What Happened?

At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel revealed plans for several upcoming projects, including the next Avengers films. Along with announcing the change in direction by unveiling the retitled Avengers: Doomsday, the Russo brothers were also announced to be directing both it and its follow-up Avengers: Secret Wars. But the biggest moment came when it was shown that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU. This time as another Marvel Comics mainstay, Victor Von Doom/Dr. Doom. Will he be the real Dr Doom, a variant, or something else? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Marvel: The Big Picture

These announcements come at a time of relative uncertainty for Marvel. After the MCU’s prior Phases, all managed to outperform each other Phase 4 only just managed to outgross Phase 2. Despite incorporating more projects and having the benefit of already being an established brand. Plus Phases 5 and 6 have suffered major delays. 

Of course, there are wider issues to bear in mind. Phase 4 had to weather the impacts of a global pandemic which will have skewed the people willing to attend cinema screenings for its early films. Phases 5 and 6 were also impacted by the SAG/AFTRA and WGA strikes, leading to delayed productions which can impact audience enthusiasm and budgets. Plus Marvel has had to overhaul its narrative plans due to Jonathan Majors’ assault conviction. Marvel can still recover. Deadpool and Wolverine just had the most successful MCU run since Spiderman: No Way Home.

But whether it be the continual stories about them short-changing creatives, the less consistent positive reception for their movies or the fact that they have seen their first genuine box office loss, despite being a pop-culture juggernaut for years, Marvel no longer enjoys an unstoppable reputation.

Could It Work?

Having the directors behind some of Marvel’s biggest hits back will likely attract Marvel fans. Plus bringing Robert Downey Jr back to the MCU as someone other than Iron Man, undoubtedly his most recognisable role, will be a huge draw for general audiences. Especially, since he is playing one of the most recognisable comic book villains ever.

That said it’s hard not to feel cynical about this. After years of hiring new and interesting filmmakers (Chloe Zhao, Nia DaCosta, Destin Daniel Cretton etc.) and working with some of the world’s best actors (Gael Garcia Bernal, Oscar Isaac, Florence Pugh and more coming) this feels like a toothless move.

Some may say this is needed to generate as much excitement as possible but that doesn’t ring true. Marvel has spent years honing its look. Many commentators state that filmmakers with unique voices have often, with some exceptions, had to subordinate their talents to making films in Marvel’s style. Therefore the Russo brothers’ return seems to merely be a nostalgia ploy. Functionally, if the producers don’t allow any creative freedom the new Avengers projects will look like every other Marvel film. Regardless of who directs them.

Marvel has also picked talented actors to play their villains before. So long as they build their presence enough and they have good material to work with they can thrill viewers. See Josh Brolin’s Thanos for proof. But having RDJ as the first face leading the upcoming Avengers movies serves at best as a cheap mystery box driven by the actor’s reputation. At worst, it gives the impression that Marvel can think of nothing better to revive interest than bringing a popular actor back, which cheapens Robert Downey Jr’s talents and makes him into just a marketing gimmick.

Summary

Of course, this is just my opinion and there is no reason these announcements won’t potentially lead to a great box office. As it says, the next Avengers projects are in stable hands and provide enough mystery to get people interested. But ultimately given how much Marvel makes and its pull in the industry this move feels incredibly cheap. And if Marvel is to retain audiences as the storylines continue to become more complicated it can’t just rely on mystery marketing and nostalgia to sustain it forever.

Also Read: Deadpool & Wolverine: The Antidote For A Stagnant MCU?

This article may contain sponsored content or affiliate links. Big Picture Film Club may receive compensation if you click on or make purchases through certain links.

The post Marvel Re-Assemble: Can Robert Downey Jr Spark Mass Interest In The MCU Again? appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Today we are going to look at several challenges the MCU has been facing recently. We will review how they could respond to them, and whether we think their response will be enough.

Far From Satisfactory

So what problems is the MCU encountering at the moment? Well firstly, as Tatiana Siegel has pointed out, the franchise has had to drastically change its plans after Jonathan Majors, who was to play Kang the Conquerer, the MCU’s next big villain, was charged with domestic violence. The MCU, therefore, has to change all of its plans to pivot away from Majors. This will require time and money to do as the character was apparently already a major part of several upcoming projects.

A tall order but as the world’s most successful franchise the MCU has access to the capital to shift things. However, the franchise has also just had its worst box office performance ever with The Marvels. Regardless of its overall quality, The Marvels marks the first time an MCU film has made an outright box office loss. Which could signal the start of more uncertainty in the studio’s box office footing.

