A new statistic has highlighted a potential problem for the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.
According to IndieWire, tracking data for the studio’s latest release, The Marvels, indicates that only 19% of the opening weekend audience was between 18 and 24 years old. 30 percent, however, belonged to the 25 to 34 age group, while only 8 percent were between 13 and 17 years old.
As the outlet points out, 40% of the audience for the 2019 film’s predecessor, Captain Marvel, was between 18 and 24 years old. These data suggest that Generation Z (defined as people born in the late 90s and early 2000s) could be losing interest in Marvel Studios production.
While this could represent waning interest among a demographic driving superhero movies, it’s important to keep in mind the setbacks that perhaps led to The Marvels failing at the box office. For starters, the film carries a lot of MCU baggage, uniting the company’s television efforts in WandaVision and Ms.
The cast was also unable to promote the film due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, which ended earlier this month. Considering that Marvel movies premiere a few months later on Disney+, audiences might be more reluctant to see them in the theater.
The Marvels could be an isolated case if you take into account the success of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which has become the fourth highest-grossing film of the year.
However, this was preceded by the box office disappointment of Ant Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, which failed to top the box office earlier this year (via Variety). Like The Marvels, Quantumania faced mediocre to negative reviews.
If superhero fatigue is a problem, the eight-month gap until the next MCU installment, Deadpool 3, could help build anticipation. In the sequel, directed by Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine.
Deadpool 3 is scheduled for release on July 26, 2024.
2023-11-17 15:48:59
#Marvel #Struggling #Attract #Generation #Fans
