Superhero statistics
Updated
- The last two years saw more new superhero movies than any other year. This trend seems to be far from cooling down, as even more have been confirmed for 2018.
Year Movies Series 1950 1951 Superman and the Mole Men 1952 Adventures of Superman 1953 Adventures of Superman 1954 Stamp Day for Superman Adventures of Superman 1955 Adventures of Superman 1956 Adventures of Superman 1957 Adventures of Superman 1958 The Sign of Zorro Adventures of Superman 1959 Zorro the Avenger 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 Batman Batman
The New Adventures of Superman
The Adventures of Superboy
The Marvel Super Heroes1967 Batman
The New Adventures of Superman
The Adventures of Superboy
The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure
Fantastic Four
Spider-Man1968 Batman
The New Adventures of Superman
The Adventures of Superboy
The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure
Aquaman
The Batman/Superman Hour
The Adventures of Batman
Fantastic Four
Spider-Man1969 The New Adventures of Superman
The Adventures of Superboy
Aquaman
The Batman/Superman Hour
The Adventures of Batman
Spider-Man1970 The New Adventures of Superman
Aquaman
The Adventures of Batman
Spider-Man1971 1972 1973 Super Friends 1974 The Mark of Zorro Shazam!
Spidey Super Stories1975 Shazam!
Wonder Woman1976 Shazam!
Wonder Woman1977 Abar Wonder Woman
The New Adventures of Batman
The All-New Super Friends Hour
The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Incredible Hulk1978 Superman
Kiss Meets the Phantom of the ParkWonder Woman
The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour
Challenge of the Super Friends
Batman and the Super 7
Spider-Man
The New Fantastic Four1979 Wonder Woman
Batman and the Super 8
The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show
The World’s Greatest Super Friends
Fred and Barney Meet The Thing
Spider-Woman1980 Superman II
Hero at Large
Flash GordonBatman and the Super 10
The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show
Super Friends
Spider-Woman1981 Condorman
Zorro
The Gay BladeThe Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show
Super Friends
The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!
Spider-Man
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends1982 Super Friends
The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!
Spider-Man
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
The Incredible Hulk1983 Superman III Super Friends
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
The Incredible Hulk1984 Supergirl
The Toxic AvengerSuper Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show 1985 The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians 1986 Howard the Duck 1987 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
RoboCop
The Spirit1988 Superboy
Superman1989 The Return of Swamp Thing
Batman
The Toxic Avenger Part II
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of ToxieSuperboy 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
RoboCop 2
Darkman
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.Superboy
Swamp Thing: The Series
The Flash
Swamp Thing1991 The Guyver
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
The RocketeerSuperboy
Swamp Thing: The Series
The Flash
Swamp Thing1992 Batman Returns
Doctor MordridSuperboy
Swamp Thing: The Series
Human Target
Batman: The Animated Series
X-Men1993 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
The Meteor Man
RoboCop 3Swamp Thing: The Series
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Batman: The Animated Series
X-Men1994 Guyver: Dark Hero
The Crow
Timecop
The Shadow
The Mask
BlankmanLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Batman: The Animated Series
X-Men
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
Iron Man
Spider-Man1995 Batman Forever
Tank Girl
Darkman II: The Return of Durant
Judge Dredd
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Black ScorpionLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Batman: The Animated Series
The Superman/Batman Adventures
X-Men
Spider-Man1996 The Phantom
Barb Wire
Darkman III: Die Darkman Die
The Crow: City of AngelsLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
The Superman/Batman Adventures
Superman: The Animated Series
X-Men
Spider-Man
The Incredible Hulk1997 Batman & Robin
Steel
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie
Black Scorpion II: Aftershock
Spawn
OrgazmoLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
The Superman/Batman Adventures
Superman: The Animated Series
The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman/Superman Adventures
X-Men
Spider-Man
The Incredible Hulk1998 Blade
Star Kid
The Mask of ZorroSuperman: The Animated Series
The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman/Superman Adventures
Spider-Man
Silver Surfer1999 Mystery Men Superman: The Animated Series
The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman/Superman Adventures
Batman Beyond
Spider-Man Unlimited
The Avengers: United They Stand2000 X-Men
The Crow: Salvation
Knights of Justice
Witchblade
The Specials
Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV
UnbreakableSuperman: The Animated Series
The New Batman/Superman Adventures
Batman Beyond
Static Shock
Spider-Man Unlimited
The Avengers: United They Stand
X-Men: Evolution2001 Smallville
Batman Beyond
Static Shock
The Zeta Project
