Thor, Superman & Other Superheroes Who Have Surprisingly Never Had A Billion-Dollar Movie

In today’s cinematic climate, superhero films are practically synonymous with box office success. Franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe have produced billion-dollar behemoths with increasing regularity, turning caped crusaders and armored geniuses into global brands. For some characters, just showing up in a crossover is enough to secure a box office windfall. Yet, despite the genre’s dominance and years of audience loyalty, not all iconic heroes have managed to cross that elusive billion-dollar mark, not even the ones you’d expect.

You might assume that characters as legendary as Superman or as beloved as Thor have billion-dollar hits tucked under their utility belts. But in reality, they fall short of the milestone that even newer heroes or team-ups have managed to conquer. It’s not for lack of popularity, either. These heroes have loyal fan bases, strong solo stories, and pop culture relevance. So what’s stopping them?

These Superheroes Have Missed the Billion-Dollar Club Despite All the Ingredients

Thor is a cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s been wielding Mjölnir and cracking skulls since 2011, appearing in four solo films, the only MCU character to do so. Yet none of his standalone adventures have breached the billion-dollar ceiling. The closest was Thor: Ragnarok, which ended its theatrical run with $854 million globally. Impressive, but not quite there. Thor thrives in ensemble films, particularly Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War, but as a solo act, he still hasn’t reached the top tier of box office legends.