Summary
- The Marvels experienced a massive drop of 77.8% in its second weekend, making it the worst-performing Marvel Studios film in its second weekend and the biggest drop for a superhero movie in Hollywood history.
- The film had to compete with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which took first place at the box office, exacerbating The Marvels‘ disappointing performance.
- Superhero fatigue and setbacks within the MCU and DC, combined with other factors like the Covid pandemic and streaming platform popularity, highlight the need for new storytelling approaches to bring audiences back to theaters.
Hopes that The Marvels will improve its numbers after its disastrous opening weekend are starting to fade. The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe suffered a massive drop in its second weekend in theaters, losing the battle against another major franchise.
After a complicated start to the year with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the subsequent accusations against Jonathan Major, Marvel Studios seemed to find some peace thanks to James Gunn and his last adventure with the company before dedicating himself completely to building a new DCU. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was a smash hit, in addition to receiving praise from fans and critics, something which the Paul Rudd-led Ant-Man threequel sorely lacked.
However, between the delays caused by strikes by writers and actors, and later the criticism of Secret Invasion, the situation once again became unfavorable for the franchise. The second season of Loki renewed fans’ hopes for the MCU’s recovery, but then, in another rollercoaster of ups and downs, the release of The Marvels has once again proven how even the once untouchable franchise is just as fallible as any other. And the situation is getting worse.
The Marvels
- Release Date
- November 10, 2023
- Director
- Nia DaCosta
- Cast
- Brie Larson, Zawe Ashton, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Samuel L. Jackson, Park Seo-joon
- Genres
- Adventure, Action, Superhero
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Marvels suffered a drop of 77.8% during its second weekend, becoming the worst performance of a Marvel Studios film in its second weekend in theaters. But that’s not all, the outlet reveals that this would also make it the biggest drop for a superhero movie in all of Hollywood’s history, surpassing even struggling DC offering such as Black Adam and The Flash.
In this second weekend, The Marvels had to compete with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which took first place at the box office as expected on its debut. However, the collapse of The Marvels, coming on the back of a very disappointing opening, was something that many had not expected to happen.
Superhero Fatigue, MCU Setbacks, or Just a Mix of Various Circumstances?
The Marvels is being crowned the Marvel Studios movie with the largest drop in its second weekend, and surprisingly, the previous record was held by another MCU film that premiered this year. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania had a 69.9% drop during its second weekend, after failing to quite live up to the hype of its inclusion of Kang the Conqueror.
But the MCU isn’t the only one that faced problems at the box office this year. DC had it even worse. Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle all flopped, barely able to recover their budget and producing huge losses for Warner Bros. Discovery. While many producers, screenwriters or directors like James Gunn believe that there is no such thing as superhero fatigue, there is no doubt that the genre needs to offer new types of stories and surprise audiences again.
Naturally, there are other circumstances that have conspired to heighten the issues faced by Marvel Studios and others in recent years. The Covid pandemic shutdowns led to a huge increase in the popularity of streaming platforms, and this has seen cinemas struggle to consistently bring audiences back through their doors. Hollywood strikes have added months of delays to already pushed back movies and TV shows, and for the kind of interconnected storytelling on Marvel’s books, long gaps between projects can be almost as damaging as too many arriving simultaneously. Whatever the reason behind the current misfortunes of the world’s largest franchise, something has to be done to entice people back into theaters again by the time Deadpool 3 arrives in summer 2024.
In conclusion, this film has captivated audiences with its mesmerizing storytelling, compelling performances, and stunning visuals. It has transported us to worlds both familiar and unknown, evoking a range of emotions that have left a lasting impact. The director’s artistic vision and the collaborative efforts of the cast and crew have brought this story to life in a truly extraordinary way. From the gripping plot twists to the heartfelt moments of connection, this film has reminded us of the power of cinema to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought.
Whether you’re a fan of the genre or simply a lover of great storytelling , this film is not to be missed. It’s a testament to the magic of filmmaking and serves as a reminder of the profound impact that movies can have on our lives. So grab your popcorn, sit back, and immerse yourself in this cinematic masterpiece.
