The Marvels Is Shaping Up To Be A Major Box Office Bomb
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has enjoyed unparalleled success over the years, with movies like Avengers: Endgame breaking box office records. However, The Marvels, or Captain Marvel 2, has raised concerns among industry insiders and fans alike. Early predictions indicate that the sequel is not merely expected to underperform, but it might turn out to be a significant disappointment and a complete box office bomb for Disney.
Early box office projections for Captain Marvel 2, The Marvels, point to a total run under $200 million.
Captain Marvel 2 is scheduled for a November 10 release, a prime slot leading up to Thanksgiving—a time when families often seek entertainment at the cinema due to school holidays and colder weather. Historically, movies released during this period are expected to garner significant revenue. However, concerning projections from Box Office Pro estimate the sequel’s opening weekend to only bring in between $50 million to $75 million, with its total domestic run ranging from $121 million to a potential $189 million.
With a production budget of $152 million, Captain Marvel 2‘s projected high-end earnings of $189 million fall short of breaking even. While this doesn’t account for international revenues, the sequel’s anticipated earnings are starkly contrasted with the first Captain Marvel‘s impressive $427 million domestic haul. Earning only $189 million would be a significant disappointment in comparison.
Worries about Captain Marvel 2 underperforming at the box office have been exacerbated by its evident waning social media traction and the complicating factor of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA labor strikes…
Recently, Marvel Studios has faced challenges with some of its releases, notably with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania severely underperforming earlier this year and certain Disney+ original shows failing to resonate with viewers. Even Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, though it grossed over $845 million, didn’t meet expectations for such an established sub-franchise. This sets a concerning precedent for the upcoming Captain Marvel 2.
Worries about Captain Marvel 2 underperforming at the box office have been exacerbated by its evident waning social media traction and the complicating factor of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA labor strikes, which threaten the availability of Brie Larson and other stars for promotional events. Their absence from the media spotlight could undermine Disney‘s efforts to showcase the film as a delightful retreat. This setback is particularly concerning given Disney’s aim to resonate with female audiences through its women-centric storyline.
Only time will tell if Captain Marvel 2 can overcome these challenges or if it will be another misstep for the MCU.
Additionally, Captain Marvel 2 is set to grapple with major November releases, including the eagerly awaited The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and another Disney feature, Wish. Further complicating its position, initial pre-sales for the Brie Larson-fronted sequel are notably weak for a typical Marvel Studios film. Current trends place it lagging at 69 percent behind Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and 72 percent behind Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Given the MCU’s stellar history, each of its releases arrives with towering expectations. These can act as a double-edged sword: boosting initial ticket sales on one hand while also courting potential disappointment should the film fall short. Captain Marvel 2 faces the formidable task of matching not just its predecessor’s success but the benchmark set by the entire MCU lineup.
Only time will tell if Captain Marvel 2 can overcome these challenges or if it will be another misstep for the MCU. We won’t have to wait long to find out. The sequel, directed by Nia DaCosta, arrives in theaters November 10.
