Marvel vs DC Films

Marvel vs DC Films

Which Universe is better at making movies?

Editorial Opinion
By Potterman - Apr 13, 2011 12:04 AM EST
Filed Under: DC Comics

Marvel and DC have launched over 40 movies since 1977. Some of us are strictly fans of Marvel or DC while others are fans of both.

So the big question is who makes the better movies? (Live Action Films)

My criteria being used for who is the better movie maker comes down to 4 major items.

1. Fan reaction and reception (based on critic and fan ratings)
2. Awards (based on major awards)
3. Money made (based on gross profit)
4. My personal opinion because its my article

First looking at fan reaction and reception the best DC and Marvel movies that stand out are the following in no particular order.

DC

- Superman 1 and 2
- Batman 1 and 2 (Original)
- Batman Begins
- The Dark Knight

Marvel

- Spider-man 1 and 2
- X-Men 1 and 2
- Iron Man 1 and 2

All of these movies rated well with critics and fans alike. It also looks like the leading comic book characters (ie Spider-man/batman) of each universe did well compared to lesser known character (ie Daredevil/Jonah Hex) movies. Its hard to say which universe did better as both seem to have a strong fan base for the above films. However, it looks as though Marvel has come out with more flops than DC as the below movies are ones that were not received so well by critics and fans.

DC

- Superman 3 and 4
- Batman 3 and 4 (i wish i could have never seen these)
- Catwoman
- Jonah Hex
- Steel (any movie that has Shaq in it definitely sucks)

Marvel

- Fantastic Four 1 and 2
- Ghost Rider (Nic Cage please stop making movies)
- Elektra
- Spider Man 3 (that dance scene was absolutely horrible)
- The Punisher
- Punisher War Zone
- Blade 3
- Daredevil (Ben affleck should stick to directing)
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine
- X-Men 3

The first set of criteria seems to favor DC as both universes had around the same amount of high-rated films but Marvel came out with a lot more junk. 1 point to DC.

Moving on to awards 3 DC films have received major awards while others have been nominated. Awarding winning movies were Superman, Batman, and the Dark Knight. Currently there are 0 Marvel films that have won or been nominated. No one will forget Heath Ledgers performance in the Dark Knight. No such performance has come from a marvel movie as of yet. DC comics have also won awards and been nominated for sound, art and assorted production. None to marvel. 1 more point to DC.

The last major criteria was money made by films. The Dark Knight is obviously the second highest grossing film of all time but Marvel has had its share of blockbusters such as all 3 spiderman films. DC comes in a distant second with $2.5 billion gross revenue while Marvel has a monster $3.5 billion gross. 1 point to Marvel.

After all of that it seems that DC wins by a score of 2 to 1. My personal opinion is that i grew up a marvel fan and loved X-Men and Spidy. However, after watching the films by DC its clear they have made superior films over the past 30 years. Maybe a part of me enjoys the darker, more realistic and grittier backgrounds and themes of the DC films but thats how i feel.

Can't wait to read how many of you are going to disagree with me....

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lokisilvertongue
lokisilvertongue - 4/14/2011, 3:02 AM
i think u need 2 do a bit more research for ur article between iron man n incredible hulk marvel picked up 10 nominations for the saturn awards with iron man picking up best male actor, best director, n best sci-fi iron man has also been nominated for 2 oscars and a grammy. Iron man 2 also won a award before it was even released by picking up the most anticipated movie at the scream awards as well as multiple nominations for mtv awards and the teen choice awards
lokisilvertongue
lokisilvertongue - 4/14/2011, 3:05 AM
also 2 make the point dc had little 2 nothing to do with the films baised on their characters while marvel actually have their own film studio tht has made iron man 1 n 2 n the incredible hulk so they actually wude win this arguement as dc have never made a movie for themselves
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/14/2011, 6:11 AM
i personally think marvel make better movies,they try to get all their characters up on the screen.

unlike dc that have really only mangered to get superman,batman & just recently the green lantern.

i know not all marvels film have been good,what one person dislikes another will love.

i think tim burtons batman film is better than nolans but that my personal taste.

also superman the movie came out 78 or 79,it wasn't 77.

the dark knight is the highest grossing comic film of all time,but only the 7th biggest grossing film ever.
mawilli4
mawilli4 - 4/14/2011, 6:29 AM
if it marvel's making it, then it's probably good. if one of the other companies has the rights usually sucks, except for a couple of the movies.
CoolioVids
CoolioVids - 4/14/2011, 9:59 AM
I hate when people talk about Marvel vs DC all they say is ""Look at all the Marvel movies compared to DC" well not all those were good. I personally don't think we need to get all these heroes on the big screen in live action. Some of the animated movies can be good as the live action.
golden123
golden123 - 4/14/2011, 12:57 PM
@Lokisilvertongue: Yeah, but most people can't take the Teen Choice Awards or the Scream awards seriously. Also I've, personally, never heard of the Saturn awards and the grammies should stick to music. As for MTV everything on that channel, in my opinion, is stupid I can't imagine their awards shows being any different. Oh and the argument is about which one has the best movies not who is the most involved in their movies.
Potterman
Potterman - 4/14/2011, 4:03 PM
@golden123

thank you for saving me the time to point out that all of those awards are not MAJOR awards. When i said major I meant Academy Awards. MTV should stick to music videos and Jersey Shore. I never heard of the Saturn awards either. Also i wasn't too worried about what studio actually made the movie or who directed it. I was simply going by the label of DC or Marvel.

