Key Takeaways:
– The superhero films featuring all-female leads, including The Marvels, Birds of Prey, and Madame Web, underperformed at the box office.
– These films witnessed mixed responses from viewers and critics alike.
– Despite box office failures, Birds of Prey and The Marvels profited from positive responses from some sections of the audience.
– The films' underperformance can't definitively be attributed to their all-female cast, with factors like shoddy writing and inconvenient release times potentially playing a part.
The Highs and Lows of The Marvels and Other Female-led Superhero Films
Superhero flicks are ruling Hollywood's screen time, and Marvel Studios are leading the charge. Despite the success of many such films, a string of all-female superhero films, spearheaded by Marvel's The Marvels, Birds of Prey, and Madame Web, has stumbled at the box office recently.
The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, had high expectations pinned to it, being the sequel to the billion-dollar blockbuster Captain Marvel. However, it fell dramatically short of projections, earning a mere $206 million against a staggering $274 million budget. This underperformance tagged The Marvels as Marvel's worst-performing film to date.
Mixed Responses from Fans
A user on platform X sparked debate by clubbing The Marvels with Birds of Prey and Madame Web, declaring them the most disappointing superhero films yet. Fans, however, had differing opinions. Some supported the assertion, while others fiercely defended their favorite movies with tweets of praise and appreciation.
Despite the discord, it's undeniable that the three all-female superhero films have suffered some degree of rejection at the box office. Though other films might contest the ‘worst superhero films of all time' title, the all-female team-up movies do seem to have missed their mark in some respects.
Unpacking the Reasons for Underperformance
While some argue that the failure of these films rests on their all-female cast, attributing their underperformance to sexism overlooks many likely contributing factors. For instance, despite poor box office numbers, Birds of Prey and The Marvels received positive reviews from a segment of the audience. These films resonate with a niche group of viewers, showing signs of potential cult status.
Also, Variety reasons that Birds of Prey's failure could be tied to Harley Quinn's brand not being showcased prominently, coupled with its release just before the pandemic hit. Being R-rated, the film's exposure was limited to an older audience, further hampering its success especially in large markets like China.
On the other hand, Madame Web's failure might lie in its writing, representative of Sony's Spider-Man Universe's questionable storytelling skill as displayed in Morbius and Venom.
Despite their box office disappointment, these films can still be streamed at home. The Marvels is accessible to viewers on Disney+, Birds of Prey is available on Max, and Madame Web can be found on Netflix.
In conclusion, leveling the underwhelming performance of the all-female superhero films to the mere fact of their female cast appears to be overly simplistic. There are multitudes of factors at play, including release timing, age restrictions, and storytelling quality. It's clear that lessons learnt from these films could offer valuable insights for future productions. The road ahead for all-female superhero films maybe bumpy, but with right moves, they can overcome these challenges and set new precedents in the superhero genre.