Justice League
Mutant X
Spider-Man Unlimited
X-Men: Evolution2002 Blade II
Spider-ManSmallville
Birds of Prey
Static Shock
The Zeta Project
Justice League
Mutant X
X-Men: Evolution2003 Daredevil
X-Men 2
HulkSmallville
Birds of Prey
Static Shock
Justice League
Teen Titans
Mutant X
X-Men: Evolution
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series2004 The Punisher
Spider-Man 2
Blade: Trinity
Catwoman
HellboySmallville
Static Shock
Justice League
Teen Titans
Justice League Unlimited
The Batman
Mutant X2005 Elektra
Fantastic Four
Constantine
Batman Begins
Son of the Mask
The Crow: Wicked Prayer
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D
Sky High
The Legend of ZorroSmallville
Teen Titans
Justice League Unlimited
The Batman
Krypto the Superdog2006 X-Men: The Last Stand
V for Vendetta
Superman Returns
Gargantarama
Lightspeed
My Super Ex-Girlfriend
Special
ZoomSmallville
Teen Titans
Justice League Unlimited
The Batman
Krypto the Superdog
Legion of Super Heroes
Blade: The Series
Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes2007 Ghost Rider
Spider-Man 3
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
UnderdogSmallville
The Batman
Legion of Super Heroes
Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes2008 Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk
Punisher: War Zone
The Dark Knight
Jumper
Superhero Movie
Hancock
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The SpiritSmallville
The Batman
Legion of Super Heroes
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
The Spectacular Spider-Man
Wolverine and the X-Men2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Watchmen
Push
DefendorSmallville
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
The Spectacular Spider-Man
Wolverine and the X-Men
Iron Man: Armored Adventures
The Super Hero Squad Show2010 Iron Man 2
The Losers
Jonah Hex
Super
Ghost of GargantaSmallville
Human Target
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Young Justice
Iron Man: Armored Adventures
The Super Hero Squad Show
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Marvel Anime2011 Thor
X-Men: First Class
Captain America: The First Avenger
Green Lantern
The Green Hornet
Ultra
VsSmallville
Human Target
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Green Lantern: The Animated Series
Young Justice
Iron Man: Armored Adventures
The Super Hero Squad Show
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Marvel Anime2012 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
The Avengers
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Dark Knight Rises
Chronicle
Rise of the Black Bat
Dredd
Avenging Force: The ScarabArrow
Green Lantern: The Animated Series
Young Justice
Iron Man: Armored Adventures
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Ultimate Spider-Man2013 Iron Man 3
The Wolverine
Thor: The Dark World
Man of Steel
Captain Battle: Legacy War
Super Buddies
Super ClydeArrow
Green Lantern: The Animated Series
Beware the Batman
Young Justice
Teen Titans Go!
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Ultimate Spider-Man
Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
Avengers Assemble2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Guardians of the Galaxy
Big Hero 6
RoboCop
Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesConstantine
Arrow
The Flash
The Flash
The Flash
The Flash
Gotham
Beware the Batman
Teen Titans Go!
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Ultimate Spider-Man
Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers
Avengers Assemble2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron
Ant-Man
Fantastic Four
American HeroConstantine
Arrow
iZombie
Supergirl
Teen Titans Go!
Agent Carter
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Daredevil
Jessica Jones
Ultimate Spider-Man
Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers
Avengers Assemble
Guardians of the Galaxy2016 Deadpool
Captain America: Civil War
X-Men: Apocalypse
Doctor Strange
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Batman: The Killing Joke
Suicide Squad
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Max SteelArrow
iZombie
Supergirl
Legends of Tomorrow
Lucifer
Preacher
Teen Titans Go!
Justice League Action
Agent Carter
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Daredevil
Jessica Jones
Luke Cage
Ultimate Spider-Man
Avengers Assemble
Guardians of the Galaxy2017 Logan
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Thor: Ragnarok
The Lego Batman Movie
Wonder Woman
Justice League
Split
Power RangersPowerless
Arrow
iZombie
Supergirl
Legends of Tomorrow
Lucifer
Preacher
Teen Titans Go!
Justice League Action
The Defenders
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Daredevil
Jessica Jones
Legion
Iron Fist
Inhumans
The Gifted
The Punisher
Runaways
Ultimate Spider-Man
Avengers Assemble
Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel Future Avengers
Spider-Man2018 Black Panther
The New Mutants
Avengers: Infinity War
Deadpool 2
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Venom
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Aquaman
The Incredibles 2TBC - While the two most common superheroes are DC, Marvel claims the top 16 after that. It looks like DC pours most of its efforts into its most famous superheroes, whereas Marvel has a more diverse repertoire. This also seems to be largely due to the multiple X-men films.
