Superheroes are killing the film industry, and here is why

You either love it or hate it: superheroes. In the last 10 years, 23 films from the Marvel universe alone have been shown in cinema’s. And it seems like the franchise isn’t done yet because 8 new Marvel films are scheduled for the next 3 years and another 11 that haven’t set a date yet. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the same content over and over again. But isn’t it time for change? My question is: When will it end?

Photo by Ayo Ogunseinde on Unsplash

Now don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate all fandoms that come and go, even when it comes to Marvel and DC. Because there is just something that keeps people together to watch these movies and being able to connect with. And even I can acknowledge how incredibly designed all of these characters are. However, these sorts of movies just don’t seem to be going anywhere. And this is something I can’t get my mind around. Because, who wants to see the same storyline over and over, just with different characters? What is so interesting about good vs. evil, and the good that almost always win. Aren’t we ready for something different by now?

Source: Giphy

But I also believe that these superheroes are leaving no room for new ideas and stories. And if there isn’t a new superhero movie in the cinema’s every 3 months, there is another remake that takes that spot (Crow, 2018). How dangerous is this for other ‘meaningful’ movies that just don’t get that much attention and to many people they aren’t ‘’worth it’’ to watch in the cinema (Heroic, 2019).

Source: Giphy

Let’s take a look at the box office. The original Iron Man movie from 2008 has grossed 585 million dollars worldwide. And when Avengers: Infinity War came out in 2018, it was said that if that movie didn’t reach 1 billion dollars more, it would be considered a flop

(Aftab, 2018). Avengers: Infinity War had a box office grossing of 2.048 billion worldwide and Avengers: End game that was released this year has reached a staggering 2.798. What does it mean when we live in a world where if an independent film makes 1 million at for example a UK box-office, it is considered a success and a hit. But, when a movie of this franchise ‘only’ makes a billion, it is considered a flop (Crow, 2018).

The alarming thing about this information is that big Hollywood studios don’t even try anymore to create ambitious blockbusters like The Godfather, because they just don’t make enough money. In 2007 the major Hollywood studios still produced an average of 150 movies a year, note: this is before the superhero craze. Now, there are only an average of 93 movies produced and released a year

(Aftab, 2018).

Source: Giphy

This goes to show that current and aspiring filmmakers are not getting the same opportunities as they used to. Studios are after the movies with the smallest risks and the safest guarantee of big returns, hence the superhero franchise is doing so well. However, it is not just that, it also has mostly to do with branding. Superheroes are marketed as the movies you MUST see, and therefore the importance of the actual activity of moviegoing is diminished (Heroic, 2019). Why should people pay as much for an independent movie when they can stream it from Netflix in a couple of months, and instead go to watch Joker and follow the hype.

I can understand that these franchises mean a lot to people and that they can find some sort of comfort in knowing that there will be more superhero movies to come in the future. Obviously Marvel and DC are doing something right. Nonetheless, do we really need more Spiderman and batman? How many of those movies have we already seen? And are we truly interested to see more spin-offs of the Avengers? Should Superheroes stay or go? Submit your answer in the poll below, and if you want to share your opinion, head over to our Facebook page and leave a comment!

I believe Marvel is overrated, feel free to change my mind

Source: Giphy