The Marvels: A Box Office Disaster for Marvel Studios

The Marvels' Disappointing Box Office Performance

Since its release on November 10, 2023, The Marvels has broken some of the most unfortunate and shocking box office records for Marvel Studios. The long-awaited sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel marked the returns of Brie Larson's Carol Danvers, Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan to the MCU, banding together as a powerful new superhero team to battle Zawe Ashton's Kree villain, Dar-Benn. However, despite a generally positive audience response, The Marvels has been one of the most disappointing additions to the MCU, grossing nowhere near as much as its 2019 predecessor at the global box office, and leaving Captain Marvel's future in the MCU uncertain.

The Marvels' team in the MCU's Phase 5

With the help of Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury and the crew of the SABER Space Station, The Marvels' titular trio fought Dar-Benn after realizing that their light-based abilities had become entangled, causing them to switch places every time their powers were used simultaneously. The fast-paced storyline of The Marvels, which covered everything from Captain Marvel destroying the Kree's Supreme Intelligence to Danvers' marriage to Prince Yan of Aladna, developed the MCU's Multiverse Saga in some exciting ways. However, The Marvels has performed abysmally at the global box office, culminating in the Phase 5 film breaking a number of Marvel Studios records that no project wants to be associated with.

Captain Marvel using her power to swap places in The Marvels

On a budget of $274.8 million, The Marvels has grossed a total of $202.6 million at the box office, as of December 13, 2023, making The Marvels the lowest-grossing MCU project since the franchise began. This record was previously held by The Incredible Hulk, which totaled $264.8 million in 2008. This has been a shocking result for The Marvels, especially after 2019's Captain Marvel brought in a whopping $1.131 billion.

Captain Marvel as the Princess of Aladna in The Marvels

Record-Breaking Numbers

As the lowest-grossing MCU project, The Marvels falls behind 2008's The Incredible Hulk, 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, and 2021's Black Widow, which grossed $379.8 million, but released during the COVID-19 pandemic in theaters and on Disney+ simultaneously. Additionally, The Marvels is the only MCU project not to earn $100 million domestically, having totaled only $83.4 million. This is roughly $50 million behind The Incredible Hulk's $134.8 million domestic gross, marking a major disappointment for Marvel Studios.

Dar-Benn with both Quantum Bands in The Marvels

The drama of The Marvels' disappointing box office record breaks has caused many to ignore or miss one more-positive broken record. Totaling $46.1 million domestically in its opening weekend, The Marvels marked the highest opening weekend for a Black female director in history. In fact, The Marvels has gone on to become the highest-grossing film directed by a Black woman, with Nia DaCosta's MCU installment surpassing 2018's A Wrinkle in Time, which totaled $133.2 million at the box office. While this tells a sorrier story of Black recognition in Hollywood, this does help to put a positive spin on The Marvels - something that the Phase 5 film desperately needed.

Monica Rambeau in The Marvels' post-credits scene

Impact of The Marvels on the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The disappointing box office performance of The Marvels has raised questions about the future of Captain Marvel in the MCU. The film's underperformance has left Captain Marvel's future in the MCU uncertain, especially after the massive success of the 2019 Captain Marvel movie. This record-breaking underperformance has also impacted the perception of the MCU's Multiverse Saga, which was expected to be developed in some exciting ways through The Marvels. However, the abysmal box office performance of The Marvels has resulted in a negative association for the Phase 5 film, with it being labeled a box office bomb.

Captain Marvel flying her ship in The Marvels

The Marvels' disappointing box office performance has also highlighted the challenges faced by Black female directors in Hollywood. While the film achieved the highest opening weekend for a Black female director, its overall box office performance has raised concerns about the recognition and success of Black women in the film industry. The impact of The Marvels on the representation and opportunities for Black women in Hollywood has become a topic of discussion, shedding light on the complexities and obstacles faced by minority filmmakers in the industry.

Kamala Khan screaming at Goose in The Marvels