NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Since 2008鈥檚 鈥淚ron Man,鈥� the Marvel machine has been one of the most unstoppable forces in box-office history. Now, though, that aura of invincibility is showing signs of wear and tear. The superhero factory hit a new low with the weekend launch of 鈥淭he Marvels,鈥� which opened with just $47 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The 33rd installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sequel to the 2019 Brie Larson-led 鈥淐aptain Marvel,鈥� managed less than a third of the $153.4 million its predecessor launched with before ultimately taking in $1.13 billion worldwide.
Sequels, especially in Marvel Land, aren鈥檛 supposed to fall off a cliff. Yet 鈥淭he Marvels鈥� debuted with more than $100 million less than 鈥淐aptain Marvel鈥� opened with 鈥� something no sequel before has ever done. David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Research Entertainment, called it 鈥渁n unprecedented Marvel box-office collapse.鈥�
The previous low for a Walt Disney Co.-owned Marvel movie was 鈥淎nt-Man,鈥� which bowed with $57.2 million in 2015. Otherwise, you have to go outside the Disney MCU to find such a slow start for a Marvel movie 鈥� releases like Universal's 鈥淭he Incredible Hulk鈥� with $55.4 million in 2008, Sony鈥檚 鈥淢orbius鈥� with $39 million in 2022 or 20th Century Fox鈥檚 鈥淔antastic Four鈥� reboot with $25.6 million in 2015.
But 鈥淭he Marvels鈥� was a $200 million-plus sequel to a billion-dollar blockbuster. It was also an exceptional Marvel release in numerous ways. The film, was the first MCU release directed by a Black woman. It was also the rare Marvel movie led by three women 鈥� Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani.
(62% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and neither was audience reaction. 鈥淭he Marvels鈥� is only the third MCU release to receive a 鈥淏鈥� CinemaScore from moviegoers, following and
鈥淭he Marvels,鈥� which added $63.3 million in overseas ticket sales, may go down as a turning point in the MCU. Over the years, the franchise has collected $33 billion globally 鈥� a point Disney noted in reporting its grosses Sunday.
But with movie screens and streaming platforms increasingly crowded with superhero films and series, some analysts have detected a new fatigue setting in for audiences. Disney chief executive Bob Iger himself has spoken about possible oversaturation for Marvel.
鈥淥ver the last three and a half years, the growth of the genre has stopped,鈥� Gross wrote in a newsletter Sunday.
Either way, something is shifting for superheroes. The box-office crown this year appears assured to go to 鈥淏arbie,鈥� with more than $1.4 billion worldwide for Warner Bros.
Marvel has still produced recent hits. launched this summer with $118 million before ultimately raking in $845.6 million worldwide. Sony鈥檚 earned $690.5 million globally and, after rave reviews, is widely expected to be an Oscar contender.
The actors strike also didn鈥檛 do 鈥淭he Marvels鈥� any favors. The cast of the film weren鈥檛 permitted to promote the film until late Wednesday evening when SAG-AFTRA and the studios reached agreement. Larson and company quickly jumped onto social media and made surprise appearances in theaters. And Larson guested on 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥� on Friday.
The normally orderly pattern of MCU releases has also been disrupted by the strikes. After numerous strike-related delays, the only Marvel movie currently on the studio鈥檚 2024 calendar is 鈥淒eadpool 3,鈥� opening July 26.
Separately, after Universal Pictures鈥� 鈥淔ive Nights at Freddy鈥檚鈥� slid to second place with $9 million in its third weekend of release. The Blumhouse-produced videogame adaptation has accumulated $127.2 million domestically.
came in third with $5.9 million from 2,484 venues in its fifth weekend of release. The film, produced by Swift and distributed by AMC Theatres, has made $172.5 million domestically and $240.9 million worldwide.
held strongly in its second weekend of wide release. The A24 film, starring Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley and Jacob Elordi as Elvis, remained in fourth place with $4.8 million, dipping only 5% from the week prior.
an Apple Studios production being theatrically distributed by Paramount Pictures, took in $4.7 million on its fourth weekend, to bring its domestic haul to about $60 million. While quite low for a $200 million movie, 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon鈥� is primarily an awards-season statement by Apple of its growing moviemaking ambitions.
In its first weekend of expanded release, starring Paul Giamatti as a curmudgeonly boarding-school instructor, launched with $3.2 million from 778 locations. The Focus Features release, an expected Oscar contender, will hope for strong legs as it plays through the fall.
鈥淛ourney to Bethlehem," a release from Sony's Christian subsidiary Affirm Films, debuted with $2.4 million in about 2,000 locations.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Marvels,鈥� $47 million.
2. 鈥淔ive Nights at Freddys,鈥� $9 million.
3. 鈥淭aylor Swift: The Eras Tour,鈥� $5.9 million.
4. 鈥淧riscilla,鈥� $4.8 million.
5. 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon,鈥� $4.7 million.
6. 鈥淭he Holdovers,鈥� $3.2 million.
7. 鈥淛ourney to Bethlehem,鈥� $2.4 million.
8. 鈥淭iger 3,鈥� $2.3 million.
9. 鈥淧aw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,鈥� $1.8 million.
10. 鈥淩adical,鈥� $1.8 million.
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Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
