With the superhero movie genre being so huge thanks to the MCU and DCU, sleeper hits are hard to come by. Sleeper hits are defined as movies that were initially unsuccessful but later gained popularity after their initial release. This can either translate to overall sentiments surrounding the movie, which improve with retrospect, or financial success after the movie hits home media following a box office bomb.

Suffice it to say, superhero movies within such franchises as the MCU are typically afforded chart-topping opening weekends that can then go one of two ways. For the most part, MCU movies are relatively bankable, with the franchise even boasting the second-highest-grossing movie of all time with Avengers: Endgame. Outside this gargantuan franchise, however, are a handful of superhero movies that initially fell at the first hurdle, only to make a stunning comeback, including the following (with box office figures provided by The Numbers).

8

Dredd Is A Cult Classic

$41,467,606 Worldwide Gross

Judge Dredd is a lesser-known character originating in a self-тιтled series published by IPC Comics, so a live-action adaptation was always going to trail behind the more famous characters of Marvel and DC. Following the maligned 1995 adaptation starring Sylvester Stallone in what is largely believed to be his worst ever role, the 2012 reboot starring Karl Urban was on even more of a back foot. The movie sadly flopped on release, banking just $41 million worldwide against a reported budget of $45 million.

Nevertheless, Dredd earned a cult following after its theatrical run, with fans lavishing praise on its visual effects and Karl Urban’s comics-accurate portrayal, in particular. Dredd subsequently thrived on home media, and although the subpar box office initially quashed the potential for a sequel, a post-release fervor among newfound fans spurred the announcement of a spin-off series. Unfortunately, development stagnated during the pandemic, with little to no updates on the Dredd sequel series since.

7

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Was Surprisingly Unsuccessful

$49,379,547 Worldwide Gross

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was praised for its transmedia narrative, blending the aesthetics of comic book pages and video games on the big screen. It earned widespread acclaim for its unique approach, but bombed at the box office nonetheless. Against a reported budget of $85 million, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World earned just $49 million worldwide.

The movie grossed more than half its worldwide box office again via home media sales, raking in another $30 million. It now remains a critically acclaimed favorite among comic book movie fans and even received an animated spinoff series in 2023, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, in which all the original ensemble cast reprise their roles. Taking their willingness to return as a sign of faith in the IP, it’s safe to say that Scott Pilgrim vs the World’s initial failures have been tempered.

6

Hulk Is Retrospectively Celebrated

$245,031,679 Worldwide Gross

Hulk was released at a time when superhero movies were still finding their footing in 2003. While it didn’t bomb at the box office, earning a respectable $245 million worldwide, Hulk earned middling reviews at the time, with critics taking aim at its unusual editing and sluggish narrative. While it didn’t draw nearly as much ire as the likes of Daredevil or Catwoman, it was a far cry from the critically acclaimed Spider-Man and X2.

Nevertheless, time has been kind to Hulk. In a landscape now dominated by the MCU and its recognizable formula for superhero movies, Hulk thrives as a retrospectively fresh take on the genre. With the MCU struggling to do its version of the Hulk the justice he deserves, Hulk‘s focus on Bruce Banner’s trauma and impossibly strained relationship with his father has led some to view this movie as a more definitive take on the character.

5

Constantine Is Receiving A Sequel Over Two Decades Later

$221,593,554 Worldwide Gross

Like Hulk, Constantine was released in the mid-2000s at a time when superhero movies were rife but generally touch-and-go. While Batman Begins won critics over with its dark and grounded take on the Caped Crusader in 2005, the action noir Constantine didn’t fare so well. Instead, Constantine drew criticism for being slightly too silly, with comic book aficionados considering Keanu Reeves to be miscast.

Also like Hulk, Constantine is now viewed more generously through the lens of modern comic book movie adaptations. The uniquely atmospheric aesthetics contrast the more garish themes of today’s most successful superhero movies. The cult following has grown so large, in fact, that a sequel is currently in development 20 years after the original movie’s release, with the latest update on Constantine 2 being that scripts are in the works.

