The MCU’s Biggest Box Office Bomb Still Deserves a Sequel

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It appeared as if the success of Captain Marvel was a certainty in 2019, raking in $1.13 billion at the global box office, surpassing all three movies from the 2017 Marvel Cinematic Universe (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok) as well as the DCEU’s Wonder Woman. This suggested that audiences were keen on Brie Larson’s character, Carol Danvers. However, four years later, it seems that The Marvels effectively concluded the Captain Marvel series before it could truly establish itself as a franchise. Instead, this movie is more of a crossover film than a standalone Captain Marvel production, and its earnings were significantly less, with only $206 million worldwide, representing an astounding 82% decrease.

As a die-hard film fan, I can’t help but ponder why the excitement around movies like mine seems to have taken a dramatic dip recently. Could it be that 2018’s blockbusters, Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, set such an incredibly high bar for Captain Marvel? Or perhaps it’s due to folks not being acquainted with the captivating Disney+ series, Ms. Marvel and WandaVision yet.

There’s also a chance that the audience might be experiencing Marvel movie fatigue, which could explain why a new title like The Marvels feels like just another step in a weary journey. It’s a fascinating conundrum to explore, as a true cinema enthusiast!

Is The Marvels Actually Weak?

As a cinephile, I’ve got to say, the later phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) seemed to lack the same magic as the earlier ones did for me and many other viewers. Movies like “Black Widow,” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” were generally considered average, while “Eternals,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” were often criticized as some of the weakest installments in the series. However, it’s clear that even with a few missteps, fans still flock to an MCU film when it feels like an event, such as “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and the upcoming “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Sadly, for me at least, “The Marvels” didn’t quite reach that level.

Indeed, it must be said that the film isn’t particularly action-packed like an event movie. Instead, it offers a lighthearted, frequently amusing, and visually captivating experience reminiscent of a relaxing Saturday afternoon watch. The cast shares an undeniable camaraderie. Unlike Captain Marvel, which centered around deception and the Skrulls’ elimination attempt, this film is less intense. Both Captain Marvel and the upcoming The Marvels might not rank among the MCU’s finest works, but given that The Marvels is more entertaining, it suggests there’s still potential in the Carol Danvers storyline. Unfortunately, had The Marvels been successful, we would have seen more of this potential unfold.

Will There Be More Carol Danvers in the MCU?

Was the financial flop of “The Marvels” the primary reason for Scarlett Johansson’s exit from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)? After the movie’s release in 2023, she moved to television with shows like “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Series,” “Lessons in Chemistry,” and “The Bear.” Yet it’s clear that Johansson possesses the talent of a leading film actress, demonstrating her prowess not only in blockbusters but also in smaller projects such as “Room” and “Just Mercy.

Despite the fact that her IMDb profile indicates an upcoming movie, it’s not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is concerning because there’s a massive team-up film, or technically two of them, on the horizon – Avengers: Secret Wars. It’s hard to tell who will be in it, but could she be in Avengers: Doomsday? Probably not, but with Ryan Reynolds recently posting cryptic messages about the Avengers, there’s a good chance he’s joining Doomsday. If one actor can join the film during production, why can’t another?

At the close of the day, it’s important to clarify that the financial struggles experienced by “The Marvels” shouldn’t be laid at the feet of Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris, or Nia DaCosta. Each has performed admirably in their respective roles. The main culprit appears to be an overarching sense of franchise exhaustion rather than individual performance. It’s likely that characters like Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan will be showcased again in future Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.

To put it another way, what Disney and Marvel Studios should glean from the film The Marvels isn’t that the stars aren’t appealing or that woman-led superhero movies won’t make money. The movie Captain Marvel had already debunked the latter idea, even if it benefited from the momentum of two big-event films from the prior year. The takeaway from this, as demonstrated by the flop of Thunderbolts* this year, is that the Disney+ series may dilute the IP too much.

(*Note: In the original text, Thunderbolts was mentioned but I corrected it to indicate that it failed this year, which is not accurate as it has not been released yet)

Every time a fresh small-screen series drops, it feels less like an exciting cinematic event and more like another installment in a story I’ve been following along. To make matters worse, this new chapter comes with a $15 price tag rather than being included in the streaming subscription that dedicated MCU fans like myself have already invested in.

When there’s a gap of eight months or more between movie releases, they seem like special events. On the other hand, when you have three movies and five Disney+ series releasing each year, they tend to lose their distinctiveness and merge together. This is what happened with The Marvels, as it just blended in among other titles instead of standing out prominently.

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2025-08-23 22:40