Movie appearances TV series appearances Aquaman 2 13 Batgirl 1 13 Batman 12 27 Beast 4 6 Black widow 4 3 Captain America 5 12 Catwoman 3 11 Cyclops 4 6 Flash 0 14 Green lantern 1 14 Hawkman 0 11 Hulk 4 19 Ice Man 4 0 Iron Man 7 14 Jean Grey 5 0 Magneto 6 0 Mystique 6 0 Robin 1 21 Rogue 4 4 Spiderman 7 15 Storm 5 6 Superman 8 25 Thor 5 11 Wolverine 7 9 Wonder woman 3 14 Xavier 6 0 Movie Worldwide box office takings Rotten Tomatoes score Ant-Man $519,311,965 82% Avengers: Age of Ultron $1,405,403,694 75% Batman $411,348,924 72% Batman & Robin $238,207,122 10% Batman Begins $374,218,673 84% Batman Forever $336,529,144 41% Batman Returns $266,822,354 81% Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice $873,260,194 27% Batman: Mask of the Phantasm $5,617,391 82% Batman: The Killing Joke $3,775,000 45% Big Hero 6 $657,818,612 89% Blade $131,183,530 54% Blade II $155,010,032 57% Blade: Trinity $128,905,366 25% Captain America: Civil War $1,153,304,495 91% Captain America: The First Avenger $370,569,774 80% Captain America: The Winter Soldier $714,264,267 89% Catwoman $82,102,379 9% Constantine $230,884,728 46% Daredevil $179,179,718 44% Deadpool $783,112,979 84% Doctor Strange $677,718,395 89% Elektra $56,681,566 10% Fantastic Four $330,579,719 27% Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer $289,047,763 37% Ghost Rider $228,738,393 26% Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance $132,563,930 17% Green Lantern $219,851,172 26% Guardians of the Galaxy $773,328,629 91% Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 $863,562,289 82% Howard the Duck $37,962,774 15% Hulk $245,360,480 61% Iron Man $585,174,222 94% Iron Man 2 $623,933,331 73% Iron Man 3 $1,214,811,252 79% Jonah Hex $10,903,312 12% Justice League $652,897,455 40% Logan $616,795,600 93% Man of Steel $668,045,518 55% Punisher: War Zone $10,100,036 27% Spider-Man $821,708,551 89% Spider-Man 2 $783,766,341 94% Spider-Man 3 $890,871,626 63% Spider-Man: Homecoming $879,885,407 92% Steel $1,710,972 12% Suicide Squad $745,600,054 26% Supergirl $14,296,438 7% Superman $300,218,018 93% Superman II $108,185,706 87% Superman III $59,950,623 26% Superman IV: The Quest for Peace $15,681,020 12% Superman Returns $391,081,192 76% The Amazing Spider-Man $757,930,663 73% The Amazing Spider-Man 2 $708,982,323 52% The Avengers $1,518,812,988 92% The Dark Knight $1,004,558,444 94% The Dark Knight Rises $1,084,939,099 87% The Incredible Hulk $263,427,551 67% The Lego Batman Movie $310,850,384 91% The Losers $29,379,723 48% The Punisher $54,700,105 29% The Return of Swamp Thing $192,816 33% The Wolverine $414,828,246 69% Thor $449,326,618 77% Thor: Ragnarok $109,086,216 92% Thor: The Dark World $644,571,402 66% V for Vendetta $132,511,035 73% Watchmen $185,258,983 64% Wonder Woman $821,646,242 92% X-Men $296,339,527 81% X-Men 2 $407,711,549 86% X-Men Origins: Wolverine $373,062,864 38% X-Men: Apocalypse $543,934,787 48% X-Men: Days of Future Past $747,862,775 91% X-Men: First Class $353,624,124 86% X-Men: The Last Stand $459,359,555 58%
Methodology
In these stats, movies and shows are counted as Marvel or DC if they are based on comic books (or characters from comic books) by that company. Only American movies and shows were taken into account. For TV shows, just those by Marvel and DC were included because the definition of “superhero” gets really hazy outside of that (some lists include Doctor Who and Sherlock). The Rotten Tomatoes scores for each film were recorded on 16 November 2017, with the exception of Justice League, as its score was not available then. It was instead taken on 2 January 2018. The box office takings of Justice League weren’t included in the calculation of DC’s average, as it came out recently so the figure may not be final.

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Chelsea Gregori, Public Relations Specialist

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Rachel Dix-Kessler is a former public relations manager at finder.com. She's at the forefront of personal finance and trends affecting Americans, helping them to make better and more informed financial decisions.
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