From Judex to Iron Man: A Superhero Saga

Superhero films have a rich history extending far beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe's recent dominance. The very first superhero movie, a French silent film titled 'Judex,' was released in 1916, showcasing a long-standing cinematic tradition. Prior to the MCU's inception, both Marvel and DC achieved significant box office success with their respective characters, including the X-Men, Spider-Man, Blade, Superman, and Batman.

The landscape of superhero cinema was fundamentally altered with the debut of 'Iron Man' in 2008, which is considered the starting point of the MCU. This franchise's ambitious scope and success normalized shared universes and inter-connected storylines. Consequently, this transformed audience expectations, making crossovers and interconnected narratives the standard for the genre.