The Marvels Smashes the MCU's Runtime Record & Sets a New Benchmark

Summary

The Marvels, the highly-anticipated sequel to Captain Marvel, boasts the briefest duration in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, clocking in at a mere 105 minutes. This concise runtime bodes well, indicating a focused and easily digestible cinematic experience.

The Marvels, with its shorter duration, defies the belief that every MCU movie must be a lengthy epic, suggesting a concentrated and thrilling plot. Despite its brevity, The Marvels holds promise as a top-notch film, drawing inspiration from the accomplishments of other concise MCU movies such as Doctor Strange. By forgoing the need for origin stories, the film plunges straight into the heart of the narrative.

The Marvels has already broken an MCU record for its runtime, which is a promising sign. In the upcoming Captain Marvel sequel, we will see various Avengers teaming up outside of a full Avengers movie. Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan will be facing off against another MCU Kree renegade, Dar-Benn. With a runtime of 105 minutes, The Marvels will be one of the shortest MCU movies on the list, which includes the following:

The Marvels (1 hour 45 minutes)

The Incredible Hulk (1 hour 52 minutes)

Thor: The Dark World (1 hour 52 minutes)

Doctor Strange (1 hour 55 minutes)

The runtime of Thor (1 hour 55 minutes) is relatively shorter compared to most modern blockbusters, especially within the MCU franchise. This might raise some concerns, as the shortest MCU films are often the lowest rated. However, it is important to note that the length of a movie does not necessarily reflect its quality.

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Marvel Movies Don't All Need To Be 3 Hours

It's difficult to imagine an MCU movie with such a short runtime, especially since the franchise's most iconic films tend to exceed three hours. The shorter length could suggest that the stakes in The Marvels are less elevated than in previous movies. After all, if the main characters can defeat Dar-Benn in under two hours, she can't be too formidable. However, this conclusion is not guaranteed, and it might actually indicate that The Marvels has streamlined its narrative, making it easier to digest compared to exposition-heavy epics like Avengers: Endgame.

The Marvels is just 10 minutes shorter than Doctor Strange, one of the superior MCU films. This weakens the perceived connection between shorter runtimes and subpar quality, especially considering the messy productions that plagued the other two shortest MCU movies. Interestingly, despite three characters sharing the leading role in The Marvels, there is no need for origin stories. This eliminates the rush of explaining how they acquired their powers, allowing The Marvels to focus on the main event. This promises to be a refreshing experience amidst the current climate of the franchise.