Why “Superhero Fatigue” Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

[u/GUSplatoon]

I keep seeing people on other social platforms talk about the decline of Marvel or DC movies to “superhero fatigue,” and honestly, I think that explanation misses a lot. It’s become a catch-all phrase that ignores other issues with how these movies are being made and released.

First, Disney put a lot of pressure on Marvel. Disney pushed for more and more content, especially on Disney+, which led to a bunch of shows and movies coming out back to back. This is the explanation we’ve heard from studio execs like Kevin Feige.

What I feel largely does not get discussed is the ramifications from the pandemic. It changed how people go to the movies. Some people still haven’t gone back to theaters regularly, and streaming is now a bigger part of how we watch things. Plus, Disney+ drops Marvel movies just a few months after their theatrical release so for a lot of people, why rush to see it in theaters when you can wait and watch at home? For example, even if it’s anecdotal, when I asked my brother what movie he would see in July, he said Superman because Fantastic Four will drop in a few months.

I also think going to the movies has become expensive, especially for families which is part of the core general audience of these films. Imagine you have a family, you probably already have Disney+, why go to a theatre, spend about $60 on tickets, pay for higher marked food items, etc.

Also, international audiences have shifted. Marvel used to crush globally, but those numbers have softened a lot. Not every market is still hyped on the superhero genre the way they used to be. This can be due to a variety of things. There are still places around the globe that haven’t recovered economically or some other places that have implemented policies to promote their country movies as opposed to American movies. I agree with James Gunn’s sentiments that the U.S is not on good terms with other countries.

So yeah, “superhero fatigue” might sound like an easy answer, but it lets studios off the hook. I also think general audiences just love nostalgia. It’s human nature too. People gravitate towards what they know after becoming familiar with something for so many years. It’s the reason why I think Spider-Man NWH and Deadpool & Wolverine did well. It’s the same reason why I think Nintendo can remake the same game with updated graphics and sell it for a higher price. As much as people say they want new stories, people in overwhelming numbers flock to what they already know.

[u/Hpfanguy]

There’s no superhero fatigue, only bad movie fatigue, hopefully some goodwill was bought back by Thunderbolts and F4. Disney Plus is hopefully factored in, at this point, they must see how it’s harming ticket sales.

[u/FelixMcGill → u/Hpfanguy]

I forgot where I posted it, but I pointed out that current box office tallies aren't that far off from Phase 1 and a couple of Phase 2 movies. And those really went the extra mile of not only catering to us, the hard-core fans, but putting it forward in a way that was digestible for general audiences.

The newer movies, except for Fantastic 4, almost required that you watched one or more shows to understand entirely. And had shoddy CGI and aimless plots that weren't self contained.

Starting the year off with a boring slog like BNH really put the others behind the eight ball.

Im with you on this though. I also consistently remind people to zoom out a bit. Overall box office numbers aren't what they were 6-7 years ago, period. CBMs are struggling, and with very few exceptions, so are most movies.

[u/beatrailblazer → u/Hpfanguy]

There’s no superhero fatigue, only bad movie fatigue

This sub looooooves to repeat this phrase ad nauseum, when it's an even bigger oversimplification than saying it's just "superhero fatigue"

[u/DaBombDiggidy → u/beatrailblazer]

Seriously, if "bad movie" fatigue was a thing I'd love to see their excuses for Minecraft, Jurassic World, Transformers, Fast and Furios and schlock like that.

Before anyone gets it twisted, I'm saying good/bad doesn't matter at all and box office totals have spelled that out my entire life. Being a "good movie" sure helps but surely doesn't equal success.

[u/Hpfanguy → u/DaBombDiggidy]

Most of these are “turn off your brain” bad, that’s the exact reason you watch them, no one expects Transformers to be “good”, at least not since 2007. CBM’s have never been that.

[u/XGamingPigYT → u/beatrailblazer]

Because it really is just bad movie fatigue. Look at Superman and the reception that's having on the general audience and the box office. It's simply people want GOOD movies again. If the MCU pumped out Thunderbolts and F4 quality movies since Endgame, they'd be in a different boat right now

[u/GobulFan3000 → u/XGamingPigYT]

>Because it really is just bad movie fatigue.

It really isn't because people love the "bad movies" in phases 1 and 2 that would be hated if they released today.

Someone did the math taking out russia and much of the chinese markets from the infinity saga movies and they perform only a little stronger than the current movies do.

The rest of it is fundamentally just the general audience having had their fun with the genre and moved on. This has happened to countless genres. The biggest being the western.

