2024: The Year of Marvel and DC Movies

The Anticipation for Marvel and DC Movies in 2024

Marvel and DC have two of the most anticipated 2024 movies, despite rising discussions about superhero movie fatigue. The superhero genre's dominance over Hollywood is a phenomenon of unprecedented dimensions, which has led many to predict an imminent collapse. Yet, Marvel and DC's decrease in output during 2024 hasn't been an obstacle for their next releases. The MCU's only 2024 release is Deadpool 3 and DC's only 2024 release is Joker: Folie à Deux, but they're two of the most anticipated projects in the whole year.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Joaquin Phoenix as Joker in Marvel and DC Movies

According to Fandango (via Deadline), Marvel Studios' Deadpool 3 is 2024's 'Most Anticipated Wide-Release Film' and the 'Most Anticipated Superhero Movie' overall, and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is the 'Most Anticipated Hero'. Over at DC, the 'Most Anticipated New Performances on the Big Screen' and the second 'Most Anticipated Villain' is Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux, with Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character coming in second in the 'Most Anticipated Villain' category and the Joker sequel landing third place in the 'Most Anticipated Superhero Movie' category.

Why 2024 Can Be A Big Year For Marvel And DC

Marvel and DC's lower output in 2024 is great news for Deadpool 3 and Joker: Folie à Deux, as they won't have to compete with other big-name superhero movies from the MCU, the DCEU, or the upcoming DC Universe. Barring Sony's Spider-Man-related movies Madame Web, Kraven the Hunter, and Venom 3, Deadpool 3 and Joker: Folie à Deux will receive all the attention from superhero fans and general audiences in 2024. It also helps that Deadpool 3's July release date and Joker: Folie à Deux's October release date leave plenty of time between 2023 and 2025 to raise expectations even more.

Fortunately for Marvel and DC, Deadpool and Joker are proven moneymakers. 2016's Deadpool and 2018's Deadpool 2 surpassed the $780 million mark, and 2019's Joker reached $1.07 billion worldwide. Joker and the first two Deadpool movies were released outside the leading cinematic universes, proving that they could work as standalone projects without the need to be tied to the MCU and the DCEU. They were also R-rated, which made their critical and commercial success an even more impressive achievement, considering they had a more limited audience than the usual superhero movie. Given their precedents, Deadpool 3 and Joker: Folie à Deux are almost guaranteed to be unanimous hits in 2024.

The Change in 2024: A New Era for Marvel and DC

Compared to the last three years, 2024 is a quite different year for Marvel and DC. Both Disney and Warner Bros. had increased their yearly releases by a wide margin since 2021, with the advent of streaming promoting a bigger output. However, the MCU's excessive volume since the start of Phase 4 and DC's streak of box office failures have led both franchises to slow down and rethink their respective strategies. While it may be disappointing for many, this change in 2024 promises to bring better Marvel and DC projects in 2025, as each title will have more time to polish the little details and avoid overwhelming the audience.