4

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Was Only Given A Last-Minute Theatrical Release

$5,697,562 Worldwide Gross

Animated superhero movies don’t tend to perform as well their live-action counterparts financially, but Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was particularly underwhelming when first released. The feature-length spinoff of the celebrated Batman: The Animated Series was largely well-received by critics, although the decision to give it a theatrical release instead of going direct-to-video at the eleventh hour hampered its chances. As a result, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm earned just $5.6 million worldwide.

Nevertheless, its widespread acclaim has since secured its place in the superhero movie hall of fame. It has since enjoyed success on home media platforms, with The Numbers reporting an estimated $1.3 million in sales as of September 2023. This is likely thanks to the fact that Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is regularly cited as a definitive Batman story and necessary viewing for any Batman fan looking to get the most from his sprawling media presence.

3

Spider-Man 3 Has Been Reinvigorated By Memes

$895,937,268 Worldwide Gross

Looking to capitalize on the dizzying success of Spider-Man 2, a movie often cited as one of the best superhero sequels (and superhero movies) of all time, Spider-Man 3 released in 2007 with a little too much ambition. The movie was a fall from grace for the franchise that won countless people over on the superhero genre as it threw three villains into the mix, contrasting its more focussed single-villain predecessors. Venom, in particular, felt shoehorned and mishandled, with director Sam Raimi going on to lament being pressured into including the popular villain.

Nevertheless, after the dust settled, fans now view Spider-Man 3 with nostalgic reverence. While sweetened sentiments are often rooted in the prolific Spider-Man 3 memes that often spotlight “Bully Maguire,” Spider-Man 3 is still regarded as an important part of the acclaimed trilogy. Now, Spider-Man 3 is regarded as one of the foremost underrated superhero movies, which reactions to Tobey Maguire’s reprisal of the Peter Parker role in Spider-Man: No Way Home can attest to.

2

The Suicide Squad Is The DCEU’s Best-Rated Movie

$168,717,425 Worldwide Gross

The Suicide Squad is the DCEU’s third-lowest-grossing movie, with a global box office of just $169 million. Several factors worked against the movie, including the tarnished reputation of the тιтular team following the critical failure of Suicide Squad in 2016. It was also hampered by its release date, debuting in the midst of a global pandemic that at best dissuaded cinemagoers from attending theaters, and at worst outright prohibited them.

Nevertheless, The Suicide Squad is often celebrated as the best movie in the DCEU. After its suboptimal theatrical release, The Suicide Squad enjoyed success on streaming platforms like HBO Max, becoming its best-performing feature of the year. The lower-than-hoped box office also didn’t deter Warner Bros. from greenlighting the acclaimed spinoff series, Peacemaker, with Peacemaker season 2 en route for summer 2025 as the first DCEU property to survive the switch to the DCU.

1

Ant-Man’s Opening Weekend Wasn’t Great

$518,858,449 Worldwide Gross

Ant-Man was released at a time when Marvel Studios’ risks were liable to pay off. As Iron Man proved in 2008, lesser-known superheroes weren’t precluded from box office success, with subsequent Infinity Saga movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and even Thor carrying that torch. Nevertheless, Ant-Man started out on shaky foundations, earning $55 million in its opening weekend, the second-lowest in the MCU at the time and the third-lowest to date.

Ant-Man‘s quality shone through, however, causing the movie to rake in $519 million globally by the end of its theatrical run. Audiences and critics were particularly won over by Paul Rudd’s portrayal of Scott Lang, with the actor’s comedy chops shining through to make Ant-Man one of the most relatable and funniest MCU superheroes. This helped Ant-Man and the Wasp to gross over $100 million more than its predecessor, though the threequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania sadly ended his first trilogy on a bum note, with poor reviews and a $476 million global take.

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  Marvel Cinematic Universe

  Created by

  Kevin Feige

  First Film

  Iron Man

  First TV Show

  Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

  Cast

  Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors

  Upcoming Films

  ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars

  Upcoming TV Shows

  Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Wakanda, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, Vision Quest

  The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.

  
  

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  DC Universe

  Created by

  Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson

  First Film

  Man of Steel

  First TV Show

  Peacemaker

  Cast

  Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena

  Movie(s)

  Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold

  Character(s)

  Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, ᴅᴇᴀᴅsH๏τ, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam

  The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.

  
  

  
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