Additionally, we have seen many stories about Marvel butting heads with its creatives. VFX artists who work for Marvel have recently made moves to unionise in the face of large workloads and a lack of adequate time management and compensation. The studio has also faced many accusations of undercutting its creatives work through constantly changing direction and underpaying its writers. Something that might not be viewed favorably in the aftermath of the industry strikes.

Plus with much discussion about Marvel potentially losing its audiences as they age or become alienated by the number of intertwined movies, Marvel could be in trouble if it doesn’t think of solutions fast.

No Way Out?

So what is Marvel planning on doing? Well as Siegel stated there are talks about the potential of bringing back the original Avengers stars for a new film which could regain fan confidence and box office attendance. Marvel has also already announced that releases would be slowing down to try to retain good-quality output.

There is also potential to reinvigorate the franchise with the release of the new projects that Disney got from Fox. Coupled with the incorporation of the Netflix properties.

And Marvel is also taking steps to change the direction of some of its upcoming projects. Marvel even plans to have dedicated executives oversee the development of its television projects. Which will hopefully produce more focused results.

Marvel’s Endgame

It is entirely possible to see Marvel bounce back. Dialling back the number of productions to combat audience fatigue and allow more time for creatives to make good films and deal with the troubles currently faced by too many titles and Jonathan Major’s departure is a positive thing. However, the MCU is still at risk if it doesn’t fix its attitude towards creatives and think about its overarching goal.

With some of its VFX artists now unionised (which could hopefully influence more artists) Marvel will have to operate with more regard for its workers if it wants to keep them on board in the future. This means they should expect higher production costs/time if they want good quality end results. Equally, if the company doesn’t fix its relationship with writers and directors, it’s easy to see the brand being avoided by many creatives. If Marvel wants to continue making these movies it needs creatives onside to keep people watching. The recent strikes taught us that Hollywood cannot live without its creative blood and if the studios refuse to recognize their contributions then the price will be costly.

And if the MCU still aims to indefinitely produce interconnected media then it will eventually begin to alienate audiences as individual projects keep requiring more and more things to be watched. Marvel certainly needs to think more about its plans for the future.

Also Read: The MCU Phase 4: Dividing Audiences?

The post Marvel Cinematic Universe: From A Love To Hate Relationship appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Today I want to discuss the benefits of the MCU having a definitive ending. I will look at how ending the MCU will be positive for its overall narrative, the creatives behind it, and the industry as a whole.

The Narrative

The MCU has so many characters, narratives, and so many projects overlap, it’s becoming hard to keep up. This will be more pronounced in the upcoming cross-over movies. Where prior story knowledge is necessary to invest in the action. The MCU was bound to eventually encounter this problem. As its universe grows it’s gradually becoming more alienating for those who haven’t seen everything.

Since Endgame the MCU has had to conclude or continue the stories of characters with prior status in the universe, introduce new characters for future projects, and set up the next universe-spanning goal. All in a shorter time frame than the Infinity Saga. It’s a lot for non-die-hard fans to deal with. Plus with the huge cinematic end goal now passed, representing the culmination of years of emotional investment, it feels as if the MCU is only continuing because it can. Which could represent a problem in keeping fans invested. Introducing beloved characters can rejuvenate interest. But if this continues indefinitely it may lessen the shared universe’s impact by lacking focus and enforcing how replaceable characters can be.

A definitive ending meanwhile would tell audiences that everything being released is building toward something. It will also build a sense of stakes and emotional engagement as having a finite time left with these characters will build appreciation for everything audiences see. Most of all it will give audiences satisfaction from having a sense of closure to these characters and stories. People remember endings and if it’s done well the MCU’s legacy will be permanently cemented.

The Creatives

This move would also benefit the creatives. It’s often noted how few directors can showcase their own styles in the MCU. Additionally, with the number of projects increasing more demand has been placed on workers like effects artists. This has led to many MCU films feeling similar and interchangeable, along with quality suffering and artist burnout.

The Marvel brand in general shows a lack of appreciation for what industry artists bring to a project. Valuing brand cohesion above all else. It’s therefore in the best interests of creatives that the MCU has a well-planned endpoint. To ensure the films’ quality don’t continue to degrade, to give breathing room back to the artists, and to end the high-profile devaluation of industry creativity.

The Industry

Some may say ending the MCU would lower cinema attendance. But other studio superhero projects can still bring in audiences. Ending the MCU wouldn’t end superhero films. But it would allow space for new voices and stories.

