The Marvels: An MCU Movie Delivered in Under 2 Hours
'The Marvels' breaks the mold with its refreshingly short runtime, setting it apart from other MCU and modern superhero films Don't miss out on director Nia DaCosta's unique vision that unfolds in this highly anticipated movie
Article Summary
The Marvels has a runtime of 106 minutes, making it the shortest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, showcasing a departure from recent lengthy entries.
The shorter runtime of The Marvels aligns with director Nia DaCosta's vision of a lighthearted and comedic film, as comedies often thrive with brevity to elevate their comedic hooks. Additionally, it distinguishes The Marvels from other superhero movies that aim for grandeur, presenting a fresh and contrasting take on the genre's conventions.
The internet is obsessed with dissecting every minute detail of upcoming blockbusters. Naturally, the revelation that The Marvels will have a runtime of 106 minutes has captured the attention of online enthusiasts. This makes The Marvels the shortest film ever in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a significant deviation from the length of the first Captain Marvel and other recent franchise entries like Eternals and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While recent Marvel Studios films have focused on extravagance, The Marvels appears to prioritize delivering a more concise form of entertainment.
It is difficult to determine whether this runtime is ultimately a positive or negative aspect of The Marvels without actually watching the completed film. Nevertheless, the existence of a 106-minute Marvel Studios production in 2023 highlights some intriguing facts and offers insight into writer/director Nia DaCosta's vision for her inaugural venture into blockbuster filmmaking. In essence, there may be value in scrutinizing the significance of a potentially inconsequential but likely pivotal element of The Marvels.
'The Marvels' Short Runtime Helps Director Nia DaCosta’s Vision
Image via Marvel Studios
DaCosta consistently emphasizes that The Marvels is meant to be a quirky film. The idea of Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan swapping powers is reminiscent of Freaky Friday rather than Watchmen, which suggests that DaCosta aims to create a lighthearted atmosphere for this project. Comedy movies tend to benefit from shorter runtimes. It's rare to find American comedies that are greatly improved by surpassing 110 minutes, and those that exceed the 120-minute mark can feel like a form of punishment.
Humor-focused films often rely on simple and catchy concepts that provide entertainment but can't sustain longer durations like Killers of the Flower Moon. It's perfectly acceptable; not every movie needs to be three hours long to be considered high-quality cinema. Additionally, many lead performances in comedy films that are enjoyable for 75 minutes would become tiresome after 150 minutes. Imagine enduring four hours of Adam Sandler's voice in Little Nicky - it would be excruciating! In most cases, comedies benefit from embracing the notion that "brevity is the soul of wit."
Meanwhile, DaCosta has expressed a desire for The Marvels to offer something fresh compared to other superhero films. This aspiration aligns well with its 106-minute runtime, which starkly contrasts with longer projects like The Flash, Black Adam, and Eternals, among others, that exceed two hours. While many contemporary individual superhero movies strive to match the magnitude and scope of blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, this often results in an "epic" scale and a lengthy runtime filled with action sequences and cameos. By ensuring that The Marvels is a concise experience, DaCosta aims to immediately differentiate it from the typical superhero cinema in 2023.
How Does ‘The Marvels’ Runtime Compare To Other MCU Movies?
Let's dive into the details about the runtime of The Marvels and how it compares to other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Out of the 32 Marvel Studios movies released before The Marvels, only seven had a runtime under two hours, including Ant-Man and the Wasp, Thor: Love and Thunder, Ant-Man, Thor, Doctor Strange, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor: The Dark World. The shortest among them was The Dark World, which lasted for 112 minutes. It's important to note that The Marvels will likely have a significant amount of end credits, so the actual feature length is expected to be well below 100 minutes.
It's clear that The Marvels deviates from the trend of longer Marvel Studios films, as the majority of recent Marvel Cinematic Universe installments have had extended runtimes. Only four films, Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Eternals, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, have runtimes of 150 minutes or more, all of which were released in or after April 2019. Since then, other MCU titles have also opted for longer runtimes, with both Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021 surpassing the 130-minute mark. After the success of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios has often chosen to release superhero movies with lengthy runtimes. However, The Marvels breaks away from this trend, with a runtime that falls below 120 minutes.
'X-Men: The Last Stand' and 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' Were Even Shorter Than 'The Marvels'
Image via Columbia Pictures Coorporation
In the realm of early 2000s comic book adaptations cinema, the 106-minute length of The Marvels would fit right in. Movies like the 2005 Fantastic Four and X-Men: The Last Stand ran for similar durations - 106 and 104 minutes respectively. Even shorter runtimes were seen with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance at 96 minutes and Men in Black II at 88 minutes (though it felt much longer). However, the idea of a lengthy runtime was reserved for Batman movies and Spider-Man 3 during that time. In 2022, a 106-minute runtime may stand out, but in 2006 it was the norm for superhero movie fans.
Many have tried to analyze the quality of The Marvels based on its runtime alone. Some believe that its 106 minutes suggest a disaster in the making, while others see it as a brief yet masterful film. However, forming an opinion on the film's quality solely based on its runtime is impossible. One must experience the actual film to evaluate its entertainment value. Nonetheless, the ultra-brief runtime of The Marvels does reflect the creative ambitions of writer/director Nia DaCosta, as well as the changing trends in superhero film runtimes. Examining the runtime allows one to appreciate the past and present state of this subgenre.
The Marvels
Carol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.
Release Date: November 10, 2023
Director: Nia DaCosta
Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Teyonah Parris
Rating: P3-13
Runtime: 105 minutes
Main Genre: Superhero
Additional Genres: Action, Adventure
Editor's P/S
1. The Marvels, with its 106-minute runtime, is a refreshing departure from the lengthy superhero movies that have become the norm in recent years. This shorter runtime aligns with director Nia DaCosta's vision of a lighthearted and comedic film, as comedies often thrive with brevity to elevate their comedic hooks. Additionally, it distinguishes The Marvels from other superhero movies that aim for grandeur, presenting a fresh and contrasting take on the genre's conventions.
2. The decision to keep The Marvels under two hours is a bold move that sets it apart from other MCU films and superhero movies in general. By focusing on a more concise form of entertainment, DaCosta aims to deliver a unique and memorable experience for audiences. The shorter runtime suggests that the film will prioritize character development, humor, and a fast-paced plot, rather than relying on excessive action sequences and cameos. This approach could potentially reinvigorate the superhero genre and open up new possibilities for future MCU projects.
