As a lifelong comic book enthusiast and moviegoer, I must confess that 2024 has left me feeling a bit underwhelmed in the superhero movie department. It seems like this year has been more about fan service than creative storytelling, with a slew of mediocre films leaving me longing for the glory days of 2012 or 2018.
If you chat with a film enthusiast long enough, they’ll likely mention the most acclaimed contenders for the best movie years in history. Years like 1999, 1939, and 1971 are often highlighted as golden eras of cinematic storytelling. Even superhero movies have had their strong years, such as 2008 or 2018. However, there are periods in film history that are spoken about more quietly, with a sense of dread – these are the less fortunate years for feature films. It seems that, for superhero movie fans, 2024 might be one of those infamous, less fortunate years.
Over the past 11 months, we’ve seen films such as “The Crow“, “Joker: Folie a Deux“, and “Madame Web” hit the screens, along with numerous disappointing direct-to-video superhero titles. Are we witnessing cinematic history unfold? Is 2024 destined to go down as the year with the least impressive superhero movies ever made?
2024’s low box office performances have been remarkably disappointing, considering the high expectations surrounding some of this year’s big releases. Movies like “Dark Phoenix” and “Spawn” weren’t exactly unexpected flops. However, “Joker: Folie a Deux,” which followed a massive box office hit and was released during award season, was particularly disappointing. On the other hand, “Madame Web” gathered some of the hottest young talents (Dakota Johnson, Isabela Merced, and Sydney Sweeney) for a fresh superhero venture. Even “The Crow,” which had been previously relegated to direct-to-video releases due to its subpar sequels based on the original Brandon Lee feature, seemed poised for improvement this time around.
Despite having promising aspects, these 2024 superhero films and others were often harshly criticized and flopped at the box office. For instance, “Madame Web” left a lasting impression due to catchphrases like “He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was studying spiders just before she died,” and “But I don’t have a neuromuscular disorder!”, instead of making significant artistic statements. In a similar vein, the poor word-of-mouth surrounding “Joker: Folie a Deux” will significantly shape its cultural legacy. As for “The Crow”, it wasn’t widely seen enough for its flaws to spawn mocking memes.
In the realm of direct-to-video animated movies, there hasn’t been a surge of critically acclaimed superhero features to compensate for the gap left by big-screen releases. Previously, this domain was home to successful projects such as “Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker”. However, this year’s animated adaptation of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths has been met with mostly negative reactions from the public. With each new installment, there’s been less and less excitement building up. While Watchmen Chapter I received better reviews, it didn’t make much of an impact in popular culture. The anticipation for the upcoming Part II is nearly non-existent.
2024’s superhero movies, particularly the direct-to-video animated DC features I’ve been watching lately, seem to be stuck in a rut. They’re constantly rehashing popular graphic novels and comic book storylines that we’ve seen on both the big screen and small. Take for instance _Joker: Folie a Deux_, it didn’t manage to expand upon its predecessor’s success, feeling more like a repetition than an evolution. _The Crow_ was just another generic origin story reboot that followed in the footsteps of so many other contemporary gritty adaptations, making me wonder if it wasn’t crafted by some generative A.I. As for _Madame Web_, it had issues such as dull cinematography and implausible plot elements, much like Sony’s 2022 film _Morbius_.
2024’s blockbuster superhero films were heavily influenced by their past, with familiarity permeating throughout. The likes of Deadpool and Wolverine drew crowds with numerous echoes of the Marvel adaptations from the 20th Century Fox era. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, reuniting for the first time, primarily delivered a series of callbacks to the past. Venom: The Last Dance, on the other hand, continued jokes started in previous films and even brought back actors playing new characters from earlier Marvel Comics adaptations. Its climactic act featured numerous CGI aliens battling each other over Earth’s fate – a sight not unusual in superhero cinema due to its repetition.
10 years ago marked a significant shift from the norm, as movies like “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Big Hero 6” made their debut on the big screen for the first time. As recent as 2018, characters such as Miles Morales, Aquaman, and Black Panther were embarking on their maiden solo adventures. The courage to showcase lesser-known characters allowed these superhero films to present audiences with something fresh and unique. This innovative approach was conspicuously missing in the 2024 releases that instead chose to remind viewers of what they already knew. Even a film like “Madame Web,” based on an obscure Marvel character, featured Uncle Ben as a significant supporting figure. In this movie directed by S.J. Clarkson, the main characters engage in battles with a villain dressed in a black-colored Spider-Man suit.