The MCU represents a golden age for superhero films. If it were to end satisfactorily it could, like the classical westerns, encourage future creators to explore, experiment with and critique the genre. It also would not necessarily mean an end to future Marvel projects. However, not having to continue the ongoing MCU story and aesthetic would allow for more creative freedom. All leading to more exciting genre possibilities.

Conclusion

This isn’t meant as an anti-MCU article. The MCU experiment has had many great aspects. But post-Endgame its flaws have become impossible to ignore. Personally, I think it would be best for the MCU to end before its self-perpetuation destroys the goodwill it has engendered over the years.

Also Read: The MCU Phase 4: Dividing Audiences?

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post Endgame: Why The Marvel Cinematic Universe Needs A Definitive Ending appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

2022s Box Office Top 10

At the time of writing these are the top 10 highest-grossing films at the worldwide box office in 2022 according to Box Office Mojo. 

10. Moon Man (Over $460,237,600)

9. Water Gate Bridge (Over $626,571,600)

8. Thor: Love and Thunder (Over $760,928,000)

7. The Batman (Over $770,945,500)

6. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Over $831,942,300)

5. Minions: The Rise of Gru (Over $939,628,200)

4. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Over $955,775,800)

3. Jurassic World: Dominion (Over $1,001,978,000)

2. Top Gun: Maverick (Over $1,488,732,800)

1. Avatar: The Way of Water (Over $1,749,253,900)

In total the top 10 highest-grossing films earned over $9,587,993,700. There were 2 non-English language films in the top 10 (Moon Man and Water Gate Bridge). 4 of the big earners were produced by companies owned by Disney (Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness came from Marvel Studios while Avatar: The Way of Water was from 20th Century Studios), 2 had some involvement from Universal (Minions: The Rise of Gru and Jurassic World: Dominion), 1 was distributed by Paramount (Top Gun: Maverick) and 1 came from Warner Bros (The Batman).

The 2020s At The Box Office

How does this list and its revenue look when viewed next to the rest of the 2020s? Well, comparatively, 2022 was a very solid year. With pandemic restrictions firmly relaxed across many countries cinema-goers have returned to the theatres in good numbers. The top 10 movies this year earned almost 3 times what 2020’s top 10 earned. It even managed to outperform 2021’s top 10 by around $1.9 billion. This year also saw 3 movies cross the $1 billion mark and all 3 came from different studios. Interestingly, this also marked the first year since 2015 (excluding 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic) when the year’s two highest-grossing films were not affiliated with Disney.

But what does this box office top 10 tell us about the industry and what the future potentially holds? 

Lessons From 2022

2022 showed us primarily that franchises continue to be the big audience draw. So franchises are still likely to produce the biggest hits going forward. However, Top Gun: Maverick and even Avatar: The Way of Water have proven that smaller franchises still have the possibility to attract huge box office numbers. Additionally, the top 3 have shown that non-Disney-made films may have a chance to earn greater attention than in the pre-covid landscape.

Secondly, while international language pictures may be struggling in the box office rankings post-covid, with only 2 non-English films in this year’s top 10 (2021 had 3 and 2020 had 5), 2022 showed they still have potential to pull in good earnings in the future with Chinese language films proving to be a particularly big draw recently with growing interest in international releases. We could possibly see more big international hits if they are given better worldwide distribution.

Finally, while these figures prove the industry has certainly not reached pre-pandemic box office levels it is still in a healthy spot. This year’s top 10 managed to outperform 2016s (over $9,320,848,700) and while it is a way off from 2018s and 2019s numbers those movies were dominated by highly anticipated franchise entries, like the conclusion to Marvel’s Infinity Saga, which will be hard to immediately replicate. Thus 2022 showcases that the industry is on the road to recovery. Hopefully, 2023 will yield even more interesting and healthy box office results.

Also Read: Time To Rethink The Box Office Film Charts?

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post Box Office 2022: Returning To Cinemas appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Love and Thunder

Phase 4’s box office was disappointing compared to Phases 2 and 3 but the dip is explainable. Firstly, Phase 4 had fewer films than Phase 3. Marvel’s 2021 film releases also had to entice people back to cinemas after the pandemic. Even with that disadvantage Black Widow, Shang-Chi and Eternals all did respectable business. And Spider-Man: No Way Home became Marvel’s third highest-grossing film. Meanwhile, 2022s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness outperformed its predecessor. Thor: Love and Thunder also did well for a more modestly performing subseries.

