Is this the end of an era or just a bump in the road? Superhero movies have no choice but to self-examine their approach.
The box office performance of Venom 3: The Last Dance hasn’t been a complete disaster, but it certainly hasn’t been a huge success for Sony either. In fact, it has fallen far short of the previous two installments, raising the question: Is the golden age of superhero cinema over? With Marvel and DC at a pivotal moment for their genre output, some wonder if the genre has exhausted itself or if there’s still hope for a revival.
An unimpressive chart-topping film. Despite being the highest-grossing film during its first weekend, Venom 3 grossed significantly less than expected. Forecasts estimated around $65 million in the U.S. but it barely reached $51 million. This is well below the first film’s $80 million and the second film’s $90 million, which set a pandemic record. Globally, the film performed better, grossing $124 million outside the U.S.
Sony is on a tightrope. While the box office results aren’t catastrophic, it puts Sony in a challenging position. The studio’s plans to develop a “Spider-Verse” relied heavily on the success of Venom and the continuation of the saga, especially now that Tom Hardy is no longer involved. This comes on the heels of the disappointing performances of Madame Web (2024) and Morbius (2022), along with low expectations for Kraven the Hunter, which is set to be released on Dec. 13.
Currently, the only clear successes that Sony has with its treasured franchise are the animated films featuring the Spider-Man multiverse. However, since the studio can’t use the superhero in live-action films, it finds itself in a difficult situation. While Sony is producing Marvel movies, it’s not leveraging the elements that truly attract the general public.
Other studios in a bind. Sony isn’t the only company facing challenges in superhero productions. DC and Warner are preparing to change their approach to the genre after a series of underwhelming films, such as The Flash (2023) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023). These films failed to generate the anticipation typically associated with filmmaker Zack Snyder, who is also struggling outside the DC umbrella.
Meanwhile, Marvel is on “sabbatical” despite its significant success with Deadpool and Wolverine. However, before moving on to highly anticipated films like The Fantastic Four: First Steps, there are disappointing memories of failures such as The Marvels (2023) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).
Far from $1 billion in ticket sales. The landscape has shifted drastically from the blockbuster years of 2018 and 2019 when Avengers: Endgame became a sensation and superhero films consistently grossed more than a billion dollars.
Now, the industry’s trend is going in the opposite direction. It’s not just that The Marvels performed below expectations despite following a seemingly foolproof formula. Joker: Folie à Deux is now seen as one of the biggest flops of 2024, generating less revenue from ticket sales in its entire run than its predecessor did in its opening weekend.
The data speaks for itself. According to data from Variety, it’s clear that the superhero craze is beginning to wane at the box office. Between 2015 and 2019, 25 out of 30 superhero titles (83%) grossed more than $500 million worldwide, with many generating significantly more revenue. However, since 2022, the trend has nearly reversed. Only 7 out of 17 superhero titles released have grossed more than $500 million worldwide, and some have earned considerably less. The number of superhero film releases has also decreased in recent years.
Sony’s plans. While the strategies of Marvel and DC are quite well-known to the public, less is known about Sony’s direction. However, we do know about Sony’s immediate plans. Although the plans may have been tempered by the disappointing results of Morbius, Madame Web, and Venom 3, the studio still has some ambitious projects lined up.
On Thursday, it announced a tentative release date for Spider-Man 4 (July 24, 2026). Additionally, Sony is set to release the final animated film in the character’s multiverse. The first images of Spider-Man Noir, produced for Amazon and featuring Nicolas Cage, also appeared online recently.
If successful, Spider-Man Noir could mark an important turning point for Sony. It may provide a way to expand its Spider-Verse beyond the villains of Spider-Man, whose films haven’t performed very well, considering there are no movies announced beyond Kraven the Hunter.
Spider-Man Noir could also offer a glimpse into the exciting multiverse, filled with endless possibilities that don’t intersect with the restricted territory of the MCU. While it’s uncertain if Sony is rising as a third superhero production company, it’s clear that more options would be beneficial to revitalize the struggling genre.
Image | Sony
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