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Before Barbenheimer, there was the Marvel vs DC rivalry that set temperatures soaring and anxieties raging among both factions of the audience. The ubiquitous presence of superhero movies in the early Aughts made it impossible for both these studios not to clash. Now,Fantastic FourandSupermanare bringing back the age-old rivalry to the frontlines again.
As Marvel’s first family and DC’s first superhero go head-to-head this July, the world gets ready to witness an epic showdown of heroes, villains, romance, and rivalries. But in the meanwhile, let’s take a walk down memory lane and look back at the years that gave us some of the best Marvel vs. DC moments to keep the excitement alive.
Fantastic FourandSupermanreclaim a tradition
Although not a strong starter,Green Lanterncomes first to mind in the long-winded rivalry that set off the premiere wars between Marvel and DC. In June 2011, the movie that becameRyan Reynolds‘s lifelong brand of humiliation went up against the brilliantX-Men: First Class.
The following year arrived with two superpowered hits.Andrew Garfield‘sThe Amazing Spider-Manwent up againstChristopher Nolan‘s culmination of the Dark Knight trilogy,The Dark Knight Rises,in July 2012. Both films earned widespread praise and acclaim and cashed in lucrative profits at the box office.
By November 2017, Marvel was a well-oiled machine and an unstoppable force of nature, and yet,Thor: Ragnaroklaunched to considerable competition fromJustice League. WhileRagnarokwon the duel there,Snyder went on to reclaim his reputationin the long run.
A Glaring Similarity Between ‘Superman’ and ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Teasers Is Hard to Ignore
In December 2018, Sony’s Oscar-winning take on Spider-Man went up against a B-tier DC superhero, but the competition was fiercer than expected.Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versewon over the fans and critics alike butAquamanwon at the box office, cashing in more than $1 billion in worldwide earnings.
In April 2019, the phenomenon that wasAvengers: Endgamebeat out all other competitors, rearing their heads in the vicinity, let aloneZachary Levi‘sShazam!After a brief period of pause after the Infinity Saga finale and the Covid-era lockdown, Marvel and DC were back at it again in June 2023 withThe FlashandSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
In October 2024, fans saw the latest rivalry withJoker: Folie à DeuxandVenom: The Last Dancebut neither movie managed to hit the audience expectations. Now, in July 2025,The Fantastic Four: First StepsandSupermanare set tobring back this age-old rivalry to the theatersagain.
Marvel and DC aim to surpass expectations
It is high time both Marvel and DC aim to impress their audience rather than take advantage of pop culture’s obsession with superhero films and cash in on a poorly made, creatively unoriginal, and derivative film. The MCU had once birthed a worldwide revolution with its take on the superhero genre that could turn B-tier superheroes like Iron Man and Guardians of the Galaxy into absolute hits.
“Matt Shakman, you’re the GOAT”: Fans Cannot Stop Raving About an Epic Human Torch Detail in Fantastic Four: First Steps Teaser
With the now flailing superhero industry on the brink of collapse, bothThe Fantastic Four: First StepsandSupermanact as the last-ditch attempt of Marvel and DC to establish a stronghold over the audience and pop culture again. Meanwhile, the origin of Superhero fatigue makes it all the more difficult for these CBM giants to reclaim their lost glory.
The Fantastic Four: First StepsandSupermanare set to premiere on 25 July and 21 June 2025, respectively.
Diya Majumdar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2408
Diya Majumdar is a Senior Content Writer at FandomWire with over 2000 published articles on the website. Since 2022, she has been working as an entertainment journalist with a special focus on films and pop culture.Among the countless genres and themes of Hollywood, the ones that particularly favor Diya’s tastes include Game of Thrones, DC, and well-aged thrillers and classics.
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