Summary
With over thirty films under its belt, theMarvel Cinematic Universehas built quite a name for itself. However, in recent years, the franchise once thought to be bulletproof has suffered plenty of issues. From box office misfires, to overcrowded stories, and an uneven path, theMarvel Cinematic Universefeels like it has forgotten what made it so special to begin with thanks to films likeIron Manand the originalAvengersfilm.
After two decades, the studio has found itself struggling to deliver the same quality it once did. The standalone titles no longer feel like solid entries, and the overarching story feels clunky. Now, as the studio struggles to plan out its future beyond Phase 6, it feels like the perfect time to return to basics for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Where Marvel Studios Fumbled
Over the course of two decades, Marvel Cinematic Universe has established itself as a franchise to beat. It managed to accomplish something most studios failed to do - it crafted a successful franchise of comic book films and generated nearly $30 billion at the box office. However, despite the franchise’s success, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has stumbled plenty during its most recent phase. Following COVID-19, which saw Marvel Studios limit its production, the studio sought to come back bigger than ever, releasing content on both the small screen and big screen. Unfortunately, though, the quality of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ended up taking a hit, and the studio saw a decline in box office returns. Fans were no longer running to the theaters to see the latest release, and critics were quick to note the steep decline in storytelling.Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the third installment in the franchise and the first film ofPhase 5, was seen as a setback for the studio. Not only did the movie only nab a 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it also only took in $476.07 million at the worldwide box office. It was the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s decline. Follow-up films would continue this trend, includingThe Eternals, which was meant to start a new franchise.
Each new installment seemed more interested in team-up films and films that helped to set-up the future, rather than telling a standalone story that connected to the overarching story. Thankfully, though, beginning next year, Marvel Studios looks likely to return to basics and that’s a good thing.
How the MCU Can Return to Greatness
Next year, Marvel Studios is set to release a slew of films featuring a variety of characters and stunning visuals. The studio will kickstart the year withCaptain America: Brave New World, a film that is set to focus on Sam Wilson’s journey to becoming Captain America. We saw the hero receive the shield from Steve Rogers at the end ofThe Avengers: Endgame, andThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierfocused on him struggling to decide whether he was worthy to take on the mantle ofCaptain America. Brave New Worldwill take the Marvel Cinematic Universeback to grounded storytelling, focusing on its titular character, while still helping to drive the franchise’s story forward. Returning to basics is the best thing the Marvel Cinematic Universe can do. What worked best for the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the get-go was its ability to tell individual stories that focused on their titular characters, all while still managing to connect with the overall story being told throughout the films. Sadly, though, the Marvel Cinematic Universe lost its focus and insteadsought to introduce too many characters, many of whom have yet to make any return, as well as bloated stories that have no clear story at their core. While the Infinity Saga was well-thought-out and executed, the Multiverse Saga has failed to capture the same magic.
In fact, the multiverse saga thus far has been entirely uneven.Spider-Man: No Way Homeused the multiverse to bring back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. WhileDoctor Strange in the Multiversewas meant to be a multiversal horror movie, but barely made use of the multiverse, despite introducingAmerica Chavez.Deadpool & Wolverineused the multiverse to help bring the Merc with a Mouth and Wolverine into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, andintroduced the concept of anchor beings, something the Marvel Cinematic Universe hadn’t done up until that point. Given the importance of the multiverse to the Multiverse Saga, it’s odd that the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t figured out how it wants to use the multiverse. If the Marvel Cinematic Universe wants to continue to succeed going forward, it’s going to need to go back to basics before it’s ultimately too late. This means focusing on tighter storytellng, and understanding the overarching story from the get-go, rather than trying to piece it together along the way.
Up next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the release ofCaptain America: Brave New Worldin February 2025.