Regarding critic and fan reactions 2 Phase 4 projects (at the time of writing) have rotten RT ratings (Eternals and She-Hulk). While this represents an increased negative reaction to prior phases, which had 3 rotten ratings across 34 projects, it hasn’t increased by much. On IMDb 4/6 Phase 4 films are rated below 7 stars. The most of any phase. Additionally, only 1 of this phase’s 8 shows is rated above 8 stars (Loki). These are harsh reactions, but the site also shows that Marvel’s series are generally divisive. Only 3 of their 18 shows have ratings above 8 stars. And while Phase 4’s films were generally disliked, they were only disliked slightly more than Phase 1. Which has 3/6 films rated below 7 stars. So Phase 4 when judged in context is hardly a complete loss.

Age of Trolls

One other thing to bear in mind is that several Phase 4 projects were review-bombed and targeted for negative criticism before even being released for focusing on telling socially conscious stories with more diverse casts. Slightly compromising review site data.

This makes it harder to review Phase 4’s impact because it’s blighted by such toxic discourse. And, just to restate the obvious, telling socially conscious stories based around diverse, marginalized voices is not the problem with the MCU. Anyone who thinks it is has no place in any discussion about media.

Far From Perfect

There are however legitimate criticisms that could explain some audience dissatisfaction. One common complaint is the MCU’s recent oversaturation. With 14 big projects released from 2021-2022, there simply hasn’t been enough room to let fans breathe before another project comes along. Which could have resulted in franchise fatigue.

Additionally, the sheer number of projects, straddling different genres, characters and timelines, has made it harder for fans to identify their purpose in relation to the Multiverse Saga’s overarching narrative. Although prior phases had confusing moments each project felt like a contained story that slowly progressed the overarching plot. But the sheer volume of new elements being sprawled across different mediums in such a short time may be making it harder to keep audiences invested.

And this saga’s reduced time frame (five years, compared to the Infinity saga’s eleven) has led to Marvel putting more pressure on their workers. Which results in many things feeling rushed, undercooked or unfocused. 

New MCU Order

Overall Marvel’s Phase 4 was affected by many factors, such as the pandemic fallout and targeted hate campaigns, making it hard to claim the era is a total dud from audience and box office perspectives.

Of course, Marvel does have problems. Its brand oversaturation, scattershot approach to storytelling and reduced timescale have resulted in much less polished productions in a universe that feels less comprehensively thought out and has created a sense of fatigue which failed to invest many in future projects. If left unresolved these issues could produce even worse results for audiences and workers.

If Marvel is to regain its footing it must focus on quality over quantity and give its workers more time to produce better work. Though Phase 5’s schedule makes that seem unlikely. For those unhappy with the way Marvel has been going (for legitimate reasons) vote with your wallet, encourage others to do likewise, and support the workers campaigning for better conditions. Don’t let Marvel take its workers or audience for granted.

Also Read: Has The Marvel Cinematic Universe Reached Its Peak?

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post The MCU Phase 4: Dividing Audiences? appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Mild Spoilers for the first episode to follow

“This is gonna be a gas!”

In case you were worried about “Superhero fatigue“, WandaVision is closer to a classic sitcom, than a superhero show. Although their powers are used, they aren’t fighting evil aliens or homicidal robots. Instead, Wanda is using her powers in the kitchen, to quickly cook a meal for Vision’s new boss. She also may or not be responsible for their new life, but more on that later.

The show captures the sitcom feel perfectly, with a musical title sequence explaining the “premise” of the show: he’s a robot, they’re an odd couple. Vision has an office job, even though he isn’t quite sure what he does, using his powers to look like a normal human. While Wanda is trying to be the perfect housewife with the help of their neighbour. The look and feel of the show is perfect for the era it’s going for. The formal accents, clothes and even the way characters walk really sell the era. Perhaps most importantly, it’s actually funny, and not in the typical Marvel self-aware way. Even without the franchise connections, this is a solid premise for a sitcom.

It’s not all audience laugh tracks though, it’s implied that there is something “strange” (pun intended?) going on. Wanda and Vision can’t seem to remember how they arrived in the neighbourhood, or anything outside it. The trailer seems to hint that this will become a mystery throughout the season, but with no second season offically announced, who knows how it will end?

“What’s your story?”

Wanda is set to return in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, so it’s safe to assume that whatever happens here will lead into the upcoming film. The MCU is in a transition phase, as new heroes step up to fill the gaps left in the wake of Avengers: Endgame. With no Avengers 5 to build towards, it’s unclear where she’ll show up after that. Likewise, it’s unclear if Vision will appear after the series ends.

