The 10 Most Profitable Comic Book Movies
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $1.57 billion
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $643.6 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92 percent
Joss Whedon, already a fan favorite for his series Firefly, scored big with his tongue-in-cheek interpretation of Marvel's ultimate team of heroes. The movie's sense of humor and star-studded cast earned it plenty of repeat viewings.
Marvel Studios/Disney
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $1.23 billion
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $416.2 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 78 percent
Ask any comics fan: Iron Man is a boring character — almost spectacularly so. While stilted and dull in print form, Robert Downey Jr. lent his trademark swagger to Tony Stark's "tortured alcoholic genius" persona, leading to a renaissance for both the Iron Man character and Downey's own career. Following on from the events of "The Avengers," the latest iteration of Iron Man's saga was hated by hardcore comic nerds for its portrayal of the villain The Mandarin, but it was mostly enjoyed by people who are actually fun at parties — enough for it to outsell the other two "Iron Man" movies globally.
Marvel Studios/Disney
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $1.12 billion
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $462.7 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88 percent
While this closing movie of director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy suffered from plot holes large enough to drive a batmobile through and a near-indecipherable Tom Hardy, it still drew plenty of moviegoers.
Warner Bros/DC Comics
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $1.10 billion
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $588.9 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94 percent
"Why...So...Serious?" The late Heath Ledger's performance as the psychopathic Joker earned the second film of Nolan's trilogy bucketloads of critical acclaim in addition to the box office bucks.
Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $1.09 billion
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $487.9 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94 percent
This was the first truly successful comic book movie, notable for its markedly cheesy effects and for introducing audiences to Christopher Reeve.
Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $1.08 billion
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $532 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89 percent
Many agree that this Sam Raimi project was the catalyst that led to the resurrection of the superhero blockbuster. While Tobey Maguire's casting as the web-slinging wisecracker drew plenty of criticism, it also put plenty of bums in seats.
Marvel Studios/Columbia Pictures
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $1.02 billion
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $384.7 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 63 percent
From Topher Grace as Venom to a cringe-worthy scene featuring an Emo Peter Parker dancing down a New York City street, this was a movie plagued by bad decisions. Though it is, by far, the most critically reviled film on the list, it still managed to drag in enough people to make our list.
Marvel Studios/Columbia Pictures
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $983.6 million
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $468.9 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94 percent
Most agree that "Spider-Man 2," which pits Spidey against the villainous Doctor Octupus (played spectacularly by Alfred Molina), is the best of the original trilogy. While this consensus wasn't enough for it to beat the original in box office takings, it still takes eighth place.
Marvel Studios/Columbia Pictures
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $870.5 million
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $370.3 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91 percent
Yes, Men in Black - the goofy blockbuster featuring agents tasked with hiding extraterrestrials on Earth - is based on a comic book, a property of the now-defunct Aircel Comics. The movie adaptation, however, made significant changes from the comic, lightening the tone and removing some of the comic's more unsavory elements. For example, the comic book "Men In Black" would routinely murder witnesses rather than using the movie's now-famous "Neuralyser" memory eraser.
Columbia Pictures
Worldwide Gross (adjusted for inflation): $786.5 million
U.S. Gross (adjusted for inflation): $371 million
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 71 percent
Before Nolan and Bale there was Burton and Keaton. While the neo-noir setting of the movie was hailed as one of the film's shining features, also inspiring the world of the fantastic Batman: The Animated Series, critics panned the movie itself. The most notable qualm involves some questionable writing decisions, due in part to a 1988 strike of the Writers Guild of America.
Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics