OVERVIEW
Disney’s latest superhero installment, The Marvels, experienced a lackluster debut at the box office, garnering a mere $47 million. This figure represents the weakest opening for any Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie to date. Contributing factors to this disappointing performance include mixed critical reception, the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, and a noticeable waning interest in superhero films among audiences.
Disney’s The Marvels notably underperformed, fetching just $47 million domestically in its initial weekend. This figure marks a new low for the MCU, being the poorest opening for any of its 33 films. This outcome may signal a need for a strategic shift within the once-dominant studio.
The film’s $47 million launch pales in comparison to the $55 million and $57 million opening weekends of The Incredible Hulk (15 years ago) and Ant-Man (2015), respectively. Moreover, it earned less than half of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s opening weekend earlier this year, which eventually culminated in a relatively modest global total of $476 million. It also significantly trails behind its direct predecessor, Captain Marvel, which surprised with over $1.1 billion worldwide.
Three key factors affected The Marvels: its lukewarm reviews, the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and a diminishing enthusiasm for superhero movies. The film currently hovers at a barely “fresh” 62% on Rotten Tomatoes and garnered a modest B CinemaScore from initial audiences. Despite the efforts of stars Brie Larson and Iman Vellani, the movie’s fate seemed sealed even before its release. Directed by Nia DaCosta and produced with a budget exceeding $250 million, The Marvels could end up as the least successful MCU movie in history.
MCU’s Lowest Opening Weekends
| Movie | Gross |
|---|---|
| The Marvels | $47 million |
| The Incredible Hulk | $55 million |
| Ant-Man | $57 million |
| Captain America: The First Avenger | $65 million |
| Thor | $65.7 million |
Other Box Office Highlights
Five Nights at Freddy’s, from Universal and Blumhouse, impressively held the second spot after leading for two weeks. Its notable performance, both at the box office and on Peacock, where it debuted simultaneously, brought its domestic total close to $130 million – a significant achievement for Blumhouse.
Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert film extended its theatrical run, landing in the third spot this weekend with a domestic total surpassing $170 million and nearing $250 million globally. Meanwhile, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, a biopic about Elvis and Priscilla Presley, performed well in its wide release, earning $4.8 million and marking a minimal 4% drop despite expanding to 1,000 additional theaters.
Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon claimed the fifth spot, adding $4.6 million to its domestic total, nearing $60 million. Apple views the film’s $200 million budget as an investment in promoting its streaming service, where the movie is set to release at a later date.
The Marvels Synopsis
The Marvels intertwines the powers and destinies of Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau as they unite to thwart a universe-threatening crisis.
- Release Date: November 10, 2023
- Director: Nia DaCosta
- Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Zawe Ashton, Iman Vellani
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about The Marvels Box Office
Why did ‘The Marvels’ have a record low opening for an MCU film?
‘The Marvels’ experienced a record low opening for an MCU film due to a combination of factors, including mixed reviews, the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and a diminishing audience interest in superhero movies. The film grossed only $47 million in its opening weekend, falling short of previous MCU films like ‘The Incredible Hulk’ and ‘Ant-Man’.
How did ‘The Marvels’ perform compared to other MCU films?
In its opening weekend, ‘The Marvels’ grossed $47 million, which is significantly lower than the opening weekends of other MCU films like ‘The Incredible Hulk’ ($55 million), ‘Ant-Man’ ($57 million), and ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ ($65 million). This marks it as the lowest opening weekend gross for an MCU film.
What were the factors affecting the performance of ‘The Marvels’?
The underwhelming box office performance of ‘The Marvels’ was influenced by three main factors: mixed critical reception, the SAG-AFTRA strike affecting promotions, and a general decline in interest towards superhero cinema among audiences.
What is the global box office projection for ‘The Marvels’?
While the exact global box office projection for ‘The Marvels’ is uncertain, its opening performance suggests it could end up as the worst-performing MCU film of all time, especially considering its high production budget of over $250 million.
4 comments
interesting to see how other films are doing tho, like Five Nights at Freddy’s? and Taylor Swift’s concert film, talk about diverse box office competition for The Marvels.
honestly the reviews were mixed, but 62% on Rotten Tomatoes isn’t terrible? i guess people just aren’t as hyped for superhero movies anymore, or maybe they’re just pickier
Really, a SAG-AFTRA strike? that must’ve hurt the promo for the film, but then again, 250 mil budget and only 47 mil opening? Nia DaCosta has her work cut out for her…
wow, didnt expect The Marvels to do so bad, thought MCU was unbeatable? but then again, superhero fatigue is real folks, every other movie is about capes and tights now