The difference between DC and Marvel movies?

Co-Production

In 1996, Marvel Studios was founded by Isaac Perlmutter and Avi Arad to capitalize on Marvel Comic's intellectual properties. Marvel sold the rights to Daredevil, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four to Fox Studios as part of a 7 year development deal. In 1999, Marvel licensed the rights to Spider-Man to Sony.

In 1998, Marvel and New Line Cinema released Blade. Blade had been in development at New Line since 1992. It was grossed $130 million on a $40 million budget. Two sequels followed - Blade 2 in 2002 ($155 m / $40 m) and Blade Trinity in 2003 ($128 m / $65 m), as well as a 13 episode television series were produced. Blade's cinematic rights have reverted to Marvel.

In 2000, Fox released X-Men. X-Men gross $296 million on a $75 million budget. X-Men was followed by three direct sequels - X2 in 2004 ($407 m / $110 m), X-Men: The Last Stand in 2007 ($439 m / $210 m) as well as a variety of spin-offs and interquels - X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009 ($373 m / $150 m), X-Men: First Class in 2011 ($353 m / $160 m), the Wolverine in 2013 ($414 m / $120 m), and X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014 ($748 m / $200 m). Multiple 'X' titles are in development at Fox including an interquel (X-Men: Apocalypse), another Wolverine film, a Gambit spinoff, and X-Force and New Mutant films.

In 2002, Sony released Spider-Man. Spider-Man grossed $820 million on a $140 million budget. Spider-man was followed by two sequels - Spider-Man 2 in 2004 ($782 m / $200 m) and Spider-Man 3 in 2007 ($890 m / $260 m). A fourth film was planned but the series was ultimately rebooted as the Amazing Spider-Man in 2012, which grossed $757 million on a $230 million budget. This film was followed by one sequel, the Amazing Spider-Man 2. ASM 2 grossed $709 million on a $260 million budget. Multiple sequels and spin-offs from this series were planned prior to ASM 2's release. However, a variety of factors led to an announced reboot in 2014. Marvel and Sony will co-produce a new series of films, with the character reappearing in 2016's Captain America: Civil War film. Although Marvel will have the rights to use Spider-Man related characters in its films, Sony will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films.

In 2003, Universal released Hulk. Hulk grossed $237 million on a $137 million budget. Hulks' cinematic rights have reverted to Marvel.

The same year Fox released Daredevil. Daredevil grossed $179 million on a $78 million budget. It was followed by a 2005 spinoff - Elektra ($56 m / $43 m). Daredevil's cinematic rights have reverted to Marvel. In 2014, Marvel partnered with Netflix to produce a 13 episode Daredevil long form narrative.

In 2004, Artisan Entertainment released The Punisher. The Punisher grossed $54 million on a $33 million budget. It was followed by a sequel in 2009 - The Punisher: War Zone - which grossed $10 million on a $35 million budget. The rights to this property have reverted to Marvel and the character is set to appear in the second season of its long form Netflix production Daredevil.

In 2005, Fox released Fantastic Four. Fantastic Four grossed $330 million on a $110 million budget. In 2007 it was followed by a sequel - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer ($289 m / $130 m). Plans for further sequels were scrapped when Fox decided to reboot the film. The first film in a new series is set to premiere later this summer.

In 2007, Dimension Films and Crystal Sky Films released Ghost Rider. It grossed $228 million on a $110 million budget. In 2012 it was followed by a sequel - Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance ($132 m/ $57 m).

Solo Production

Marvel negotiated a $525 million loan from Merril Lynch in 2004. It signed a co-production deal with Paramount to release 10 films over 8 years. These films would be based on these characters: Ant-Man, The Avengers, Black Panther, Captain America, Cloak & Dagger, Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, Power Pack and Shang-Chi.

In 2008, Marvel released its first film under this deal - Iron Man. Iron Man grossed $585 million on a $140 million budget. It was followed by two direct sequels - Iron Man 2 ($623 m / $200) and Iron Man 3 ($1.25 billion / $200 m).

In 2008, Marvel also released the Incredible Hulk. It grossed $263 million on a $150 million budget. This is the least amount of money Marvel has made on a film.

In 2010, Marvel released Thor. Thor grossed $449 million on a $110 million budget. It was followed by one sequel - Thor: The Dark World ($644 m / $170 m), with a 2nd sequel planned.

In 2011, Marvel released Captain America: The First Avenger. Captain America grossed $370 million on a $140 million budget. It was followed by a sequel - Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($714 m / $170 m) with a 2nd sequel planned.

In 2012, these films led up to a common sequel - the Avengers. The Avengers grossed $1.5 billion against a $220 million budget. It was followed by a sequel - Avengers: Age of Ultron ($1.3 billion / $279 m).

In 2014, Marvel released Guardians of the Galaxy. Guardians grossed $772 million on a $170 million budget. A sequel is planned.

Marvel has a variety of high profile film projects in development. In addition to two Avengers sequels (Infinity War pt 1 and 2) in 2017, it will release Ant-Man later this summer, Doctor Strange in 2016, Captain Marvel and Black Panther in 2018, as well as an Inhumans film in 2019.

Marvel also has its Agents of Shield and Daredevil television properties (although Daredevil might be more accurately called a long form narrative).

So DC?

Apart from the fact that DC doesn't own the rights to its films, DC hasn't done nearly as well as Marvel.

In the same time period, DC has worked with Warner Brothers and Legendary films to release the following productions.

In 2004, WB released Catwoman. Catwoman grossed $82 million on a $101 million budget.

In 2005, WB and Legendary released Batman Begins. Batman Begins grossed $374 million on a $150 million budget. It was followed by two sequels - The Dark Knight in 2008 ($1 billion / $185 million) and The Dark Knight Rises in 2012 ($1 billion / $230 million).

In 2006, Legendary released Superman Returns. It grossed $391 million on a $204 million budget.

In 2009, WB and Legendary released Watchmen. Watchmen grossed $185 million on a $130 million budget.

In 2011, WB released Green Lantern. Green Lantern grossed $220 million on a $200 million budget.

In 2013 WB and Legendary released Man of Steel. It grossed $668 million against a $225 million budget. A sequel - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is planned for 2016.

Based on the success of Man of Steel, DC has announced a slate of productions set in the same cinematic universe. The following projects will be part of that universe: Suicide Squad (2016), Wonder Woman (2017), Justice League pt 1 (2017), The Flash (2018), Aquaman (2018), Shazam (2019), Justice League pt 2 (2019), Cyborg (2020), Green Lantern (2020).

Summary

DC has a long way to go if it wants to catch up to Marvel.