Why The Marvels Could Be the MCU's Biggest Game-Changer
The Marvels promises to be a refreshing addition to the MCU, but concerns loom over its potential box office success Let's delve into the anticipated plot, projected earnings, and the factors that might hinder its triumph
Highlights
Introducing The Marvels, the next chapter in the Captain Marvel saga, which intricately weaves together the narratives of Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan as their extraordinary abilities intersect in the vastness of the cosmos.
Box office projections for The Marvels, in comparison to previous Marvel films, are disappointingly low, potentially indicating pre-release failure for the movie. Contributing to its potential lack of success are the waning interest in superhero movies, market oversaturation, and lukewarm reviews of recent MCU releases. Despite its potential as a revitalizing force for the franchise, The Marvels may face difficulties ahead.
Marvel's latest addition to the MCU franchise, The Marvels, will soon be hitting theaters as the second installment in the beloved Captain Marvel series. This film will intricately weave the narratives of Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, as their extraordinary cosmic abilities intertwine. Despite the ongoing discussion regarding superhero movie fatigue, and specifically the exhaustion towards Marvel films, the MCU remains unwavering in its production of TV shows and movies at its typical fast pace.
Unfortunately, projections suggest that The Marvels may not achieve the box office success that Marvel films typically attain, much to the dismay of devoted fans, particularly Captain Marvel enthusiasts. Though this film's release should be a momentous occasion for diversity and storytelling, the MCU's efforts to ensure a smooth release seem lacking, effectively setting the movie up for disappointment even before its debut.
What Is The Marvels About?
The Marvels is the second chapter in the narrative of Captain Marvel (despite her multiple appearances in the MCU since her initial film). Once again, the story revolves around Carol Danvers, who finds herself facing an unsettled universe. To address this, she is assigned to investigate a wormhole connected to a Kree revolutionary. During her mission, her cosmic powers become intertwined with those of Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan (also known as Ms. Marvel). Together, they must learn to harness their powers and unite as a team in order to rescue the universe.
What Is The Marvels' Projected Box Office?
Box office analysts can estimate a movie's opening box office numbers even before its release. The Marvels is predicted to open at $75M-$80M, which is approximately 50% lower than the opening of Captain Marvel. Although the initial projection was even lower, the current forecast has slightly increased the total. Nevertheless, this opening is considered disappointing for a Marvel movie. If the projection holds true, it would mean that The Marvels will have an even lower opening than Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which was also known for its underwhelming performance at the MCU box office.
How The Marvels Was Set Up To Fail
The declining interest in the MCU culminating with this film is not surprising, but unfortunate. Both the general public and former Marvel fans are feeling fatigued with superhero movies, especially after Avengers: Endgame. The market is saturated, particularly with the multitude of Disney Plus shows and movies released by the MCU each year, making it challenging to keep up. Furthermore, many of these releases do not live up to the quality of earlier MCU entries, receiving mediocre reviews and reactions from fans.
Marvel must be aware of the prevailing sentiment towards their movies by now. While they continue to have success at the box office compared to other films, their numbers are dwindling. However, they have not taken any action to address this trend. They have not made changes to their storytelling approach or reduced the number of releases, resulting in each new entry being overshadowed even more. Ironically, The Marvels has the potential to bring a breath of fresh air to the MCU, but Marvel has not effectively marketed or positioned it for great success.
It's unfortunate that a movie in the MCU, directed by a woman of color (Nia DaCosta, director of Candyman) and featuring three lead female characters (two of whom are women of color), is the one facing the consequences of declining interest in the MCU. There's a possibility that the lack of success of this movie (if the box office numbers prove to be true) could be wrongly interpreted by higher-ups as a sign that audiences are uninterested in these types of stories and may steer away from this direction. The Marvels already appears to be a successful step towards representation, but its financial success may not accurately reflect that. Unfortunately, in a studio system that prioritizes profit above everything else, that may be the sole factor that counts.
