Marvel and DC may not have had the biggest year in terms of theatrical releases, but there were plenty of surprises throughout 2024. Since the Infinity Saga wrapped, Marvel’s MCU has been building towards the next big event in their lineup with the Multiverse Saga. And while the studio was releasing at least three movies a year at its peak, 2024 had just one theatrical release while multiple TV shows came out.
At the same time, DC is in the process of jumpstarting the new DCU, which meant 2024 had no major entries from the central DC Universe. However, there was a major DC Elseworlds release with Joker: Folie à Deux, and multiple TV releases. While 2025 promises to bring major releases to both the DCU and the MCU, it’s worth looking back at 2024 and the biggest and most shocking moments from all Marvel and DC projects over the course of the year.
Joker: Folie à Deux Flipped The Original Movie’s Reception & Box Office On Its Head
In 2019, Joker completely dominated the box office when the obscure and unique take on Gotham’s most terrifying villain became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, taking in well over the billion-dollar mark at the box office. However, the success led to a sequel being made, and this led to the disastrous Joker: folie à Deux.
The MCU TV shows have been hit or miss, one show that stood out as the least sensible choice for the MCU to adapt was Agatha All Along. After the success of WandaVision, and the popularity of the character played by Kathryn Hahn, the MCU began work on a new Agatha Harkness spin-off. However, when Agatha All Along came out, it went viral.
Meanwhile, DC’s Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three came to an explosive end, bringing the second phase of the DC Animated Movie Universe to a close. The three-part epic storyline paid tribute to comic book legend George Pérez, who passed away in 2022, and actor Kevin Conroy, who played an important role in the movies.
In many ways, this version of the Crisis storyline outshone the DCEU’s attempt to create a multiverse, but it remains to be seen if the incoming DCU will be able to shine brighter than the animated counterparts that came before. With a new series like Creature Commandos, an animated TV series, it appears that the new franchise is a lot more diverse and expansive than its predecessor. With so much excitement seen in relatively small projects in 2024, it’s exciting to look forward to what could be next for Marvel and DC in 2025 and beyond.