Yes, prediction and anaylsis can be a tricky business.
A few years back I was concerned with fan festival reaction to "Captian Marvel" (the first one) and it led to a "very" heavy debate here at HSX, mostly over how I was "out of date" and "wrong" to see the trend starting (even with "Endgame" still on the docket). Well, here we are..
Let's be clear about what "The Marvels" just did. It will be the biggest box office loss in the past 10 years.. and could even lose more money than "John Carter," which was also from Disney (ironically). Meaning quite a downturn.. Opening weekends have also been on a decline (outside of Spiderman) for awhile now.
Having proved my instinct on the trend correct.. Here's my full thoughts, now made sound by time:
Fan reaction is everything. I got a ton of blowback for saying as much years ago here.. But in "truly" the sum of all irony- DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD says that if the "The Marvels" actors had gone to ComicCon and such, it would have saved the film. Except, it was these very fans (called toxic and the like) after the first CM film, that wouldn't have cared anyway, cause they were already denounced big. This was the trend I saw starting with Marvel films.
You see, it's circle that comes back to well.. back to the start. Fans drive business, especially in franchise super-hero and comic films. "Spiderman" continues to do well with fans (so it makes money) while other Marvel properties struggle to capture the same momentum. I'll make this as clear as I can in this chart:
1. Fans want concept. Not emotional debates over current issues that have nothing to do with the characters.
2. Fans want villians. Not precontrived themes summed up in something and then "called" the villian.
3. Fans want romance stories. This is where "Spiderman" soars with Peter and MJ as easily the best.
4. Fans want a feeling of inclusion.. Not constantly told they're being replaced and dumped.
Going foward, I see a return to "concept' based properties at Marvel, but the industry will need to be patient. This is going to be a long process. Yes, they want the fans back, but that won't be easy and (to be blunt) may not be possible to get most of them back. It will be a long process. It will also be important to follow the lead set by the "Spiderman" films.
Hope that helps,
Happy Fall Film season, HSX.ers...
VY