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The world of superhero cinema has long been dominated by two juggernauts – Marvel and DC. For decades, these two comic book powerhouses have shaped the genre, offering interconnected cinematic universes, massive ensemble casts, and sky-high budgets that translate into global box office dominance. From The Avengers to The Dark Knight, Marvel and DC have not just set the standards for superhero films. Instead, they are the standards.
In this landscape, any film that dares to break through without the backing of these two giants faces an uphill battle. Independent superhero films or those produced outside the traditional Marvel-DC umbrella often struggle to match the hype, scale, and audience trust that comes with an already beloved brand. Few even attempt it. Fewer succeed. And only one, as of today, has managed to do the unthinkable, that is enter the billion-dollar club.
Pixar’s Incredibles 2 Became the Genre’s Biggest Outlier
Incredibles 2 stands alone as the only non-Marvel, non-DC superhero film to cross the billion-dollar mark at the global box office, a rare feat in a genre ruled by established comic book legends. Released by Pixar in 2018, the sequel to the 2004 classic The Incredibles hit theatres after a 14-year wait. That time gap, rather than weakening its appeal, created a multi-generational demand from both original fans and new audiences.
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