‘The Marvels’ is officially the lowest-grossing installment, grossing $197 million globally after four weeks in theatres.
According to The Times, although it remains in theatres until New Year’s, the superhero film is expected to end its run with dismal receipts in December, leaving it at a loss despite having spent over $220 million on it.
Disney announced a stop to weekend reporting for “The Marvels,” Variety revealed, acknowledging the declining box office.
The film’s lacklustre run started on November 10, when it made the worst MCU debut, grossing $46 million domestically. The following weeks witnessed an astounding 78% drop in ticket sales, cementing its record as the largest second-weekend drop in the franchise.
Notably, ‘The Marvels’ is the first Marvel film to miss the $100 million mark domestically, signalling a departure from the success of its predecessor, ‘Captain Marvel.’ Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, attributes the film’s subpar performance to pandemic-related production challenges.
As the film draws closer to its theatrical release, it is unable to overtake ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ which took the title as the lowest-grossing MCU film in 2008.
This setback stands in stark contrast to Marvel’s otherwise excellent track record, which includes 33 films and $29.8 billion in global revenue.
Notwithstanding “The Marvels'” setback, critics reject the idea that audiences are weary of superhero films, pointing to blockbusters like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and the highly anticipated “Deadpool 3.”
The movie does, however, make one point clear: fans’ enthusiasm for Marvel Studios’ comic-inspired stories is declining.
Disney faces the challenge of redefining the future of superhero movies with upcoming MCU releases like “Thunderbolts,” “Blade,” and “Captain America: A Brave New World” postponed due to production delays.
