• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Marvel Cinematic Universe overtakes Harry Potter to become highest-grossing movie franchise of all time

May 3, 2015 by Gary Collinson

Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron may have failed to set an opening weekend record with its debut in the States – with the film earning $187.7 million domestically, and pushing its global haul to $627 million – but the Joss Whedon-directed sequel has helped to propel the Marvel Cinematic Universe above the Harry Potter series to become the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time.

As of today, the MCU stands on $7.786 billion, with a $708 million average across its eleven instalments (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avengers, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron).

Harry Potter has the higher film average on $965 million, but will now have to settle for second place with its eight chapters earning a combined $7.723 billion. James Bond is third with $6.159 billion, although if you adjust for inflation then 007 is the clear leader, with the super spy’s big screen adventures having pulled in a whopping $13 billion.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is out now and sees Joss Whedon directing a cast that includes Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Mark Ruffalo (The Incredible Hulk), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Paul Bettany (JARVIS / The Vision), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Quicksilver), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), James Spader (Ultron), Stellen Skarsgard (Erik Selvig), Thomas Kretschmann (Baron Strucker), Josh Brolin (Thanos), Claudia Kim (Dr. Cho), Andy Serkis (Uylsses Klaw), Henry Goodman (Dr. List), Julie Delpy (Madame B) and Linda Cardellini (Laura Barton).

https://youtu.be/8HTiU_hrLms?list=PL18yMRIfoszFLSgML6ddazw180SXMvMz5

Originally published May 3, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.

Filed Under: Gary Collinson, Movies, News Tagged With: Avengers: Age of Ultron, Harry Potter, James Bond, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe

About Gary Collinson

Gary Collinson is a film, TV and digital content producer and writer, who is the founder of the pop culture website Flickering Myth and producer of the gothic horror feature film 'The Baby in the Basket' and the upcoming suspense thriller 'Death Among the Pines'.

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Blockbuster Comic Book Movie Problem: The Box Office Cliff Edge

The Best Leslie Nielsen Spoof Movies

6 Abduction Thrillers You May Have Missed

Ten Underrated Action Movies That Deserve More Love

3 Spectacular Performances in James Gunn’s Superman That Stole The Movie

LEGO Star Wars at 20: The Video Game That Kickstarted a Phenomenon

Six Overhated Modern Horror Movies

Ranking The Police Academy Franchise From Worst to Best

The Rise and Disappointing Disappearance of Director Richard Kelly

10 Crazy Cult Horror Movies You Need To See

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

Top Stories:

Movie Review – The Threesome (2025)

Movie Review – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

7 Great Dystopian Thrillers of the 1970s

Movie Review – Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)

Movie Review – The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

The Essential Indiana Jones Rip Off Movies of the 1980s

6 Cabin Horror Movies You May Have Missed

Movie Review – The Long Walk (2025)

Movie Review – John Candy: I Like Me (2025)

Movie Review – The Man in My Basement (2025)

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

The Most Shocking Movies of the 1970s

The Most Iconic Cult Classics of All Time

Ranking Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Post-Governator Starring Roles

The Essential 90s Action Movies

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket