The newest movie in the MCU, The Marvels, had the slowest box office start in the history of the franchise when it debuted this month. Disney CEO Bob Iger attributed the poor results in part to a lack of executive oversight during filming, which he said was due to the challenges of shooting during the pandemic. Speaking at the DealBook Summit in New York, Iger noted that there was less supervision on set than usual, with fewer executives present to oversee the production of the film.
In addition to the discussion, Iger acknowledged that it was a "clear error" for the movie division to "supply the streaming platforms," specifically Disney+. He emphasized that Marvel's recent projects have been "significantly impacted" as a result.
"Quality demands focus. ... It doesn't simply happen. The quantity, in our case, has compromised the quality," Iger emphasized. "Currently, my top priority is to assist the studio in a creative turnaround."
The Marvels has already grossed over $187 million worldwide at the box office. In contrast, 2019's Captain Marvel made an impressive $1.1 billion during its theatrical run.
The release of The Marvels coincided with the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, resulting in the film's stars being unavailable to promote it leading up to its release. Additionally, comparing box office numbers against the original Captain Marvel isn't entirely accurate or fair, considering the impact of the pandemic.
The Marvels is expected to become the lowest-grossing movie in the history of the MCU, spanning 33 films. It is unclear whether the phenomenon of "superhero fatigue" played a role in this outcome. Marvel's future release schedule for 2024 includes only one movie, Deadpool 3. Our website's review of The Marvels awarded the film a 7/10 rating, describing it as "meaningless fun."
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I am deeply saddened by the news that The Marvels, the latest installment in the franchise, has had a disappointing performance at the box office. The film's slow start is particularly concerning, as it marks the first time in the MCU's history that a movie has failed to meet expectations. While there may be a number of factors contributing to this outcome, I believe that the lack of executive oversight during filming, as mentioned by Disney CEO Bob Iger, is a significant factor.
The MCU has always been known for its high-quality productions, and I believe that the lack of supervision on set may have compromised the final product. Additionally, the fact that the film's stars were unavailable to promote it leading up to its release due to the SAG-AFTRA strike certainly did not help matters. Despite these challenges, I remain optimistic about the future of the MCU. I believe that Marvel Studios is capable of learning from its mistakes and bouncing back with stronger films in the future.
