The Marvels Box Office Plunge: The Marvels concludes its international box office journey, marking a noteworthy chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, it attains an unfortunate record, failing to generate substantial interest among audiences.
As reported by , the Captain Marvel sequel fell short of recovering its hefty $275 million budget, culminating in a global box office collection of $205.8 million. This officially designates The Marvels as the lowest-earning MCU film on the big screen, surpassing the prior record held by 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, which grossed $264.8 million. Out of the global earnings, a mere $84.5 million originated from North American cinemas, while $121.3 million was drawn from international markets.
This recent box office update aligns with forecasts made in December. Disney ceased weekly reporting of The Marvels’ box office figures shortly after its premiere, as the film gradually descended from the top of the charts following its opening weekendmarking the MCU’s lowest return ever. This stark contrast is evident when compared to Captain Marvel, which, after its 2019 debut, amassed over $1.13 billion worldwide.
The Marvels’ box office struggles contrast with its mixed yet generally positive critical reviews and solid online audience feedback. With a 62% critical rating and 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, many argue that the sequel deserves better than its commercial fate. Various factors have been suggested to explain The Marvels’ underperformance, ranging from superhero fatigue, evident in the struggles of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and 2023’s DC Extended Universe entries, to more cynical perspectives, including gender bias against a female-led movie.
The challenges for The Marvels emerged well before its theatrical debut. Lackluster test screening reviews and extensive reshoots, prompted by dissatisfaction from Marvel president Kevin Feige, contributed to the film’s turbulent production. Director Nia DaCosta’s departure during post-production, focusing on another project, Hedda, alongside Thor franchise star Tessa Thompson, added to the film’s tumult. DaCosta even missed a cast and crew screening meant to celebrate the movie’s release.
The Marvels features Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris as S.A.B.E.R astronaut Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. With the MCU banking on Deadpool 3 for a much-needed boost, as it stands as the sole release from the cinematic universe in 2024, a considerable shift in the MCU slate occurred amid the prolonged SAG-AFTRA strike last year.
Also read: The Marvels Box Office Woes: Disneys Shift Raises Questions
Our Reader’s Queries
Why did The Marvels get flopped?
Disney’s CEO Bob Iger attributes The Marvels’ box office failure to a lack of on-set ‘supervision.’
Did The Marvels do well at the box office?
“The Marvels” has only brought in $197 million globally since it debuted on Nov. 10, making it the lowest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This title was previously held by “The Incredible Hulk,” which earned $264 million in 2008.
Did The Marvels bomb at the box office?
The Marvels unquestionably bombed at the box office, bringing in a mere $46.1 million during its opening weekend. This dismal performance makes it the worst weekend debut for any Marvel Studios film. Despite its hefty $275 million budget, the movie has only managed to scrape together around $190 million in total earnings.
How did Marvel’s do at the box office?
The Marvels’ global box office run comes to an end as the lowest-grossing MCU movie in history. The superhero sequel also faced challenges in recouping its budget and marks the first MCU film to earn less than $100 million domestically.
