Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Marvel’s superhero saga, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been facing challenges in winning back fan approval since the 2019 release ofAvengers: Endgame.The most recent movie under the franchise,The Marvels,has also suffered a similar fate, experiencing the lowest domestic box office opening in the MCU.
This setback not only marks a lackluster release for the franchise but also raises concerns about the MCU’s trajectory post-Endgame, especially with the departure of its key stars. Despite Brie Larson’s MCU debut making over $1 billion,The Marvelshas been struggling at the box office, and its failure can be attributed to various factors.
Read More:“I was trying to get him swear at me”: Iman Vellani Went Above and Beyond to Make Samuel L Jackson Go Berserk in The Marvels
The SAG-Aftra Strike PreventedThe Marvels’Promotions
The Marvelsboasted a star-studded ensemble, includingBrie Larson,Samuel L. Jackson,Teyonah Parris, andIman Vellaniin the lead roles. Unfortunately, with the now-resolved SAG-Aftra Strike, none of the stars of the movie could participate in promotional activities.
Critics have lauded the on-screen chemistry among the three lead actors, which could have been a valuable asset for the movie’s marketing drive. However, the strike’s impact restricted promotional efforts, leading to only director Nia DaCosta and composer Laura Karpman engaging in press tours.
TheLokiSeason 2 Finale Potentially Overshadowed The Movie
Since its release in 2021, Tom Hiddleston’sLokihas been a fan-favorite MCU TV series. The second season of the show had been among the highly anticipated MCU projects, and fans religiously followed up with it as well.
Interestingly, the season finale, which is also believed to be the series finale, was released a day beforeThe Marvelshit the theaters. The exceptional quality of the finale potentially set the bar so high that the Brie Larson starrer would have been unable to keep up with it, leading fans to prioritize theLokiseason 2 finale instead of going out to theatres forThe Marvels.
Read More:Brie Larson Did the Cutest ‘Big Sister’ Thing for Iman Vellani to Prepare for The Marvels: “It was really nice to have someone hold my hand…”
TheMarvelsHad a Terrible Script and an Awful Villain
The Marvelsis believed to have had several scripting issues that extended into the production phase, prompting numerous reshoots earlier in the year. While some of the sequences seem forced, others do not appear to align with the overall narrative. In addition to script concerns, the main antagonist of the film, Dan-Benn, portrayed by Zawe Ashton, has also become a focal point of criticism.
While the actress is praised for her performance, the character lacks a compelling arc that resonates with the audience. One of the significant drawbacks of the film is also considered to be the lack of mention of the Multiverse Saga’s central antagonist, Kang the Conqueror, leaving the film distant from the MCU.
The Expansive Scope of the MCU Has Become a Challenge
Over the span of a decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has evolved from a film-centric franchise to encompass numerous TV shows and special editions. Many fans, however, have been unable to keep up with the extensive content the studio has to offer in theatres and on the streaming service Disney+.
Apart from Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel,The Marvelsfeatures two superheroes, Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, who were introduced through Disney+ shows,Ms. MarvelandWandaVision, respectively. It may have caused fans, who prefer to follow up with the cinematic releases only, to feel somewhat disconnected and less enthusiastic about the movie.
Read More:MCU Phase 4 Rumor That Turned Out to be False Was a Much Better Way to Introduce Mutants Than The Marvels
Audience Has Become Weary of Superhero Movies
The superhero genre has enjoyed box office success since the late ’70s. And the introduction of cinematic universes has continued the trend for the past decade, as not only MCU or DCU but several others have also seen quite the success in the genre. However, the audience’s enthusiasm for superhero films seems to be waning.
2023, specifically, does not seem to be a remarkable year for the genre, as most of the films from both MCU and DC Universe have been unable to make it big at the box office. The shift is evident when looking at the highest-grossing movies of the year so far. The three highest-grossing films of 2023 includeBarbie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer. The outlook for a strong box-office reception also seems uncertain for DC’s upcomingAquamansequel.
Following the lowest opening in the MCU history,The Marvelsfaced a significant setback during its second weekend at the box office. As perBox Office Mojo, so far, the movie has grossed $161 million worldwide. Considering the film was made with an estimated $220 million budget, many have already designated it to be a box office bomb.
The Marvelsis playing in theatres.
Read More:“This needs to be real”: Iman Vellani Made Kevin Feige Honor Her One Demand That’s Going to Upset Ryan Reynolds
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3449
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
