As a kid I grew up watching superhero movies, as my dad has been a huge fan of Marvel since he was a kid. He used to read every one of the comics, he watched the movies as they came out and he loves to talk about them; that is where my love for superhero movies began.

I remember sitting around the TV in the living room with freshly made popcorn and little juices, my siblings and I all eagerly anticipating what was to come. In those times Marvel movies were not just something you watched, but an entire experience. 

Fast forward to today, the conversation around Marvel movies are somewhat different. Somewhere between the different multiverses, new additional characters, shows and non-canon movies, people began asking a question that to young me would have been absurd: “Do Marvel movies suck now?”

The Good Ole’ Days

Early on, the Marvel universe had a clear path. Each movie felt like a step to a bigger climax without becoming overwhelming. You did not have to keep track of which timeline, or what universe you were in; whether this movie was canon or not, you could just sit back and enjoy it while being roped into something bigger.

There was a sense of anticipation that made the payoff that much better. Watching the movies feel more like you were in them and a part of the experience rather than outside looking in. When you reached the resolution it felt like you deserved it for going through it with them, even those who were not traditionally big “superhero fans” were captivated. For me, I never struggled watching those movies; or keeping up with where we were in the universe, or in time. Things are definitely different now.

The Shift

What changed though, is often the big question. The simple answer is Marvel started putting out much more content, the focus became quantity and not quality. Marvel stopped just making movies, and became more of a “content machine”. They began making more shows, spin-offs of original movies, character origin stories, alternate timelines and so much more. It became CONSTANT and in your face all the time; at first, you just think: “Yay! More Marvel.” Over time that turned more into “Gosh there’s still more Marvel.”

Instead of constant anticipation such as waiting for the next movie in the original Iron-man series, people are overwhelmed with trying to follow shows and backstories and everything else. Now, there is no time to anticipate when there is always something new. The movies no longer feel like events, but simply a bridge to another moment in the multiverse and if you missed something, well good luck trying to put the puzzle pieces together.

Today, I notice I longer rush to the TV or movie theater every time a new Marvel movie comes out; I sometimes catch up through tiktok, instagram or youtube. A lot of the newer movies I have just completely missed out on because they are so far from the original plot. For example Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; I’m sure most of you are not familiar with Shang-Chi and I barely am myself. I should not feel obligated to watch a movie about a character I barely know, and who was never properly introduced,  just to make sure I don’t miss something that may be crucial in an upcoming mainstream movie. I believe when Marvel began prioritizing obligation over anticipation is where the franchise lost a lot of its fans.

The Multiverse Era

Currently, Marvel is leaning towards the concept of the multiverse. In theory, it opens up a realm of endless possibilities. It allows for other versions of characters, such as the “spider-verse”, niche crossovers, such as Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok and unrivaled creativity, such as multiple different universes’ characters fighting Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.

In reality, the multiverse concept is sort of hit-or-miss. Some stories feel like a bold, new and refreshing take on the character or story arch; while others just feel confusing. When there are an infinite number of everyone, it is hard to determine who truly matters and who is expendable,  not to mention people being brought from another universe to replace their doppelganger after they are killed off. In recent years, while Marvel has still been entertaining it is not as impactful as it once was.

So do Marvel Movies Actually Suck?

Personally, I would not say that they suck; but I do feel as though they sit at an awkward crossroads. Marvel is working on reinventing itself, while trying to still hold onto that spark that made them so successful early on. With actors getting older and phasing out, new characters are introduced to take the mantle; this is not always received well as it is hard for people to let go of what they know. So Marvel is taking more risks as they try to expand their universe; but that does not mean the magic is gone, just that they are evolving.

Marvel movies do not suck, but they are not the hallmarks they used to be. They went from being the most exciting movies on the big screen, to something more complicated. They are experimenting more and taking more risks; but maybe that is not such a bad thing. Marvel was not always as popular as it became, and this is just a period of figuring themselves out again. Who knows, the next great era of Marvel may be well in the works; and when that gets here I will be front and center!