The age-old rivalry between Marvel and DC Comics has once again taken center stage at the global box office, as fans flock to theaters to support two blockbuster superhero films: Marvel’s Fantastic Four and DC’s Superman. The friendly competition between the two comic giants has sparked excitement among fans, reigniting decades of passion and debate over which universe reigns supreme.
Comic-Con attendees in San Diego have fully embraced the showdown. Danielle Stroski, 42, arrived dressed as Mystique from X-Men and proudly voiced her allegiance to Marvel. “Well, clearly I’m a Marvel fan,” she said. “But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some Superman as well. And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it’s going to be close. But I got to go Marvel.”
Meanwhile, DC loyalists are standing firmly by Superman. Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, has already seen the film multiple times and praised director James Gunn’s hopeful and fresh take on the iconic character. Gunn, now co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, is spearheading a new era for the franchise, with several new projects already in development—including a Supergirl movie expected in 2026 and a Swamp Thing film.
Filmmakers are championing the idea of unity rather than rivalry. Matt Shakman, director of Fantastic Four: First Steps, expressed his excitement about both films releasing within the same month. “I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we’re building. There’s room for Superman, there’s room for Fantastic Four. Go see both.”
Released on July 11, Superman stars David Corenswet in the role of the Man of Steel and has already grossed approximately $437 million globally. On the other hand, Fantastic Four, led by Pedro Pascal, earned an estimated $106.2 million in its opening weekend, with $57 million domestically and $49.2 million internationally.
While the numbers tell part of the story, the real win lies in fans celebrating their favorite heroes and discovering new ones—because in the ever-expanding universe of superheroes, there’s always room for more adventure.
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