking of MCU movies by worldwide box office gross, from lowest to highest. Box office figures are from Box Office Mojo and are not adjusted for inflation.

23. The Incredible Hulk

Year: 2008

Worldwide Gross: $263.4 million

Domestic Gross: $134.8 million

Overseas Gross: $128.6 million

In 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, Edward Norton portrayed scientist Bruce Banner, though later installments of the MCU would cast Mark Ruffalo in the role. Released a month after Iron Man, Hulk received more mixed reviews and earned a comparatively modest $263.4 million worldwide—roughly half of Iron Man’s total. Still, combined with Iron Man, Marvel ended 2008 with nearly $800 million in box office receipts, a strong start for the MCU.

Note: Box-office numbers are through July 2019.

22. Captain America: The First Avenger

Year: 2011

Worldwide Gross: $370.6 million

Domestic Gross: $176.7 million

Overseas Gross: $193.9 million

Released on July 22, 2011, Captain America: The First Avenger was the fifth MCU film. The story follows Steve Rogers’ transformation from a frail, rejected recruit into the super-soldier Captain America as he fights Red Skull and Hydra. Despite a notable cast—including Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson—the film earned $370.6 million worldwide.

21. Thor

Year: 2011

Worldwide Gross: $449.3 million

Domestic Gross: $181 million

Overseas Gross: $268.3 million

Chris Hemsworth’s MCU debut as Thor arrived in 2011. The film follows the Norse god as he is stripped of his powers and cast to Earth after a reckless battle damages relations between Asgard and the Frost Giants. Thor earned $449.3 million worldwide and marked the last MCU release to miss the $500 million benchmark for several years.

20. Ant-Man

Year: 2015

Worldwide Gross: $519.3 million

Domestic Gross: $180.2 million

Overseas Gross: $339.1 million

Ant-Man stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, a reformed petty criminal who takes on a suit that shrinks him to the size of an insect while increasing his strength. Though the hero is small, Ant-Man performed solidly at the box office, earning $519.3 million worldwide.

19. Iron Man

Year: 2008

Worldwide Gross: $585.2 million

Domestic Gross: $318.4 million

Overseas Gross: $266.8 million

Iron Man officially launched the MCU on May 2, 2008, with Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. The film charts Stark’s transformation from brilliant industrialist into armored superhero. Iron Man’s success—$585.2 million worldwide—set the foundation for the decade-long expansion of the shared universe.

18. Ant-Man and the Wasp

Year: 2018

Worldwide Gross: $622.7 million

Domestic Gross: $216.6 million

Overseas Gross: $406 million

The 2018 sequel reunited Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man with Evangeline Lilly’s Wasp as the duo works to rescue the Wasp’s mother from the Quantum Realm. Ant-Man and the Wasp expanded on the original’s charm and grossed $622.7 million worldwide.

17. Iron Man 2

Year: 2010

Worldwide Gross: $623.9 million

Domestic Gross: $312.4 million

Overseas Gross: $311.5 million

Iron Man 2 returned Robert Downey Jr. to the suit as Tony Stark resists calls to militarize his technology, while rivals like Justin Hammer and Ivan Vanko challenge him. The sequel earned $623.9 million globally.

16. Thor: The Dark World

Year: 2013

Worldwide Gross: $644.6 million

Domestic Gross: $206.4 million

Overseas Gross: $438.2 million

The 2013 sequel explores Thor’s attempts to stop the Dark Elf Malekith from using the powerful Aether during a rare alignment of the Nine Realms. Thor: The Dark World earned $644.6 million worldwide.

15. Doctor Strange

Year: 2016

Worldwide Gross: $677.7 million

Domestic Gross: $232.6 million

Overseas Gross: $445.1 million

Doctor Strange introduced Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange, a neurosurgeon who becomes a master of the mystic arts after a debilitating car accident. The film’s magical visuals and fresh tone helped it bring in $677.7 million worldwide.

14. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Year: 2014

Worldwide Gross: $714.3 million

Domestic Gross: $259.8 million

Overseas Gross: $454.5 million

Captain America: The Winter Soldier follows Steve Rogers, Black Widow and Falcon as they uncover Hydra infiltration within S.H.I.E.L.D., and confront the mysterious Winter Soldier. The film earned $714.3 million and was widely praised for its political-thriller tone.

13. Guardians of the Galaxy

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) along with Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot. The film’s humor, soundtrack and heart connected with audiences worldwide, resulting in $773.3 million in box office revenue.

