There has never been a better time to be a fan of the MCU. The franchise just entered Phase Four, and so far, fans have received a tidal wave of content, and when looking ahead to its upcoming release slate, things won't be slowing down anytime soon. Whether it's on the big or small screen, there's plenty of Marvel content coming your way.
At the box office, the films have pulled down billions of dollars. Impressive, right? Well, the franchise has had plenty of hits, but there is one film that sits at the very bottom, ranking as its lowest-grossing movie ever.
Let's take a look and see which film is in last place.
The MCU Is In Phase Four
In 2021, the Marvel Cinematic Universe entered its fourth phase with the hope of laying the foundation for a new era of films and shows. So far, the franchise has changed things dramatically, and fans are having to keep up with an onslaught of new content.
Last year alone, there were 4 separate MCU films that hit theaters, and there were 5 TV shows to hit Disney+. That is an insane amount of content for people to take in, but MCU fans are diehards, and they soaked up every piece of media that came their way.
This year, there has been just 1 show and 1 movie for fans to enjoy. A second show, Ms. Marvel, just got underway, and a second film, Thor: Love and Thunder is coming in due time. The rest of the year has more projects on tap, including Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which hopes to top its predecessor's $1 billion gross. It would also keep Marvel's hot streak at the box office alive.
It's impressive to see the amount of money these Phase Four films have made during this new box office era, but those that have been following the franchise knows that Marvel simply knows how to make a buck.
The Movies Have Made Billions
Since its 2008 debut, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a money-making machine at the box office. It all started with Iron Man becoming a surprise hit, and since then, the franchise has taken in billions of dollars.
According to The-Numbers, the franchise has taken in over $26 billion globally. Having a ton of movies helps, yes, but the franchise's biggest films have been its driving force. For perspective, there have been 6 films in the franchise to hit at least $1 billion globally, 2 of which managed to make over $2 billion.
The Phase Four movies seemed to hit a bit of a box office lull as things opened up around the world, but Spider-Man: No Way Home bucked that trend, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness kept the good times rolling. Should Thor: Love and Thunder follow suit, then Marvel's will hit $30 billion sooner rather than later.
While the movies typically make a solid amount of money, there is one movie that dwells at the bottom of the list for the MCU.
'The Incredible Hulk' Only Made $265 Million
It what should not come as a major surprise to Marvel fans, The Incredible Hulk is the MCU movie that fared the worst at the box office.
Released in 2008 as the second film in Phase One, the film, which starred Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, was only able to take in $265 million during its theatrical run. This was not on par with Iron Man, which made north of $580 million earlier that year.
This movie marked the second time that a Hulk film was unable to become a massive box office success, and it also marked the lone time that Edward Norton played the iconic hero in the MCU. He would be replaced by Mark Ruffalo, and to date, the Hulk has yet to get his own standalone film.
Interestingly, rumors have been circulating about a fresh Hulk movie coming down the pipe, and this would focus on one of the character's greatest stories from the comics.
"While rumors of an upcoming World War Hulk film have been circulating since at least 2021, recent MCU events make it more likely than ever. Between the introduction of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and rumored plotlines in She-Hulk, it seems like World War Hulk could actually come to the MCU," Distractify writes.
The Incredible Hulk is the MCU's lowest-grossing movie, but if She-Hulk hits on Disney+ and these rumors are true, Bruce Banner could get a standalone film on the big screen once again.
