The superhero genre sees threats to its continued existence and profitability, as well as the horror of worlds within which it no longer serves as the sole ordering principle. Taken together, this recent wave of superhero media presents a snapshot of a genre in existential crisis.
Marvel failing to attract a significant audience. As difficult as it is to get concrete metrics about streaming, there is some indication that Marvel Studios’ streaming shows have become a source of diminishing returns, with Ms. Despite a fairly advantageous place on the release calendar and copious amounts of franchise nostalgia, The Flash folded on its opening weekend. Shazam! Fury of the Gods was one of the biggest box office flops in the history of the superhero genre. However, Quantumania is just one example of a larger trend. Despite showcasing Kang (Jonathan Majors) - the headline villain of the company’s upcoming “ Multiverse Saga” - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania earned less than either of its two predecessors at the global box office, less than half a billion dollars, and so fell short of the $600 million box office that it would need to turn a profit. However, there are other indicators that the genre might be in trouble. These movies are still drawing sizable audiences and dominating the cultural conversation. 3 will likely end up comfortably in the 10 highest-grossing movies of the year. While its box office figures are down compared to the previous entry in the franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has radically over-performed relative to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Of course, the death of the superhero genre is greatly exaggerated. Across movies and shows, across different companies and universes, the superhero genre is facing an existential crisis. An interesting recurring trend in this year’s wave of superhero blockbusters is the sense that many of these stories are fundamentally about that slip. However, over the past few years, the genre’s hold on the popular consciousness has slipped just a little bit. The superhero genre has dominated Hollywood blockbusters for the better part of two decades, if not longer.
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