Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson in “Captain America: Brave New World” (Eli Adé/Marvel/TNS)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was once an immovable fixture of pop culture. Everyone went to see each new movie, and they were greatly discussed by casual viewers and enthusiasts alike.
“Avengers: Endgame” made history among blockbuster films. It was the culmination of over twenty preceding Marvel films and broke several box-office records when it was released in 2019. At that time, the MCU seemed unstoppable.
However, there’s been a significant decline in quality Marvel content since 2020. Before then, each MCU installment was good—maybe not great, definitely not ground-breaking, but good as far as action movies go.
This isn’t to say the MCU’s been irredeemably horrible since “Avengers: Endgame.” There have been bright spots, like the “WandaVision” and “Moon Knight” series. Films like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” also stand out as recent Marvel triumphs.
Still, nothing’s been the same since “Avengers: Endgame.” Some may argue the lack of certain iconic characters (Iron Man, Black Widow, Steve Rogers, etc.) have contributed to Marvel’s downfall.
Others might attribute the problem to some of Marvel’s unimpressive Disney+ series. Disappointments like “Secret Invasion” and “She-Hulk” failed to grab audience’s attention, but this doesn’t change the fact that they directly impact upcoming MCU films.
This creates an odd dilemma for audiences. It’s difficult to go into a Marvel film blind or uninformed, but forcing yourself to watch a lackluster series just to understand the next movie is impractical.
Marvel isn’t completely incapable of making quality post-Endgame content; it’s just frustratingly hit-or-miss with every project.
A major component of Marvel’s past success was its reliability. Familiar characters and familiar plotlines made audiences want to see each new installment because they knew what they were in for.
Most MCU fans didn’t watch these films for the cinematography or impeccable screenplay. They’d watch to see their favorite characters interact and save the world. It’s about action and excitement.
The MCU’s never been for everybody, but longtime fans were loyal and dedicated. Now, Marvel’s lost its audience’s trust.
New characters are introduced without any foreseeable reappearances, movies with familiar characters are hard to sit through, and the CGI somehow looks worse than it did fifteen years ago.
Going to the movies is more expensive than ever, and most people don’t want to gamble on whether they’re going to be bored out of their minds or not. This means more people wait for the new Marvel movies to arrive on Disney+, which significantly hurts box-office numbers.
It’s an odd spot for Marvel to be in, since they haven’t completely sunken their ship yet. Just when audiences are ready to leave the MCU behind, the company will tease an upcoming project that shows promise.
For example, the first teaser for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” released two weeks ago and garnered over 202 million views across all platforms. It’s already the best Marvel trailer debut for a non-sequel movie.
“Daredevil: Born Again” releases on Disney+ on March 4. The series is highly anticipated since it reintroduces Daredevil as a leading character after his cameos in both “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “She-Hulk.”
The original Daredevil series, released by Netflix, concluded in 2018. Fans waited years in hopes of an MCU revival, and expectations are high.
“Thunderbolts*” releases this May and brings back a fan-favorite Marvel character, Bucky Barnes.
These projects have undoubtable potential, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. Very possibly, they could all flop. If they don’t, it most likely still won’t be enough to bring the MCU back to what it once was.
The most recent MCU release, “Captain America: Brave New World” was met with divided opinions from critics. Audiences generally enjoyed it though, according to its 80% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Although the MCU isn’t entirely done for, it is certainly past its prime. The next Avengers movie doesn’t release until 2027, and audiences have already lost a lot of patience.
2025 looks to be a deciding year for the MCU’s future. If the slated projects do well, it could mean a turnaround for the company and a revival for the superhero genre. If they don’t, it begs many questions.
Will Marvel continue to decline until it fades away from the collective culture completely? What would that mean for the superhero genre? What would that mean for blockbuster movies in general?
If the movies have lost their entertainment factor, at the very least it will be entertaining to watch how Marvel fares this year and if it can salvage what’s left of its universe.