Marvel’s “The Marvels” Becomes Lowest-Grossing MCU Film
After four weeks in theaters, “The Marvels” has been officially deemed the lowest-grossing installment in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With only $80 million in North America and $197 million globally, the superhero sequel has fallen short of expectations.
Despite hopes for a holiday season rebound, Disney has announced that they will stop weekend reporting of international and global grosses for “The Marvels.” The film, with its $220 million-plus budget, is expected to play through New Year’s, but is unlikely to generate notable coinage during the rest of December.
The disappointment is even more significant given Marvel’s status as the most commercially successful film franchise of all time. Despite a passionate fanbase, “The Marvels” has failed to draw the same level of support as other, less-embraced entries.
Directed by Nia DaCosta, “The Marvels” stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani as a trio of superheroes tasked with saving the universe. However, reviews were mixed and the film faced burnout from an ever-expanding franchise. In a year with multiple Marvel releases, “The Marvels” struggled to meet expectations.
Disney has acknowledged the impact of pandemic-related production restrictions on the film’s performance. Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, stated that the lack of supervision on set due to COVID led to unforeseen challenges that affected the final result.
While this disappointment does not signal superhero fatigue in general, it does call for a reevaluation of the future of the MCU. With several upcoming MCU movies postponed due to production delays, the studio may need to retool its strategy moving forward.
Despite this setback, analysts still anticipate hits like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “Deadpool 3” in the future. As the MCU looks to find its footing, the Merc with a Mouth may be the one to save the day.