Marvel Studios, known for its string of successful superhero movies, faced a significant setback with “The Marvels.” The movie, which cost approximately $300 million to produce and market, only brought in $47 million in ticket sales in the United States and Canada, marking the lowest debut for a Marvel release. This was described as an “unprecedented Marvel box office collapse” by David A. Gross, a film consultant.
The movie, which serves as a sequel to “Captain Marvel”, also garnered disappointment for Disney, with its executive vice president of theatrical distribution stating that the results were “disappointing” given Marvel’s track record. He attributed part of the disappointment to potential barriers to entry, as some viewers may have felt the need to watch Disney+ shows to understand the film.
While the movie also generated $63.3 million overseas, it failed to resonate with audiences to the extent that was hoped. Factors such as the actors’ strike and superhero fatigue may have contributed to the underwhelming performance. Additionally, the relentless increase in output, driven by a push for Disney+ content, led to concerns about the impact on the quality of the movies and television series produced by Marvel Studios.
Disney is now scaling back its Marvel Studios output, with only one film scheduled for release next year and several others pushed back to 2025. “Deadpool 3” is the only Marvel movie currently set for release next year.
