Are Comic Book Films Going to Decline?

Welcome back! I've seen many comic book films throughout my lifetime and it seems like we finally reached a peak for the superhero genre. Marvel is on a roll with their films and DC is still hanging around. I'm not particularly thrilled with the DCEU except for Wonder Woman, but the franchise has many hardcore fans. Marvel is releasing approximately three films per year. For example, Marvel will release another Spider-Man film, Captain Marvel, and the conclusion of the Infinity War saga in 2019. Can the film industry maintain this pace or will the superhero genre eventually decline? I have some theories. 

​Most importantly, I don't think we're going to see fewer comic book movies until audiences become disinterested in the genre. Ultimately, everything revolves around money. At the moment, comic book adaptations are some of the most profitable films in the industry. Avengers: Infinity War is breaking box office records and Black Panther exceeded all expectations. The superhero genre has a very devout fan base. Many people grew up reading comic books and watching animated superhero shows. It's a nostalgic genre that can relate to issues in the modern era. Also, contemporary comic book films are catering to adults much better than earlier adaptations. Many superhero movies are darker and more serious with adult driven themes. It broadens the appeal to general audiences.

​So, I don't think superhero films are going to decline in the near future. However, it will probably happen some day. It's unrealistic for Marvel and DC to maintain their current pace forever. DC is already struggling in my opinion. The Justice League movie should have been DC's crowning achievement, but it didn't even break $700,000 in theaters. That's not enough money for such a monumental film. I'm noticing a label called superhero fatigue through the worldwide web. Basically, some people are getting tired of comic book movies. We see multiple releases every year and some casual moviegoers want to see something else. Is this the beginning of the end for comic book films? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

​There's still plenty of hope for comic book fans. Many kids are still growing up with their favorite superheroes and that means they could still appreciate the genre in adulthood. It means future generations can keep the box office in good shape. Certain franchises are still making huge amounts of money and comic book fans are incredibly vocal online. There are many Comic Cons internationally with huge attendance. What about the potential merger between Disney and Fox? For those of you who don't know, Disney owns the rights to most Marvel properties, particularly in cinema. However, Fox owns the rights for the X-Men and Fantastic Four. If the merger goes through, the MCU can add the X-Men and Fantastic Four to their repertoire. It would give a lot more material to the MCU. I believe the merger will eventually go through. It would have collapsed already if the deal was shaky. Some moviegoers and comic book fans are going to be upset about the merger, but I think it's the best thing for the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Most of the MCU films are great and these two franchises will be excellent additions. Disney is also planning to release a streaming service in the near future. The merger could give them comic book content for streaming shows. Right now, the future is bright for the superhero genre.

​Should we feel pessimistic about anything? Here are my biggest concerns. Eventually, show runners and film makers are going to run out of ideas. We're already seeing really obscure adaptations like the Runaways on Hulu, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, etc. I'm pretty sure the New Mutants are going to have a film adaptation next year. Think about television shows that run for too many years. The same problem could happen to superhero films. I'm also really worried about the DCEU. It contains some of the most popular superheroes, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and others. But most of their films aren't made very well. They're not making maximum profit and many people believe Warner Bros. should reboot the franchise. I'm not sure if a total reboot is necessary, but the DCEU needs a lot of improvements. Furthermore, comic book films might develop a big decline in quality over time. The superhero genre changed dramatically when the first X-Men film was released. At that point, the quality of superhero movies improved significantly. Now we're a spoiled audience who wants every superhero film to be great. The quality might decline if the wrong individuals create these movies. I hope it doesn't happen, but time will give us the answers.

​Are you starting to feel superhero fatigue? Do you believe a big decline in comic books films is inevitable? Let me know in the comment section. Keep your eyes open for more posts and have a good week.