The year 2025 has proven to be a pivotal and exciting year for the two biggest superhero entertainment giants—Marvel and DC. After years of fluctuating fortunes and cinematic experimentation, both Marvel Studios and DC Studios are competing fiercely across movies, TV series, and comics. This article breaks down the success, sales, and viewer feedback for both universes in 2025 to answer the burning question: Who is winning in 2025?
Movies: Box Office, Reception, and Releases
Marvel Movies in 2025
Marvel Studios launched a strong slate in 2025, headlined by:
- Captain America: Brave New World (February 2025)
- Thunderbolts (May 2025)*
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 2025)
- Blade (November 2025) (initially planned but later replaced on the schedule)
- Ironheart (series, premiered mid-year, tied to MCU but also partially cinematic in scope)
Despite this robust line-up, the Marvel box office faced tough competition. Thunderbolts closed with a worldwide gross of approximately $382 million, making it the lowest-grossing major superhero film of the year but still a solid performer given its moderate budget. The Fantastic Four: First Steps reintroduced this iconic team with a fresh origin story and was well-received for setting up future MCU arcs.
DC Movies in 2025
DC Studios kicked off its ambitious Chapter One: Gods and Monsters universe with a high-profile release of:
- Superman (July 2025)
The Superman reboot starring David Corenswet impressed both critics and fans, earning an 83% critical rating and a 90% fan score. It grossed $615 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing superhero movie of 2025 and a commercial success that signaled DC’s rise. The film avoided a typical origin story, focusing instead on a young Clark Kent navigating life and challenges, which resonated well with audiences.
Series: Streaming Success and Viewer Ratings
Marvel Series in 2025
Marvel’s TV presence remained strong with:
- Ironheart (premiered June 24, 2025)
- Daredevil: Born Again (launched March 2025)
- Upcoming series included Marvel Zombies and Wonder Man scheduled later in the year.
Ironheart received positive attention for its engaging mix of technology and magic themes and connected well with audiences familiar with MCU lore. Daredevil: Born Again was praised for its mature storytelling and ties to previous Marvel Netflix series. Marvel’s streaming shows maintained about a 31.5% preference share according to recent viewer surveys and enjoy a loyal fanbase.
DC Series in 2025
DC’s TV efforts included:
- Peacemaker Season 2 (continuing James Gunn’s vision)
- Animated and live-action series like Batman and upcoming projects for Supergirl and others slated for 2026.
While DC’s shows are rated slightly lower in popular viewer surveys (around 10.4% preference only according to Rotten Tomatoes data), James Gunn’s involvement has boosted quality and fan anticipation for upcoming series. Peacemaker Season 2 was notably successful with a distinct blend of humor and action.
Comics: Sales Trends and Top Sellers
2025 saw vibrant comic book sales with contrasting strengths:
Marvel Comics dominated the Top 100 comic books with 51 titles, particularly through their “Ultimate” series and event-driven narratives like Fantastic Four #1 which had a monster debut. Other top sellers included Ultimate Wolverine and cosmic titles like Death of the Silver Surfer #2. However, Marvel’s overall market share showed a slight decline compared to previous years.
DC Comics experienced notable growth, bringing 35 titles into the Top 100, up from 24 in 2024. Their success is largely driven by the high-quality collector’s editions in the “Absolute” line, featuring titles such as Absolute Batman #8, Absolute Superman #7, and Absolute Flash #3. DC’s crossover events like Batman Hush 2 greatly contributed to the sales boost. The absolute editions targeted serious collectors and fans, creating strong sales momentum.
Overall Market and Critical View
- The U.S. comic book market was estimated to be worth $1.23 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $2.17 billion by 2030, with both Marvel and DC pushing for growth through diversification across digital, physical, and collectible editions.
- Regarding box office and streaming, DC energized its brand with the Superman movie, clinching the top spot in box office revenue despite Marvel’s multiple releases, which were critically successful but less lucrative commercially.
- Viewer surveys emphasize a slight edge for Marvel in TV preferences but show DC gaining traction potentially for the first time in years.
Conclusion
In 2025, DC clinched the box office victory primarily thanks to Superman, the flagship film of its new interconnected universe, backed by solid critical and fan acclaim. Marvel, while releasing multiple films and popular TV series, experienced mixed box office success but maintained strong loyalty across streaming and comics. Comics sales paint a competitive picture with Marvel leading in quantity yet offset by DC’s high-value collector editions boosting revenue and market presence.
Thus, the 2025 showdown reveals a close race: DC leads in cinematic box office and collector-focused comics, while Marvel dominates in series viewership and breadth of comic titles. Both universes are strengthening their foundations for the future, making 2025 one of the most exciting and balanced years for superhero fandom in recent memory.
