Summary
I just rewatchedThe Marvels, and I believe theMarvel Cinematic Universemovie did not deserve the poor performance it had in theaters. I enjoyed the originalCaptain Marvel, though it does not sit close to mytop 10 MCU movies. The 2019 film was released at the best possible time for it to reach peak performance in theaters, withBrie Larson’s Captain Marvel having been teased at the end ofAvengers: Infinity Warand the MCU solo film being the final one before the release of the anticipatedAvengers: Endgame.
I always knew thatCaptain Marvel’s timing helped its box office greatly, so I didn’t expectThe Marvelsto also cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office or even reach close numbers to the original film. That said, what happened to the movie was something that I never could have expected, even though the MCU has had its fair share of issues since the start of the Multiverse Saga.The Marvels' poor performancehad me questioning my view of the movie, but upon a rewatch, I maintain thatThe Marvelsdidn’t deserve the hate it got.
The Marvels Cliffhanger Ending Explained & MCU Future Set-Up Explained
The Marvels tells a fairly straightforward narrative by MCU Multiverse Saga standards, but its exciting ending has big implications for the wider MCU.
The Marvels Broke Negative Box Office Records For The MCU
The MCU Movie Sadly Hit New Lows For The Franchise
Even though there was not much talk aboutThe Marvelsin the lead-up to the movie’s release, I never expected thatThe Marvelswould become the lowest-grossing MCU movie ever. After having rewatched the MCU film, this still makes little sense to me.The Marvelsis nowhere near the bottom tier of MCU releases, with films likeThor: The Dark WorldandIron Man 2being among those that I would put in such a category. However,The Marvelsended its global box office run with just $206.1 million, ranking lower thanThe Incredible Hulk’s $264.8 million.
That wasfar from the only negative MCU box office record broken by theCaptain Marvelsequel.The Marvels' disastrous box office performance includes notable feats like the movie being the only MCU entry not to cross $100 million in the US, having the lowest opening weekend out of all MCU movies, and more. With so many negative box office records, one would think thatThe Marvelsmust have been a really bad movie, right? However, my opinion, both after watching it for the first time and now after rewatching the film, couldn’t be more different from that.
12 Biggest Factors In The Marvels’ Historic Box Office Disaster
The Marvels has made history by breaking the record for the lowest-grossing opening weekend for an MCU movie, and there are several reasons why.
I Think The Marvels Is One Of The MCU’s Best Team Movies
The Trio Of Leads Is Perfect
WhileCaptain Marvelwas very much a solo adventure focused on Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers, the Oscar-winning actress shares the spotlight with Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau in the sequel. To me, the movie is all the better for it. While I enjoyedCaptain Marveljust fine, Larson’s character was largely emotionless during the film. Then, the MCU allowed her to have some spark inAvengers: Endgame, withThe Marvelscementing that the MCU’s Captain Marvel is at her best not when she is alone, but as part of a team.
The Marvelscemented that through its trio of leads having electrifying chemistry.Vellani’s casting as Kamala Khan is one of the best choices Marvel has made during the Multiverse Saga. Ms. Marvel’s fangirl energy while befriending her idol and her excitement about going to space and different planets elevated the film. Monica Rambeau offered a more serious, emotional thread for Carol Danvers, connecting to her past and the duo’s shared loss of Maria Rambeau. The different dynamics between the trio were compelling, and their powers matched in a great way, makingThe Marvelsone of my favorite MCU team films.
Every Upcoming Marvel Movie: Full MCU Phase 6 List (& Beyond)
With Marvel Studios' MCU now dominating the upcoming release slate for Marvel movies, here’s what to expect in the coming years and beyond.
A Sequel Looks Very Unlikely To Happen
To me,The Marvelswas a clear improvement on the originalCaptain Marvel. The movie’s terrible box office makes me sad, as a sequel toThe Marvelshas become unlikely to happen.Disney CEO Bob Iger has said that Marvel will move forward by focusing on franchises and sequels; however, given how films like the third Ant-Man entry and the second Captain Marvel adventure bombed at the box office, the MCU is likely going to focus on giving top earners like Spider-Man and Thor more entries instead.
Everything We Know About The Marvels 2 Aka Captain Marvel 3
The Marvels sets up a future MCU sequel through its three protagonists, potentially in the form of Captain Marvel 3 or a new team-up movie.
The Marvels' ending set up the perfect Multiverse Saga sequel for the movie. A third film could take place between the next two Avengers movies, with Captain Marvel finding a way to the universe where Monica Rambeau is. Asthat universe features X-Men characters like Kelsey Grammer as a Beast variant, the sequel toThe Marvelscould lead intoAvengers: Secret Wars, with the X-Men from the universe Monica is trapped in making an appearance. Sadly, withThe Marvels' negative box office, a third film is unlikely to happen, and I’m sad that such a fun movie failed.
The Marvels
Cast
The Marvels follows Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, whose powers entwine with Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan and S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. As unintended consequences destabilize the universe, the trio must collaborate to navigate a new threat linked to a Kree revolutionary and an anomalous wormhole.
