MCU vs. DCU Box Office Battle 2026: Supergirl, Clayface & More

December 31, 2025

9

The MCU will return to its position atop the box office in 2026, but the DCU’s potential success has more compelling implications. 2025 was a hit-and-miss year for the MCU. It started with Captain America: Brave New World, an underwhelming look at Sam Wilson’s Captain America tenure, which was a critical flop and box office disappointment.

Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps also underperformed at the box office, despite faring better with critics. Meanwhile, the DCU got off to a great start with James Gunn’s Superman. It scored highly with critics and audiences and was the highest-grossing superhero movie of 2025 with a worldwide gross of $616.8 million.

However, the DCU won’t repeat its box office title in 2026, as the MCU has two films that are surefire huge hits. The DCU’s 2026 film slate is less eventful, but its success will be more interesting to track, as these films will reveal more about the state of the DCU than the MCU’s films will about its universe.

Supergirl And Clayface Have Bigger Implications For The DCU

Milly Alcock as Supergirl in James Gunn's Superman movie — Milly Alcock as Supergirl in James Gunn’s Superman movie

Supergirl is the first real test for the DCU after Superman‘s success. Following her cameo in Superman, Milly Alcock stars as Kara Zor-El, Kal-El’s cousin, who finds herself on a dangerous quest while traveling the galaxy. The film will feature the return of Krypto, along with newcomers like Jason Momoa’s Lobo.

While Supergirl’s popularity rose due to the CW show starring Melissa Benoist in the titular role, she doesn’t have the same level of fame as her cousin or other DC characters, like Batman and Wonder Woman. The film may struggle to appeal to a broader audience who may be unfamiliar with the character.

Fortunately, Gunn wisely included her briefly at the end of Superman, creating continuity between the two films. Supergirl‘s success will demonstrate if audiences are firmly invested in the DCU, or if they will only show up for more recognizable characters.

Clayface faces a similar challenge, as it centers on one of Batman’s more obscure villains. However, the film is also highly unique, as it’s an R-rated horror film that explores the character’s origins. The project is risky for DC, and its success will determine if the DCU can invest more in other experimental projects that focus on lesser-known characters.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day And Avengers: Doomsday Are More Guaranteed Hits

2026 will be a rebound year for the MCU after 2025. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is Tom Holland’s fourth outing as Peter Parker after No Way Home‘s hugely successful run, and Avengers: Doomsday is bringing together a whole cluster of characters from the MCU and the Fox universe in a battle against Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom.

While the MCU has been more inconsistent at the box office since Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man and the Avengers are two properties that are guaranteed to produce hits. Each Avengers film has earned over $1 billion, with Endgame and Infinity War reaching $2 billion, and the last two MCU Spider-Man films grossed over $1 billion.

Even if the MCU has lost some of its audience, many will return to see what the Russo Brothers are creating with their latest crossover event, along with Holland’s next chapter as Spider-Man. Their success won’t reveal much about the state of the MCU, as Spider-Man films and Avengers films are easy money-makers.

The MCU’s next real test will be whatever project is after Doomsday and Secret Wars. Unlike the DCU, Marvel has less room to take risks and needs to reinvigorate audiences’ investment in its universe before it enters its Mutant Saga.