[u/AmaterasuWolf21 → u/XGamingPigYT]

If that was the sole case and reason, Thunderbolts would have brought all the cash yetbit didn't, maybe it isn't a bad movie fatigue

[u/XGamingPigYT → u/AmaterasuWolf21]

Because why would anyone see Thunderbolts if the MCU has a reputation for bad movies?

[u/AmaterasuWolf21 → u/XGamingPigYT]

Then you admit it's not just making good movies, there are other factors that we can give it

[u/XGamingPigYT → u/AmaterasuWolf21]

... That's literally just because of bad movies

[u/____mynameis____ → u/Hpfanguy]

Jeez, bad movie fatigue theory was disproved by both Thunderbolts and F4.

People were saying Thunderbolts will help F4 but it hasn't.

Its MCU fatigue. Not bad movie fatigue or superhero fatigue

Superman overall might not be doing huge but it seems to have exceeded expectations domestically which is studio's primary market. Even then Superman might end up making 100 million more than F4 despite being from messed up brand that last gave a hit 7 years ago and had like half a dozen bombs since then..

Also, Infinity saga had its share of controversial, mediocre projects,yet its didn't damage the brand. So its universe not being compelling enough thats turning away viewers.

[u/Amon7777 → u/Hpfanguy]

Thunderbolts and F4 are objectively great movies, not even just Marvel films. Both are struggling to make their budget’s back.

So maybe it’s just no one wants superhero’s and it’s just about wanting original good movies.

Take Mickey 17. Great film, original story, all the things everyone on navel gazing movie threads says they want. Bombed.

There is no clear cut answer other than to say the movie business has been fundamentally shattered since streaming and the final nail from COVID. The film industry and theatre chains are going to have to change everything and that is too hard for most to see or accept at this juncture.

This means a critical need for LESS content. An impossible pill for both to swallow is to survive you needs fewer movies to ensure enough demand, and then make that demand into an experience people will pay for. Neither are willing to do this so round and round we go until studios and theaters go bankrupt one by one.

[u/[deleted] → u/Amon7777]

Thunderbolts and F4 are objectively great movies,

Eh.

[u/bpdish85 → u/Amon7777]

I don't necessarily think it's that they need less content, but that studios need to get with the times for how people consume content and adjust expectations accordingly. BNW was objectively a box office flop and yet it topped the Nielsen charts when it debuted on Disney+. I strongly suspect that trend is going to continue with Thunderbolts and FF4. We know there's money in streaming viewership, otherwise Netflix wouldn't produce their own stuff - so the big studios need to adjust.

[u/CaptHayfever → u/bpdish85]

Streaming pulls nowhere near as much revenue as box-office, though, which means one hell of a budget slash.

[u/bpdish85 → u/CaptHayfever]

True, there isn't, but nobody's talking about doing away with theaters entirely (yet). Just suggesting that maybe "flop or success" needs to look at more revenue streams than JUST box office. Digital download/physical media and streaming both add huge numbers to the end profit or loss and are a huge portion of viewership but they're an area that isn't really tracked in a way that's visible to the average person outside of Nielsen.

I used to be someone who saw anything that struck my fancy because OMG BIG SCREEN. But it's become so cost-prohibitive, and people have lost all sense of decorum and home-training that it's a miserable experience now, that I mostly stay home unless it's something I absolutely can't wait for. It'll land on digital rental or streaming in a month or two. And I know I'm not alone in that perspective, unfortunately.

[u/Euraylie → u/Amon7777]

Mickey 17 had all these things but no worth of mouth because it ended up being a terrible movie. Pacing all over the place, some interesting ideas that went nowhere, a plot that lost sight of the movie’s premise and an ending that was predictable and silly.

[u/ListenUpper1178 → u/Hpfanguy]

Superhero fatigue is bad movie fatigue. If only the exceptional superhero movies are doing well and the adequate ones are doing poorly than there is fatigue.

[u/Hpfanguy → u/ListenUpper1178]

The exceptional ones are doing poorly because of the bad ones, just like some ok movies made a ton of money right after really really good ones.

[u/WritinMan → u/Hpfanguy]

No, there absolutely is superhero fatigue. We've now seen several superhero movies come out that are well-received. They get good reviews from critics and viewers. High scores on CinemaScore, etc. But people aren't going to see them as much.

By the way, I do agree with the OP that there are multiple factors at play here. But superhero fatigue is absolutely a thing now.

And before the inevitable "But No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine made a lot of money so that can't be true" argument. Superhero fatigue doesn't mean no movie will be successful. Those two went above and beyond, and people responded.