Disney’s “The Marvels” Disappoints at Global Box Office
Disney’s much-anticipated superhero film “The Marvels” fell short at the box office during its opening weekend, bringing in just $63 million internationally and $110 million globally. These numbers were far below expectations and rank as one of the worst worldwide debuts in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The film, which is the 33rd installment in the MCU and the sequel to 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” had a budget of $220 million. Despite the success of its predecessor, “The Marvels” failed to generate the same level of excitement and ticket sales.
Contributing to the lackluster performance, analysts pointed to audience fatigue with the oversaturation of spinoffs, sequels, and TV series on both the big and small screen. The interconnected universe and characters traveling between different formats have created some disinterest among viewers.
Additionally, the film failed to resonate in key overseas territories, with China bringing in the biggest start outside of the U.S. at $11.7 million. Despite Disney’s CEO Bob Iger promising a return to quality over quantity with future movies, the disappointing performance of “The Marvels” suggests a need for new strategies to ensure continued success for the massive brand.
Looking ahead, “Deadpool 3” is the only MCU film currently on the calendar for 2024, giving Disney time to reassess and potentially reinvigorate the superhero genre. As senior Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian notes, the genre seems to be at a crossroads, and a reassessment of what will drive audiences to the multiplex is in order.