For the better part of the past two decades, comic book superhero movies dominated the entertainment industry, enforcing a stranglehold on audiences and the mainstream pop culture around the world.
These films have greatly benefited from their already iconic characters, proven epic stories, and unique visual effects. However, the genre has also experienced its fair share of disappointments. Especially in the past few years, exemplified by the relative box office failure of the recent Shazam movie and lacklustre critical reception of MCU’s Phase 5.
But before its ‘decline’, it’s imperative to explore its history and the outright comical rise of comic book/superhero movies, in order to best identify the factors that contributed to their immense popularity and if it may have outstayed its welcome.
Superhero comics as a concept only really took off in the 1930s, thanks to Superman’s debut in Action Comics, near single handedly launching the Golden Age of Comic Books.
Filmmakers were quick to capitalize on that popularity in the 40s, releasing film serials based on the biggest superhero titles, such as Superman, Captain America, Batman, and Captain Marvel. In the decades after, comic books as a whole were in decline in the west, leading to a drought of superhero movies.
This was until the first Star Wars (1977) revitalized a general mainstream interest in sci fi, leading to Superman once again leading the charge in 1978, with a series of films starring Christopher Reeve as Superman.
Boom
The 80s and 90s saw a huge boom in films based on comic book properties in general, thanks to the new age of comic books, the so-called ‘Dark Age’ that saw to a rise in popularity for edgier and grittier superhero comics and created a market for comics outside of superheroes, which was reflected in the comic book adaptations of the time.
However, despite the extensive history of superhero/comic book movies before, it was only in the early 2000s that it became a trend for superhero movies to launch long term franchises, with films like ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘X-Men’.
These films were groundbreaking in their portrayal of beloved comic book characters in a more serious light, straying from the camp, comic book feel of the prior movies, which drew in broader audiences of both casual moviegoers and die-hard comic book fans alike.
The success of these early superhero films paved the way for a slew of other franchises, such as Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, which further cemented the place of superheroes in modern cinema thanks to their recognition in the Academy Awards, and the MCU, which launched a new inescapable era of comic book movies from the 2010s and onwards.
One of the key factors that contributed to the rise of superhero movies was the advancement in visual effects technology. With the development of CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery), filmmakers were able to create stunning and realistic superhero powers and action sequences that were impossible in the earlier age of superhero films.
While the CGI was still not uniformly perfect, and required massive budgets to sustain, audiences had an easier time suspending their disbelief when watching action scenes that were almost entirely CG animated. However, while the use of CGI was groundbreaking and breathtaking at first, the increasing overreliance on it has created a lot of fatigue for moviegoers, even though the technology is getting better with time.
Cultural shift
The rise of superhero movies also coincided with a cultural shift towards embracing geek culture. As comic books gained popularity, and comic book merchandise flooded the market, superhero movies tapped into the growing fandom and capitalized on the nostalgia and loyalty of comic book readers.
This led to a dedicated fanbase that eagerly awaited each new installment in the franchise, driving up box office numbers and creating a sense of community and excitement around superhero movies. But while the comic book industry, in turn, did see some moderate growth thanks to the rise in interest in their properties, it is still minimal.
Comic books, especially superhero comics, are going through a long term transitional period as they struggle to realign themselves in a world more open to geek culture, and the competition of non superhero comics, indie comics, and manga.
Despite their massive success, superhero movies are experiencing a perceived period of decline, with the biggest challenges of the genre being the issue of oversaturation. With the increasing number of superhero movies being released each year, there has been a risk of fatigue among audiences.
The sheer volume of films and TV shows featuring superheroes has led to a sense of repetitiveness and lack of novelty, with some viewers feeling overwhelmed by the constant barrage of superhero content.
The formulaic nature of their plots and the uniform visual style of CGI and live action have not helped. This oversaturation has resulted in diminishing returns at the box office for some superhero films, with declining ticket sales and reduced interest from audiences. Decisions are being made to counter this, with the MCU announcing that they are dialing back their output in the coming phases.
While superhero films are still by far the most hyped and lucrative movies in the business, carried by the iconography of their comic book counterparts and goodwill generated by the success of the franchises before, the ever changing landscape of the entertainment industry is forcing the genre to evolve.
The rise of streaming platforms has disrupted the traditional model of theatrical releases, with studios experimenting with hybrid releases or opting for exclusive streaming releases.
This shift has impacted the box office performance of superhero movies and has led to uncertainty in the future of the genre. Time will tell where things will go, but the mainstream appeal doesn’t seem to be disappearing in the foreseeable future.