Analyzing Marvel Vs DC Rivalry: What Does The Data Say?

An exploratory analysis of Marvel Vs DC rivalry from 1952–2020

Source: Unknown

For over 80 years, Marvel and DC have ruled the superhero world, locked in a rivalry that feels like it’s been around forever. If you are a superhero fan, chances are you’ve had that classic debate with friends: Marvel or DC? Which one is the best? Who’s got the coolest heroes? And seriously, why does Batman keep getting rebooted every couple of years?

Both companies have given us iconic characters. Whether you are into Spider-Man’s high-flying, web-slinging actions or Batman’s dark and moody crime-fighting, it’s hard not to get swept up in the battle between these two superhero titans. They aren’t just powerful, they are human. They have flaws, emotions and real struggles, which makes them so relatable and keeps us hooked.

Marvel and DC, often referred to as “the big two,” have been going head-to-head for market dominance, not just in comics but across TV, movies, and games. And while their rivalry has shaped pop culture, it’s mostly been a friendly competition — each pushing the other to create better stories and bigger moments.

But like Coke and Pepsi, most of us tend to have a favourite. The debates between Marvel and DC fans never seem to end, and it really comes down to who you ask — because both camps have some seriously passionate followers.

So, let’s cut through the fan chatter and look into the facts. No opinions, no bias — just cold, hard data.
Grab your popcorn, throw on your favourite superhero t-shirt, and let’s see what the numbers say about the Marvel vs. DC showdown.

Here are some burning questions I tackled:

• Who is dominating which movie genres?
• Which brand boasts the highest-grossing blockbusters?
• Who is putting out more films, and how are they rated?
• Which brand keeps you glued to your screen for a long time?
• What kind of audience are they appealing to?
• And lastly, which directors are laughing all the way to the bank?

So, let’s get started.

Who’s dominating which movie genres?

Marvel reigns supreme when it comes to Sci-Fi, Comedy, and Drama. They’ve got the wise-cracking heroes like Iron Man and Deadpool, delivering laughs alongside epic action scenes. Meanwhile, DC is dominating in Animation, Short Films, and Documentaries. If you’re a fan of high-quality superhero animation, DC is definitely your go-to.

It’s pretty clear — Marvel’s got you covered if you want some laughs and intense, action-packed storytelling, while DC is your best bet for animated adventures and deeper dives into superhero lore.

Which brand boasts the highest-grossing blockbusters?

It’s no surprise that Marvel dominates when it comes to box office numbers.
Avengers: Endgame raked in a massive $854 million, and Black Panther wasn’t far behind with $700 million. These heavyweights are hard to beat. DC has some solid contenders though — The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises performed really well, but they still couldn’t dethrone Marvel’s champs.
As for the lower end of the spectrum… well, sorry DC fans, but your movies are taking up most of the bottom slots on that list.

So, who has the most yearly gross?

Marvel’s box office dominance over DC is crystal clear. If you look at the graph, you’ll notice that DC had some decent runs back in the day, but once Marvel started cranking out movies, the game completely changed.

Marvel didn’t even show up until after 2008, and once they did, they soared, with a total gross of $1.39 billion in 2019 alone. Avengers: Endgame played a huge part in that. On the other hand, DC has been pretty steady but nowhere near Marvel’s box office behemoth status. Their peak was around $534M in 2008, thanks to The Dark Knight.

Who’s putting out more films, and how are they rated?

At first glance, it’s clear that Marvel has dominated the superhero movie scene in recent years. Their numbers skyrocketed in the 2000s, with a particularly impressive surge in the 2010s. It’s no secret that Marvel has been a massive success, capturing the hearts of millions with their interconnected storytelling and beloved characters.

DC, on the other hand, had a more modest start. While they’ve had their share of hits, their output hasn’t been as consistent as Marvel’s. However, there are signs of a resurgence in recent years, with several well-received films under their belt.
With a yearly average of 5 movies, DC has released more movies than Marvel’s 4.

What’s the average IMDb and Meta rating for the two brands?

First off,

What are IMDb and Meta ratings?

I’m glad you asked.

IMDb is the world’s most popular source for movies, TV, and celebrity content. Registered users on the platform can cast a vote from 1 to 10 on every released title in the database. Individual votes are then aggregated and summarized as a single IMDb rating, visible on the title’s main page. A good IMDb score has a rating of 60 or more and bad if less than 60.

A Meta score is a weighted average of reviews from top critics and publications for a given movie, TV shows, video games, or album.

Got it? Cool

Now let’s get back to the showdown.

Surprisingly, DC edges out Marvel here with an average IMDb score of 7.82, compared to Marvel’s 7.52.
Some of DC’s top-rated works include Duck Dodgers, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Superman: The Animated Series. On the Marvel side, titles like WWE 24, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and The Punisher help push their score up.

Meta score;

Here’s where Marvel shines. They boast an average Meta score of 65, while DC trails with 58.
Marvel’s heavy hitters like Black Panther, Iron Man, Avengers: Endgame, and Guardians of the Galaxy have critics buzzing. Meanwhile, DC’s top-rated projects include The Iron Giant, The Dark Knight, and the classic Superman films.

So, while DC might win the IMDb popularity contest, Marvel has critics on their side.

Which brand keeps you glued to your screen for a long time?

Marvel movies, on average, run for 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 46 seconds, giving fans plenty of time to dive into the action.
On the other hand, DC movies tend to wrap things up a bit quicker, averaging around 54 minutes and 33 seconds.

Interesting, right? It makes you wonder — does Marvel’s extra runtime give them more room for epic battles and plot twists, or does DC get straight to the point without dragging things out? Something to think about!

What kind of audience are they appealing to?

Both DC and Marvel seem to be playing it safe with most of their movies, sticking to PG-13, TV-PG, and TV-14 ratings. These are ratings that are usually fine for kids and teens.

DC’s a bit more adventurous. They’ve got movies for everyone — from kid-friendly stuff to adult-only fare.
Marvel, on the other hand, seems to be focusing more on the mainstream crowd.

And lastly, which directors are laughing all the way to the bank?

It’s clear that superhero movies are a lucrative business, and these directors have proven themselves to be masters of the genre.
Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Christopher Nolan and Joss Whedon have made a killing with their blockbuster hits, each amassing fortunes of over a billion dollars as directors of these blockbuster movies.

Some interesting things to note about this analysis;

1. DC has produced more projects than Marvel, but Marvel’s tend to be more successful at the box office.
2. Marvel movies are generally longer, giving them room for more complex plots, while DC’s films are shorter and more straightforward.
3. DC excels in the Animation genre, while Marvel dominates the Action and Sci-Fi scene.
4. Marvel has a wider audience appeal, with most content targeting viewers aged 13 and up.
5. DC scores higher on IMDb on average, but Marvel edges out with a better Meta score.

So who claims victory? I will let you decide. As for me, it doesn’t matter if Aquaman isn’t Sub-Mariner as long as both characters have stories worth seeing.

Thanks for reading.