Hollywood experts began discussing “superhero fatigue” even before the pandemic, but it’s become more prevalent in recent years. The MCU and DCEU have churned out films at a reliable pace for quite some time, and neither studio shows any signs of slowing down their release schedules.
Although fans have continued flocking to theaters to see new superhero movies, there are several indications that audiences and critics are indeed experiencing so-called “superhero fatigue.” From declines in positive reviews to less-predictable box office results, the superhero movie genre may be headed for trouble.
10 Storylines Are Becoming Too Repetitive
One major complaint among superhero movie fans and critics is that the storylines in new releases are losing their magic. Many viewers feel the plots are becoming too predictable. Without anything to change of the pace now and then, the movies feel repetitive.
This partially accounts for superhero fatigue, because movie audiences tire of seeing the same story too many times. It would be wise for the DCEU and MCU to start shaking things up in their upcoming films, rather than sticking to the same formula.
9 Fans Are Unhappy About Some Characters Retiring
Characters come and go from any film franchise or TV series, but some departures have garnered disapproval from fans. To keep things fresh, many superhero films feature different character rosters then they started with. However, that freshness has come at the cost of some significant fan favorites.
For instance, Marvel has announced there won’t be any more films featuring The Avengers, which previously served as a huge draw to the franchise. Although some fans appreciate the introduction of new characters, other would prefer to see familiar faces more often.
8 Critic Reviews Are More Mixed Than Ever
Although the DCEU has historically struggled with garnering positive reviews from critics, the MCU once seemed immune to overly negative feedback. However, this trend is gradually slowing down. Critic reviews for the MCU aren’t as reliably positive as they used to be because many critics report feeling underwhelmed by new releases.
Some critics have grown tired of repeatedly reviewing the same genre of movies in the current superhero-saturated Hollywood landscape. Others simply feel that the quality of superhero films has declined. With such a crowded release schedule, many films lack the space to shine.
7 The Movies Often Rely On Cameos
Sometimes, film franchises that fear dwindling popularity will use certain tactics to keep audiences interested. Including one or multiple cameos to give fans a welcome surprise during the film is a clever tactic. Unfortunately, the DCEU and MCU have used it a little too often. Nearly every new superhero release is besieged with speculation about which characters will have cameos in the film. Whenever suspected cameos don’t happen, or don’t live up to the hype, audiences find themselves disappointed. In turn, they become more dissatisfied with the film itself.
6 Online Reviewers Feel Underwhelmed, Too
Even though most superhero films still enjoy respectable ratings on IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, and other review sites, the tide is beginning to turn in some cases. Many online reviewers feel new superhero movie releases aren’t living up to their pre-release hype.
This trend in underwhelmed online reviewers leads to lower ratings than superhero movies are used to receiving. It also shows that the same old storytelling formulas aren’t quite as effective with audiences anymore. They’re ready for a change.
5 Superhero Movies Are Starting To Flop
No movie genre is exempt from the occasional flop, but the superhero genre is starting to see box office failures happen more often than in the past. For example, Morbius flopped not once, but twice. Even the DCEU and the MCU have experienced some surprisingly low commercial performances.
The poor timing of the 2021 Black Widow release resulted in much lower profits than expected. While there’s little danger of significant profit loss at this point, inconsistent box office performances proved that audiences’ love affair with superhero movies was slowing down.
4 Surveys Show A Decline In Enthusiasm
Superhero fatigue isn’t just a theory. There are numbers to back it up. A 2021 survey by Morning Consult shows that Americans are growing tired of superhero films. According to the survey, 26% of adults don’t enjoy superhero movies or see them in theaters.
23% still enjoy superhero movies, but admit they’re getting tired of them. These numbers may seem small, but they are higher than Morning Consult’s last survey on the topic in 2018. This increase means the trend toward superhero fatigue is steadily growing, which may spell trouble for the genre in the future.
3 Box Office Sales For Some Films Drop Rapidly
While most superhero movies enjoy a robust opening weekend at the box office, many have noticed a sharp decline in box office sales soon after. Several superhero films have seen second-week gross profits drop by over 60%.
The movies still make a handsome profit for their respective studios, but such a sharp decline soon after release suggests these films thrive off of pre-release hype. Box office staying power is built on strong critical and audience approval. The lack of consistent sales may mean superhero movies aren’t living up to expectations anymore.
2 Some Directors Criticize The Genre
While some very talented directors are supportive of the superhero genre, there are plenty who think it’s a negative part of the Hollywood landscape. Martin Scorsese has expressed an inability to sit through superhero movies in theaters, and Ridley Scott has no desire to direct one.
Scorsese was among the first to publicly declare his dislike for the genre, and many have come to agree with him. Most directors who criticize the genre cite the overly formulaic nature of the films as their main qualm. Directors are the ultimate movie fans, and even they’re falling victim to superhero fatigue.
1 Sequels Are Coming Out Too Fast
It’s become commonplace for popular Hollywood movies to earn multiple sequels in this era of blockbuster film franchises. However, too many sequels, or sequels that come out too fast, risk creating too much of a good thing.
Superhero movie sequels have been released at a breakneck speed in recent years, and this trend is contributing to superhero fatigue in a big way. Fans barely have time to absorb the world-building and story development of one film before ad campaigns start for its successor. The genre would benefit from giving audiences a little more breathing room.
