Los Angeles, CA – The highly anticipated film “The Marvels” will premiere on Disney Plus on February 7th, in an attempt to revive its lackluster box office performance after having the lowest-grossing debut in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani, the action-adventure film now has the opportunity to tap into the existing fanbase of other titles featuring these talented actors, including “Ms. Marvel,” “WandaVision,” and, of course, “Captain Marvel.”
According to Box Office Mojo, “The Marvels” grossed approximately $84.5 million domestically and $121.6 million internationally, for a combined total of $206 million. Although these numbers would be considered solid for any other film in the post-pandemic era, they fall short of breaking even for a blockbuster of this magnitude. Reports from Variety suggest that the film had a staggering combined marketing and production budget of $320 million.
The disappointing performance of “The Marvels” has been attributed to various factors, ranging from the recent SAG-AFTRA strike to general audience fatigue with the MCU universe. However, some critics argue that the film’s failure is not solely due to its overall quality, but rather reflects a broader issue within the MCU. As Alex Cranz explained, “Disney’s been making garbage, which makes people less inclined to watch new stuff on the off chance it’s garbage, too.”
Despite the underwhelming box office results, the sequel to “Captain Marvel” has garnered a solid audience score of 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and received generally positive reviews from critics. If “The Marvels” manages to become a streaming hit, it could benefit the film’s cast and creators. However, in terms of Disney’s financial bottom line, the damage may already be done.
In a bid to salvage the film’s prospects, Disney has decided to release “The Marvels” on Disney Plus, hoping to leverage the platform’s vast subscriber base and generate renewed interest in the movie. This move suggests that streaming has become an increasingly vital distribution channel for studios looking to maximize their returns in an ever-changing entertainment landscape.
Time will tell if the streaming release of “The Marvels” can revive the film’s fortunes. Nevertheless, this move serves as a testament to the growing influence of streaming platforms in the film industry and highlights the need for studios to adapt their strategies in response to evolving viewer preferences.