The Marvels had a budget of approximately $220 million but has only earned roughly $165 million through November. By any metric, that qualifies as a box office bomb.
Why did The Marvels bomb?
I found the movie to be pretty entertaining but it’s not without its flaws. But I’m not here to chronicle the film’s flaws.
I am here to tell you the four reasons why I think the movie has not done well.
Reason #1: No Buzz
Whether it was due to the Hollywood writer’s strike, which made it impossible for actors to promote the movie, or the trailer promotions lacking pizazz—there was little to no momentum leading up to the film’s release on November 10.
Reason #2: Superhero Movie Fatigue
Comic book movie fatigue in general, and MCU movie fatigue in particular both appear to have hurt the film. There are so many viewing options these days, that a film must really stand out, to stand out. And this film did neither.
Reason #3: Brie Larson
Larson is, by any measure, an excellent, Oscar-winning performer. However, despite her acting resume and her solo film (Captain Marvel) grossing over a billion dollars at the box office, her depiction as Carol Danvers has been met with mixed reception since she debuted in the role in 2018.
I’ve always felt that her diminutive stature, relative to the comic book character, as well as her super stoic depiction of the hero, have hurt the character’s impact.
Reason #4: Disney+ Dilution
The idea of more MCU content available on streaming to supplement the big screen content seemed like a great idea when it was ushered in with WandaVision in 2021.
But sometimes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. I think that’s been the case. With so many shows to follow and so many plot lines to connect, many moviegoers are feeling confused and overwhelmed. I’m not one of them but I’ve heard the sentiment on X.
I’m sure there are more reasons to explain why The Marvels bombed but those are the ones that most resonated with me.
