It’s hard to put into words just how successful the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a bunch of successful movies that culminated in one of the biggest cinematic sagas in modern history. A story that spread over 23 films, released over 11 years… something that has only ever been dreamed of by Hollywood. Whenever I saw a new press release for a new superhero movie, I was excited to see one of the many characters that defined my childhood selected to be in the next big blockbuster.
But now, every time I see an announcement for the release of a new superhero movie, or the creation of a new universe… I groan. It’s getting too much, and I really want Hollywood to move on, instead of risking polluting a brilliant period of cinema by overstuffing it with new superhero movies.
Put simply, I’m getting tired of this overstuffed genre and politely ask for Hollywood to either make something new out of this genre… or jog on and leave superhero movies alone for a bit.
It’s not just me that feels the same way. You can see it in the box-office numbers as well. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was supposed to be the keystone of the next Marvel epic story, introducing Kang the Conqueror. But it only brought in $214 million in the box office, making it one of the few films in the MCU not to break even in its theatrical run.
DC’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods was a box-office bomb, grossing $133.8 million worldwide. And with ‘The Flash’ looking like it’s going to cost Warner Bro. between $275 to $300 million at the global box office, it looks like DC’s Scarlet Speedster is being rejected by the audience too.
Photo Credit: HBO Max
Back in 2010s, Superhero movies were reigning supreme and there were plenty of good ones to choose from. It’s inarguable that the Marvel Cinematic Universe not only took the seeds planted by Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, mainly the idea of an interconnected set of stories to form one long narrative and made something incredible.
When Avengers: Endgame released in 2019, it acted as the definitive ending for the MCU. A two-part story which was born from multiple franchises spanning over 11 years. We watched as several key characters story arcs reached their conclusion and departed from the franchise. But then Marvel attempted to drum excitement for the next set of heroes, something they’ve been finding great difficulty with.
Meanwhile DC tried to copy Marvel with its DC Cinematic Universe and it didn’t exactly work out too well for them. They had some decent hits, with 2017’s Wonder-Woman, 2018’s Aquaman, and 2019’s Shazam (easily the best movie in the DCU). But many of their films, from Superman to Batman, range from meh to terrible. And now James Gunn, director of The Guardians of the Galaxy, one of Marvel’s successful superhero franchises, wants to create his own DC Universe with his own set of DC films.
There may be some hope for the superhero movie genre, though. Part of the reason why I am getting sick of these superhero movies is that they’re the same thing over, and over, again. Marvel really did catch lightning in a bottle with the Infinity Saga and it’s only natural for them to keep doing the same thing repeatedly to make as much money as possible. But genres need to reinvent and reinvigorate themselves when things go stale to remain relevant in the public eye.
Todd Philips’ 2019 Joker, about DC’s clown prince of crime, is a great example of this. Taking a clown criminal and showing his descent into mental illness and nihilism, whilst also handling themes of violent revolution, how we deal with mental illness, and how violence is glorified whilst kindness is ignored. Sure, it wasn’t amazing, but it was different, and audiences appreciated it enough to make it a box-office success. The sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux is set to be a musical… A MUSICAL! What an idea! I’ll be seeing it based purely on that.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros, inc.
Another example would be 2022’s The Batman directed by Matt Reeves. Whilst some movies glossed into The Batman being a detective, here we get a movie where Batman’s detective skills are front and centre. Instead of punching and kicking his way out of problems, The Batman has its titular hero interrogate people, gather clues and work things out. I mean sure, the movie does bring in a big action sequence out of nowhere towards the third act which threw me off a bit but still, it was a brilliant direction to take a superhero movie and audiences loved it.
So, it seems that whilst superhero fatigue is beginning to settle in, James Gunn has a chance to maybe delay it with his DC movies if he can show something different. He’s already blasted superhero movies and TV shows, in various interviews, by saying they’ve over-extended themselves. And I agree with him. The new CEO of DC films is looking to put a new spin on films by focusing on Superman as a reporter in his Superman: Legacy film, which is set for a 2025 release. And his Batman movie, The Brave and The Bold, is introducing Batman’s son: Damian Wayne!
But if this tactic doesn’t work then can we agree to just let superhero movies die? There are plenty of other franchises out there that can be turned into the next big cinematic universe. If directors keep doing the same thing repeatedly, eventually audiences will turn against them, and it’ll ruin what was a great run with the Infinity Saga. And I really don’t want that.
Personally, I’m still rooting for a Dungeons & Dragons cinematic universe. The new movie was pretty good and there are plenty of stories that can be told in The Forbidden Realms that would make for good viewing.
Just an idea Hollywood.
Or failing that… Curse of Strahd, the TV series anyone?
