Marvel Heroes Take Risks. Too Bad Its Executives Don’t.
Die-hard superhero fans will watch no matter what, but the never-ending spinoffs have lost casual moviegoers, who used to make the brand a lot more money.
Not every moviegoer is a super fan.
Photographer: Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
It’s been a dizzying few years for those of us who aren’t all in on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or, as it’s known to fans, journalists, industry professionals and just about everyone with a pulse, the MCU). Probably only die-hard fans are keeping up with all of the brand’s installments, spinoffs and ephemera.
The interlocking big- and small-screen iterations of Marvel’s superhero characters are not, to be clear, without their charms — particularly early on, when formulas were not yet set in stone, and idiosyncratic filmmakers were able to slip something resembling a touch of personality, wit and auteurism into these pre-sold blockbusters.