The superhero in genre really grew in popularity following the release of X-Men in 2000 and its sequels X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand in 2003 and 2006 respectively. However, it was Marvel Studios who decided to something that would change the way the superhero genre is made and perceived with the plan of making a number of solo superhero films with tiny links culminating with a big crossover film. Starting with Iron Man in 2008 it did look like a gamble, but now in 2018 the (now rightly-named) Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU) is the highest grossing film franchise of all time with a total of 17 films currently (as of writing) released in that ‘universe’. It has change the film industry in a big way with many companies now looking to make film universes as well as other superhero universes, most notably, the DC Extended Universe with the releases of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman and Justice League.