Overly depending on past successes might have given studio bosses a sense of security while planning these movies initially. Yet, this habit has resulted in a monotonous superhero movie scene filled with rehashed ideas. Even budget-limited direct-to-video superhero films lack the drive to innovate, often resorting to recycled themes from “Watchmen”. The stagnation in 2024’s superhero cinema was worsened by the genre’s struggles in the previous year. Movies like “The Flash” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”, released in 2023, highlighted significant creative issues for contemporary superhero films. After such uninspiring productions, the anticipation for 2024’s superhero movies is disheartening.
2024 might not be the absolute worst year for superhero movies, as it could appear so due to recency bias. However, with an overwhelming number of new superhero films released this year, comparing it to earlier years with fewer releases can be challenging. For instance, in 1996, only three superhero films were produced: “The Phantom,” “Solo,” and “The Crow: City of Angels.” Similarly, 1987 had just two superhero movies, “Wild Thing” and “Masters of the Universe.
Among recent years for superhero movies, it’s widely agreed that 2006 might be the lowest point (even compared to 2024). That year saw the release of major Marvel and DC productions like “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Superman Returns,” which have struggled to maintain their appeal over time. “Ultraviolet” also premiered towards the end of the year, receiving poor reviews. Comedy films such as “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” and “Zoom,” that imitated superhero stories, were met with some of the worst critical responses among any 2006 movies.
2024 surpassing 2006 can be attributed to the fact that the audience’s response to Deadpool & Wolverine was predominantly favorable. In contrast, the top superhero films of 2006 struggled after their opening weekends. However, the most recent Deadpool release managed to stay in theaters for extended periods. Venom: The Last Dance showed surprising strength during its second weekend, suggesting positive word of mouth. Additionally, Hanu-Man, a Telugu-language superhero movie directed by Prasanth Varma and starring Teja Sajja, received good reviews and did well enough at the box office to promptly greenlight a sequel.
2024’s superhero movie lineup, as seen by the audience, is an appreciable upgrade from the era of Zoom and Ultraviolet. Compared to the initial releases in 1997, these new movies are performing better both financially and critically. The history of superhero cinema from that time was marked by notorious flops like Batman & Robin, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, and Warriors of Virtue. However, it’s possible that moviegoers could still be enjoying the quality presented in films like Madame Web more than they did during those less successful periods.
While it’s true that audiences haven’t seen the lowest depths of superhero movie history in 2024, this doesn’t necessarily make it the golden age for the subgenre. Compared to other years, 2024 offers a relatively strong selection of superhero films. Notable indie productions like “Fast Color” and “Super,” which typically garner acclaim in the genre, have been missing this year. Also absent are the more creatively bold highlights from past years, such as those seen in 2012 and 2002. Even 2023 delivered standout films like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” which are conspicuously lacking in terms of emotional depth and visual spectacle in the 2024 superhero movie landscape, which seems overly focused on fan service.
Of particular concern is that the last superhero film set to release in 2024, Kraven the Hunter, is surrounded by negative chatter. Having started production nearly three years ago, it’s slated for a mid-December theater debut with little enthusiasm and many doubts regarding its viability. The final superhero movie of 2016 was Doctor Strange, while the second-to-last in 2008 was Punisher: War Zone, which has since gained a cult following. In contrast, the upcoming film is already being compared to Morbius.
Looking back at the evolution of superhero movies, it seems that 2024 might not reach the artistic heights of other years without some improvement. For fans of superhero films, 2024 has been rather underwhelming compared to the glorious days of 2012 and 2018. This year has primarily showcased movies like Madame Web, The Crow, and Joker: Folie a Deux. As we move forward into 2025, there’s hope that the genre will rise to the challenge and regain its former glory.
In 2025, James Gunn’s Superman film is expected to initiate an entirely fresh DC Universe. Meanwhile, a set of three Marvel Cinematic Universe films (including a revamped Fantastic Four) aim to prepare viewers for the upcoming major Avengers blockbusters. Merely producing movies on the scale of Joker: Folie a Deux won’t be enough. If the 2025 superhero films don’t break free from the creative slump seen in 2024’s superhero productions, these blockbusters may be headed for extinction.
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2024-11-09 16:10