Marvel’s current slate includes a mix of old and new characters, over films and series. With most of these focusing on new heroes or ones that haven’t been a focus (like WandaVision or Falcon and Winter Soldier), the universe is clearly moving forward. Most of these seem much smaller scale than recent entries, more akin to Phase 1. It could be that the franchise is going for a “soft reboot”. With over 20 films, there are a lot of plot threads and characters to keep up with, so some smaller stories which could see new heroes replace older ones (Hawkeye, Falcon and Winter Solider) would be welcome. Additionally some multiverse, time travel stories could fix some continuity errors or close some plot threads.

Rating (4 / 5)

Marvel has clearly gone as big on its Disney+ offerings as Star Wars has. Unique and refreshing, it’s a real treat after the superhero drought. Olsen and Bettany have great chemistry, and it captures the sitcom feeling perfectly. With dozens of theories already out there, the wait for answers seems like it’s going to be worth the wait.

While they may have been gone longer than intended, the next stage of the MCU is finally here. And if this is anything to go by, it’s going to be like nothing we’ve seen before…

Also Read: MCU Storylines That Are Still Unresolved

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post First Thoughts: WandaVision And The New MCU appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

No one could’ve predicted just how big the MCU would become when it started back in 2008, Iron Man wasn’t as popular as characters like Spider-Man, so there was very little chance the film would be a success, let alone that it would give birth to the highest grossing franchise ever. It not only catapulted “cult” comic book characters into household names but also inspired several other studios to adopt the “shared universe” model.

“Become part of a larger world…’

The first “Avengers” film is still to date the 6th Highest grossing film worldwide and is when people really started to pick up and take notice of the franchise after all the planning and easter eggs had paid off. “Iron Man 3” kicked off “Phase Two” a year later, which included “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Guardians of the Galaxy”, the former being the first film directed by the Russo Brothers, who would go on to direct “Infinity War” and “Endgame”, while the latter proved Marvel could experiment with the more outlandish elements of their canon, leading to films like “Doctor Strange” and “Thor: Ragnarok”

“Phase Three” saw Marvel get even more ambitious, with everything leading towards the massive crossover events of the final two “Avengers” films as well as putting their own spin on familiar characters, when they struck a deal to use Spider-Man in their shared universe, who now gets to share the screen with the Avengers just like in the comics, as well as have a film directly deal with the fallout of Avengers: Endgame, the film that broke box office records almost instantly.

“We’re in the endgame now”

The MCU won’t be stopping anytime soon, although Marvel has yet to officially announce any of the films in Phase 4, there are several rumours about what could come next. And the recent Disney/Fox merge means that they now have access to the X-Men and Fantastic Four, so expect to see them appear alongside (or even against) the Avengers before long. While this crossover would likely not feature the cast of the previous X-Men films, it would still be exciting to see versions of them with characters we are familiar with, such as a Spider-man and Wolverine team up.

However due to the scale of “Avengers: Endgame”, it is likely that the MCU will slow down and tell smaller stories for a time, focusing on more standalone stories with occasional team-ups, like Falcon’s cameo in “Ant-Man” or the Hulk’s role in “Thor: Ragnarok”. While the solo films are popular, they never quite reach the heights of the Avengers films, although several have grossed over $1 billion dollars, like “Black Panther” so a sequel would likely do very well.

“Avengers Assemble”

But the appeal of a shared universe is the team-ups and connections, otherwise, they may as well be standalone franchises (which is no bad thing). As of Endgame, there are over 20 superheroes, that either have their own franchise (Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Black Panther etc) or are major players in another (Falcon and Winter Soldier have huge roles in the Captain America films) and that cast is only likely to expand as the films go on. In addition to the feature-length outings, several established characters are getting spin-off series on the upcoming Disney+. These will crossover with the films “in a big way” (although previous Marvel shows, such as Agents of SHIELD and The Defenders, had tenuous connections at best).

Given all of this, it’s likely “Endgame”, as a conclusion to “The Infinity Saga” will be the last official Avengers film for a while, but the characters will crossover with each other at every opportunity. Given the success of some solo outings like “Black Panther” that are guaranteed sequels, it is possible that one of them could break even more records. However, the likely option is that Marvel will once again try to replicate their success several years down the line. With several newer characters, the old guard can call in for back up. So while Endgame might be the end for the foreseeable future, don’t expect this to be the last time the Avengers assemble…

Also Read: Spoiler Etiquette: To Spoil Or Not to Spoil…

The post Has The Marvel Cinematic Universe Reached Its Peak? appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.