12. Thor: Ragnarok

Year: 2017

Worldwide Gross: $854 million

Domestic Gross: $315.1 million

Overseas Gross: $538.9 million

Thor: Ragnarok refreshed the Thor franchise with a bolder comedic approach, following Thor and Loki as they face the return of Hela and the destruction of Asgard. The film earned $854 million worldwide.

11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Year: 2017

Worldwide Gross: $863.8 million

Domestic Gross: $389.8 million

Overseas Gross: $473.9 million

Volume 2 explores the Guardians’ evolving family dynamics and a conflict with the Sovereign. The sequel continued the original’s mix of humor and emotion, grossing $863.8 million worldwide.

10. Spider-Man: Homecoming

Year: 2017

Worldwide Gross: $880.2 million

Domestic Gross: $334.2 million

Overseas Gross: $546 million

Spider-Man: Homecoming integrates Tom Holland’s Peter Parker into the MCU, with Tony Stark serving as mentor. The film balances high-school antics with superhero stakes and earned $880.2 million worldwide.

9. Spider-Man: Far from Home

Year: 2019

Worldwide Gross: $970.8 million

Domestic Gross: $319.7 million

Overseas Gross: $651.1 million

Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, Far from Home follows Peter Parker on a European trip that turns dangerous when new threats emerge. The film climbed the list quickly, earning $970.8 million worldwide.

8. Captain Marvel

Year: 2019

Worldwide Gross: $1.13 billion (and counting)

Domestic Gross: $426.8 million

Overseas Gross: $791.4 million

Captain Marvel takes audiences back to 1995 to tell the origin of Carol Danvers, the powerful hero teased at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. The film opened strongly and went on to earn over $1.13 billion worldwide.

7. Captain America: Civil War

Marvel Studios / IMDB

Year: 2016

Worldwide Gross: $1.15 billion

Domestic Gross: $408.1 million

Overseas Gross: $745.2 million

Captain America: Civil War pits heroes against one another after the Sokovia Accords introduce government oversight of the Avengers. The resulting rift divides the team and brings Ant-Man and Spider-Man into the conflict. The film reached $1.15 billion worldwide and ranked among the year’s top earners.

6. Iron Man 3

Year: 2013

Worldwide Gross: $1.214 billion

Domestic Gross: $409 million

Overseas Gross: $805.8 million

Iron Man 3 explores Tony Stark’s trauma and the consequences of his superhero life, introducing new antagonists and an arsenal of suits. The film was a blockbuster, earning $1.214 billion worldwide.

5. Black Panther

Year: 2018

Worldwide Gross: $1.35 billion

Domestic Gross: $700.1 million

Overseas Gross: $646.9 million

Black Panther follows T’Challa as he assumes the throne of Wakanda and defends his nation from challengers, including Erik “Killmonger” Stevens. The film was both a cultural phenomenon and a box office juggernaut, earning $1.35 billion worldwide and ranking among the top films of 2018.

4. Avengers: Age of Ultron

Year: 2015

Worldwide Gross: $1.41 billion

Domestic Gross: $459 million

Overseas Gross: $946.4 million

Avengers: Age of Ultron brings the team together to face the rogue AI Ultron and introduces characters like Wanda Maximoff and Vision. While the film is the lowest-grossing Avengers entry, it still pulled in an impressive $1.41 billion worldwide.

3. The Avengers

Year: 2012

Worldwide Gross: $1.52 billion

Domestic Gross: $623.4 million

Overseas Gross: $895.5 million

The Avengers united Marvel’s main heroes to stop Loki and the Chitauri invasion of Earth. As the team’s breakout ensemble film, The Avengers earned $1.52 billion worldwide and established the blueprint for future crossover events.

2. Avengers: Infinity War

Year: 2018

Worldwide Gross: $2 billion

Domestic Gross: $678.8 million

Overseas Gross: $1.4 billion

Caution: Spoilers below.

Infinity War assembled an unprecedented roster of heroes to stop Thanos from collecting all six Infinity Stones. The stakes culminate in a shocking finale that reshaped the MCU. The film grossed $2 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films in the franchise.

1. Avengers: Endgame

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 an expansive storyline built across more than a decade of films. After Thanos’ snap wiped out half of all life, the remaining heroes regrouped for a final, epic effort to undo the devastation. Endgame shattered box office records and quickly became the highest-grossing film in the MCU at the time of its release.