@CoolioVids

There has been some good animated movies as well but I felt it was better to stick to just live action. Plus it would have taken me a lot longer to research. :)

@marvel72

Thankyou for correcting my mistake. You are correct about The Dark Knight at 7. Apologies for my incorrect data. Although 4 of the movies ahead of it have come out after the Dark Knight. So at one point it did sit at 4 behind Titantic, POTC and LOTR
LP4
LP4 - 4/14/2011, 4:47 PM
I hate to admit it but Marvel is waaaaaaaaaaaay better than DC at making movies.

DC keeps fu*king up Superman badly. GL is still a bit risky...have to see how that turns out.

Batman is the only thing DC could get right.

And I'm a DC guy =(

DC did however do well with "V for Vendetta" and "Watchmen" they seem to do well with their unknown properties.

However with Geoff Johns being more involved with DC properties being brought to films lately...I have faith DC will start getting out better quality movies down the road. Geoff is already heavily involved with GL and he seems to be involved to some degree with the Superman reboot film.

GEOFF FTW!!!
golden123
golden123 - 4/14/2011, 5:52 PM
@LP4: I wouldn't say Superman I & II screwed the character. I mean, they were created in the bronze age. It isn't a good interpretation of the modern comics Superman but the bronze age was a different story.
LP4
LP4 - 4/14/2011, 6:25 PM
@golden- I was referring to modern Superman films.

Superman-Returns= total shit.

Smallville though not a film series is still utter SHIT.

Superman reboot...is rehashing Zod again.

BAD treatment for 'Big-Blue' if I must say so myself.
golden123
golden123 - 4/14/2011, 6:54 PM
@LP4: The Superman Reboot has Zod in it but they never said Zod was going to be the villain. Actually, Snyder said he wasn't going to be the villain. So unless we get confirmation that Snyder was lying we can assume Zod will just be shown on Krypton proir to it's destruction.
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 4/14/2011, 8:07 PM
No one has come close to a performance like Heath Ledger as the Joker you say for a Marvel movie? Look at Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. The guy embodies Tony Stark every bit as much as Ledger embodied the Joker.
Potterman
Potterman - 4/14/2011, 10:38 PM
@ironpool007

I agree with you that Robert Downey Jr. played Stark as well as anyone could. Very great performance. I thought he made those movies. However, it didn't win any awards and you could make the case that alot of these actors played their parts really well and did a great job of bringing their characters to life. however, under my criteria the points still go to ledger and DC based on the fact they won awards for acting. No offense to mr Downey Jr.
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 4/15/2011, 7:13 AM
Ok. I don't think awards really define a performance though. There are plenty of movies, actors, and directors that are amazing and don't even win awards and in many cases never even get nominated. I agree that Heath Ledger's portrayal was ground breaking and definitely a career defining role. If he had not won the Oscar, would you feel differently.
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 4/15/2011, 7:50 AM
And I would even go to say 2 more things.

1. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man will be rembered in the same way as Christopher Reeves will be remembered as Superman. Iron Man is going to be one of his legacy roles.
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 4/15/2011, 7:52 AM
2. Iron Man itself will be remembered along with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight as one of the movies that revitalized the comic book movie genre.
kriswone
kriswone - 4/15/2011, 11:04 AM
These comic book movies sucked, any not listed i would watch again several times.:

- Superman ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL
- Batman 3 and 4
- Catwoman
- Jonah Hex
- Steel
- Elektra
- Punisher War Zone
- Daredevil
- The Watchmen
golden123
golden123 - 4/15/2011, 1:04 PM
@Kriswone: How did Superman I and II suck.
lokisilvertongue
lokisilvertongue - 4/16/2011, 2:53 AM
ok i'll stick to academy awards, oscars, n BAFTAs
spiderman 1 - 2 nominations at the academy awards
spiderman 2 - won an academy award n nominated for a second also nominated for 2 BAFTAs
spiderman 3 - nominated for a BAFTA
iron-man 1 - nominated for 1 BAFTA, n 2 academy awards
I don't think any other movies have got any from those 3 but its still more than saying they got none
lokisilvertongue
lokisilvertongue - 4/17/2011, 1:58 AM
@soto i was only listing the marvel ones 2 make a point as he said they had none
CoolioVids
CoolioVids - 4/18/2011, 10:11 AM
Ya the academy is crap
shubham94
shubham94 - 3/15/2013, 5:40 AM
I think u have little knowledge about both of them. infact i am also a fan of both dc and marvel but marvel are way ahead on big screen then dc
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