Meryl Streep Says Modern Movies Have Been Marvel-ized For the Worse (And She’s Right)

by

Superhero films always spark debate, but Marvel movies especially get people talking. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has definitely been a massive success financially and within the film industry, though some argue whether that success is actually a good thing for movies. Director Martin Scorsese famously dismissed Marvel films as not being true cinema, and now another well-known filmmaker is voicing similar concerns – she also doesn’t think Marvel has had a positive influence on the art of filmmaking.

Meryl Streep, speaking on Hits Radio Breakfast Show (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter), discussed the upcoming Devil Wears Prada 2 and whether the new film would offer more depth to her character, Miranda Priestly. She explained that she thinks many movies have become too similar to Marvel films, and she finds that trend “so boring.”

You know, watching this film, I really felt like I was seeing something real. Meryl Streep actually said something that really resonated with me – she feels like a lot of movies these days, especially superhero ones, fall into this very predictable pattern. It’s all villains versus heroes, and honestly? It gets a little stale. She’s right – we need more nuance!

She explained that what makes life – and this movie – compelling is that people aren’t simply good or bad. Even heroes have weaknesses, and even villains are complex and have redeeming qualities. It’s this realistic messiness that she finds appealing.

Meryl Streep Isn’t Wrong About the Marvelization of Movies (But That Doesn’t Make Marvel Movies “Bad”)

Meryl Streep’s comments about Marvel movies have sparked some debate, but she’s not necessarily criticizing them. She simply points out that superhero stories often rely on a clear distinction between good and evil. This simple approach, especially in large-scale films like those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, doesn’t always allow for complex character development. While Marvel films have some depth, they generally don’t delve into the flaws of heroes or the humanity of villains in a meaningful way.

A great example of this is Thanos from the Marvel movies. When Avengers: Infinity War came out and he snapped his fingers, wiping out half of all life, we understood his motivation – he believed overpopulation and dwindling resources were destroying the universe, and he aimed to ‘balance’ things. The film even showed his personal sacrifice in killing Gamora, adding a layer of complexity to his character. While this didn’t excuse his actions, it briefly made him more than just a simple villain. Unfortunately, even in Avengers: Endgame, we don’t explore these complexities further, leaving Thanos as a straightforward antagonist without much depth.

Adapting comic book stories for film often requires weaving together years of established plotlines and character development, as seen with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this approach doesn’t always work for other types of stories, and Meryl Streep has a point when she points that out. Many films are now trying to copy Marvel’s formula, resulting in a trend of simple ‘hero versus villain’ plots that can feel repetitive. Truly great stories are usually more nuanced, and different genres need different approaches – sometimes, a straightforward battle between good and evil just isn’t compelling enough.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/5-recent-movies-that-deserved-way-more-hype-than-they-got/embed/#

Read More

2026-05-02 03:12