The Shadow
DC Comics, one of the oldest comic book companies in the world, was founded in 1934 as National Allied Publications.
Jerry Siegel, the writer; and Joe Shuster, the artist; created Superman in 1938, the first costumed superhero, and they tried to sell the comic strip to newspapers.
Having no success at syndicating the comic strip, the company marketed the comic book which eventually led to movies and television episodes that featured “the Man of Steel.”
During the 1970s, National Allied Publications became DC Comics. DC was taken from the first comic books published by the company which were detective comics, thus DC.
Batman became the company’s second costumed superhero in May of 1939.
Wonder Woman was the third superhero character. Created in 1940, she performed superhuman feats with her magic lasso and magic bracelets.
Of the top grossing 22 Warner Brothers’ movies that have topped $100 million at the box office featuring DC Comic’s characters, Superman appeared in seven, 12 showcased Batman and Wonder Woman appeared in three, including the third highest-grossing movie starring a DC Comic superhero. The title of the movie is “Wonder Woman,” which was released on June 3, 2017. The movie grossed $412,563,408.
“The Dark Knight” was released on June 18, 2008, and the film about Batman became No. 1 at the box office, netting $533,345,358 for Warner Brothers.
The second highest box office hit for Warner Brothers is “The Dark Knight Rises” which was released on July 20, 2012. It pulled in $448,139,099.
“Wonder Woman” remains the third highest-grossing Warner Brothers’ hit featuring a DC Comics’ superhero.
The Batman movie titled “Joker,” brought in $369,345,583 to rank as No. 5, after being released on Oct. 4, 2019.
Another DC Comics’ superhero, Aquaman, holds down the No. 6 spot at the box office. “Aquaman” brought in $335,061,807 after Warner Brothers released it on Dec. 21, 2018.
“Batman v Superman” holds the No. 7 position at the box office after bringing in $330,360,194 following its release on March 25, 2016.
“Suicide Squad,” a film that featured Joker as one of the villains, found success at the box office after being released on Aug. 5, 2016. It remains No. 8 at the box office with $325,100,054.
“Man of Steel” was released on June 14, 2013, and it brought in $291,045,518 to vault it into the top ten of DC Film successes. At No. 9, it netted $291,045,518.
“Batman” netted $251,188,924 after its release on June 23, 1989. It ranks as No. 10.
“Justice League,” a film that includes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman working with Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, the Flash and Aquaman to overcome a host of villains who were pitted against them remains No. 11 at the box office by netting $229,024,295 for Warner Brothers that released the film on Nov. 17, 2017.
No. 12 at the box office is “Batman Begins” with $205,343,774. The DC Film was released by Warner Brothers on June 15, 2005.
“Superman Returns” with $200,081,206 remains at No. 13, having been released on June 28, 2006.
“Batman Forever,” a June 16, 1995 release holds down the No. 14 position with $184,031,112 at the box office.
“The Lego Batman Movie” netted $175,750,384 at the box office, rendering it as No. 15 following its release on Feb. 10, 2017.
“Batman Returns,” at $162,831,698 ranks as No. 16 as a moneymaker for DC Comics. It was released on June 19, 1992.
Another DC Film hero, Captain Marvel, graced the silver screen, hauling in $134,218,018 at the box office for “Shazam!” which was released on April 5, 2019.
No. 18 is “Superman,” a Warner Brothers’ release on Dec. 15, 1978, that netted $134,218,018 at the box office.
“The Green Lantern,” released on June 17, 2011, features Green Lantern, another DC Comics superhero who wears a magic ring. The movie hauled in $116,601,172 at the box office to rank as No. 19.
“Superman II” ranks as No. 20, having raked in $108,185,706 for Warner Brothers and DC Comics, after being released on June 19, 1981.
Another cast of DC Comics’ characters are featured in “Watchmen,” released on March 6, 2009. The six main characters featured in the film are the Comedian, Doctor Manhattan, the Nite Owl, Rorschach, Ozymandias and Silk Spectre, and it remains as No. 21 as a moneymaker for the DC Comics Universe, having grossed $107,509,799 at the box office.
“Batman and Robin,” the No. 22 ranked Warner Brothers film featuring DC Comics’ characters that has netted more than $100,000,000 at the box office was released on June 30, 1995. The DC Film netted $107,325,195.
With 22 DC films having brought in more than $100 million for Warner Brothers’ releases, DC Comics continues to rake in millions of dollars from DC Films about Superman, the character that newspapers in the 1930s rejected as a syndicated comic strip character.
