Are Marvel movies losing their magic touch? The box office numbers for “The Marvels” aren’t looking so marvelous. The film opened to a mere $46.1 million, a far cry from the original film’s debut. And the bad news keeps coming – it’s estimated to plummet a whopping 73 percent in its second weekend, with Exhibitor Relations even suggesting it could drop 75-80 percent.
To make matters worse, director Nia DiCosta’s comments about critics of the MCU’s woke makeover didn’t do the film any favors. She called out “virulent and violent and racist—and sexist and homophobic and all those awful things” pockets of fandom, which likely didn’t sit well with potential moviegoers.
The media’s negative narrative about the film hasn’t helped either, with even left-leaning outlets rushing to the rescue. The far-Left HuffPo claims the response to “The Marvels” is racist and sexist, conveniently forgetting the success of black-led films like “Black Panther,” “Wakanda Forever,” “Hidden Figures” and “Get Out.” Plus, the biggest hit of 2023 so far is “Barbie,” a film with feminism baked into every scene.
“The Marvels” isn’t the only film facing a box office nightmare. Director Taika Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins” opened with a dismal $2.2 million from 2,240 theaters, and the bad reviews are pouring in. Waititi’s once shining brand is certainly losing its luster.
So, what’s the deal with these movie flops? Is it the woke makeovers, the negative media narratives, or the changing tastes of moviegoers? It’s hard to say, but one thing’s for sure – these films aren’t living up to the superhero hype.
