- Aug 12, 2021
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Oh yeah I forgot this was the video I was talking about. Hope future entries avert this problem.
Sadly, I think the next year will be kinda inbetween what the MCU should be and what it is now.
I think many films will be better....but doubt most live up to the films people love.
MCU is way and I mean wayyyy too dam focused on pushing characters into stories just because...take Iron heart of of this film and you really lose nothing. Could have switched around the plot to make it work...hell namor was suppose to first show up in the Ethernals...lol
Sure but I think setting up two characters in this filmIn fairness Namor was best set up to appear in a film that’s actually watchable lol.
I think what the past few years shows is how big losing China & to some extent Russia have been to Marvel's box office (Russia is actually a lot bigger of a deal for Avatar than Marvel). Obviously studios are simply choosing not to release themselves in Russia because of the ongoing War in Ukraine, so that's a bit different than China. However, the original movie made over $100M in China and close to $19M in Russia, so while even matching those totals wouldn't have put Wakanda Forever over the $1B mark, China sure as hell would have put Multiverse of Madness over the top.I would've thought this would easily crack a billion with all things considered but... it seems just passing by $800 million will be all it can leg out. Never in a million years would I have thought Dr. Strange would be the bigger movie this year (in terms of BO).
I think what the past few years shows is how big losing China & to some extent Russia have been to Marvel's box office (Russia is actually a lot bigger of a deal for Avatar than Marvel). Obviously studios are simply choosing not to release themselves in Russia because of the ongoing War in Ukraine, so that's a bit different than China. However, the original movie made over $100M in China and close to $19M in Russia, so while even matching those totals wouldn't have put Wakanda Forever over the $1B mark, China sure as hell would have put Multiverse of Madness over the top.
There's actually several $1B grossers in the MCU that wouldn't have made it over the hump without China. Captain Marvel made $1.129B and $153.8M was from China. Civil War made $1.151B and $180.8M was from China. Far From Home made $1.131B and $205.4M came from China. Even Age of Ultron, while it would still be a billion dollar earner, it would've only made around what Civil War made as it made $240.1M in China and would've "only" made around 1.154B.
The main point is, the MCU either has to figure out how to live without China or get back in. Infinity War made $359.5M and Endgame made $629.1M in China. which is almost $1B alone between the two movies. I'm sure Disney would hate to miss out on that kind of money for Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, but at the same time, would audiences still show up? The MCU that Chinese audiences knew has changed so much in only a few years.
Let's also make no mistake... movies that gross between $750-$950M are no flop. That proves public interest. But much like Avatar 2, there's the case of being successful with the public versus financially successful, which is still fluid for that movie. I'm not sure Thor 4 actually got into the black (the budget for that movie was huge for some reason). Wakanda Forever and Multiverse of Madness are fine.
Part of it is simply that Feige used to be able to keep his eye on all projects and know exactly what was going on. Now with all the Disney+ shows, his focused is divided into so many different places that I think it's actually effecting the end product. I'd love it if they can find a second person to oversee the D+ content and he could just focus on the films.Oh, by no means am I saying this is a failure or anything of the like. Just observing a softer BO, especially considering Dr. Strange did $250m more. There's definitely an issue that I think they're starting to fix behind the scenes.
I feel like people would not mind the "story" being this slow if people loved the characters.Part of it is simply that Feige used to be able to keep his eye on all projects and know exactly what was going on. Now with all the Disney+ shows, his focused is divided into so many different places that I think it's actually effecting the end product. I'd love it if they can find a second person to oversee the D+ content and he could just focus on the films.
The other part of that is, I think Feige, when rebuilding after Endgame, wanted to do it in an individual style meaning there's no big thing that's leading into another big thing at the end of different movies. He's undoubtedly heard fan complaints about things not feeling as connected as before. It actually doesn't bother me too much currently. I like the individualistic approach for Phase Four, but if we're going to build to an Avengers film, they need to hit the ground running in Ant-Man 3 and things need to start happening.
Looking back at this conversation that we had, it seems a bit silly imo. I think we've just become so custom to MCU films cracking $1B that we forget that it's actually a pretty rare feat for any movie with only 51 films cracking the mark all-time. Through Phase 3, the average Worldwide total for an MCU movie was $982M and that's counting two films that have grossed over $2B. Take those films out, and the other 21 average out to $844.8M worldwide.I would've thought this would easily crack a billion with all things considered but... it seems just passing by $800 million will be all it can leg out. Never in a million years would I have thought Dr. Strange would be the bigger movie this year (in terms of BO).
Wakanda Forever will be getting a release in China after all, just before Ant-Man 3. It will be the first Marvel film since Far From Home to be released in the country.
I mean, technically you’re right lol. This is the first time we see these characters or go to Wakanda since Endgame.And they'll have not missed anything plot-wise.
Just kidding, but am I?
The box office did absolutely FINE! It will finish well over $850M once the China release happens and the expectations for this movie were unreasonably high. When a movie loses its lead actor and lead character, it's not going to do as good as the first movie.Definitely the best of the post-Endgame MCU movies. Actually has real peril, emotional weight, and great performances. Shame about the box office but I think this entire franchise is going to sputter and die slowly.
I understand why the box office is lower, I think it's just gonna be harder and harder for MCU entries to get those coveted $1B returns anymore. Not an indictment just an observation.The box office did absolutely FINE! It will finish well over $850M once the China release happens and the expectations for this movie were unreasonably high. When a movie loses its lead actor and lead character, it's not going to do as good as the first movie.
Here's an example for you. Let's say Robert Pattinson died for one reason or another, but they pushed forward with a sequel to The Batman anyway with Catwoman and Batgirl in the lead role. Would you expect a film like that to perform as well as the original did? Probably not, right? I mean, the movie has grossed $453M domestically (7th best in the MCU, 24th best all-time) and only $6M behind Age of Ultron.
It's crazy that $850M is seen as a disappointment. The MCU has been so successful that it's like the conversation seems to be that a movie was a flop if it doesn't make $1B which is WILD.
I don't think I fully expect any of the MCU films to make $1B this year. I do think it's possible that Guardians 3 gets there though. It's kinda harder in general right now for movies to hit $1B though. only The Way of Water, Maverick, and No Way Home have hit it since the beginning of 2020.I understand why the box office is lower, I think it's just gonna be harder and harder for MCU entries to get those coveted $1B returns anymore. Not an indictment just an observation.