Comic Book Movie Saturation

Comic Book Movie Saturation

Amidst Marvel's plans for three movies a year and all the rumours as to what characters we may come across as part of that, I analyse some of the ideas in terms of whether they could really hold an audience or if they would fall prey to the jaded audiences who may be growing tired of superhero movies.

Editorial Opinion
By Parkerluckpersonified - Jul 25, 2014 04:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Comics

Marvel recently revealed plans to increase their movie workload and release three Comic Book Movies per year. Initially, like many fans I'm sure I was excited; what could be bad about more movies based on my favourite characters right??!!

But the I started thinking, and reflecting on some conversation I have had with other movie fans, particularly those who may not be fans of the source material. I think that at the moment  there is an attitude amongst the general population that studios are milking their superhero franchises somewhat, that they are just spewing out superhero movies. I think this is reflected in the poor numbers for films like 'The Wolverine' and 'Green Lantern' and even "Amazing Spider-Man 2', the audiences aren't in the mood to be introduced to new heroes anymore and they are getting sick of seeing the same thing over and over again. The market is becoming saturated and the more films studios release the worse the issue will become.

Lets face it: Some films are going to be hits regardless, any film with one of the original big three Avengers for example (Iron Man 4, Thor 3, Cap 3) or any film that DC stick Batman in.... HOWEVER there has been much discussion about future and potential future projects from Marvel in particular so I thought I'd give a quick run-down of some of the movie ideas and the potential risks as I see them:

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

We are nearing the release date for this film and I genuinely cannot wait. Because I read the comics. And because I know the characters. But can people at large say the same thing?

Risks: Characters and title that few people recognise. No 'big name' actors in major live action roles.

Potential Saving Graces: It looks amazing and has had a huge boost to its publicity- I can't remember the last time I went to the cinema and didn't see the trailer.Also it is being pushed as a space pirate action comedy rather than a superhero movie so jaded cinema goers may be more fogiving- it has a good solid USP.

ANTMAN

If you mention the name of this superhero to non-comic fans, they are likely to laugh and ask if that is genuinely a superhero. Whilst I think it could be a unique superhero movie that looks fantastic on screen and could be genuinely hilliarious at the same time, I have to question whether anyone outside our geek community will go see it.

Risks: Not a well known character, ridiculous sounding name and premise.

Potential Saving Graces: Marvel seems to be content in pitching the movie as a superhero comedy and this could attract audiences to something different. Paul Rudd is a huge name in comedy, if they pitch it more as a Paul Rudd comedy movie rather than a traditional superhero movie it may dodge the saturation bullet.

Doctor Strange

I have read one Doctor Strange story in my lifetime and had to soldier through it (Something about Wong being ill and a night nurse..... Not entertaining in the slightest). As such I have very little hopes for a decent movie emerging from a dull and lifeless cast of characters. In the interest of being balanced though:

Risks: Again a  character that is not well known and has a rather ridiculous sounding name. The character is part of the Marvel Universe's mystic group that have not been touched in other Marvel studios films; Thor's magic is Science and so it is easy to see himas part of the Downey Junior universe. Introducing genuine magic will not result in a believable character. Previous supernatural characters have had mixed receptions: Blade remains one of the best comic book movie trilogies ever made but ghost Rider is... er... not one of the best comic book movie series ever made. It's a story about a guy with a (living?) cloak who fights often silly looking monsters with names like Domamamamamoo. It could dissolve into a CG-fest of cartoon characters like Green Lantern.

Potential Saving Graces: Cast a really really REALLY REALLY big name actor. Its the only reason I can think of that people would bother to go see it.

Black Panther

There is a lot of love around for a potential Black Panther movie. Quite rightly he's a cool character with a different back story. It could make a really good movie, but...

Risks: He is not a well known character and looks rather a lot like Batman. To Joe Public is he just another generic superhero with Marvel trying to jump on the Batman wagon? He has no powers, his story would have to be more political and character driven rather than SFX like we are used to in  Marvel movies. winter Soldier paved the way for this but are audiences ready for a superhero film that takes itself seriously?

Potential Saving Graces: He's an avenger- If marvel introduce him through the medium of an Avengers movie and make him a total badass before using that as a spring board for solo movies I think fans will go crazy for him.

Hawkeye and /or Black Widow

Hawkeye is one of my favourite Avengers and Black Widow looks nice. Personally I would love to see a movie starring these two but would anyone else?

Risks: So far these characters have been seen as back-up Avengers. They haven't recieved solo films and much like the Falcon or War Machine they have been second fiddle to the big name heroes in the movies they've featured in. Again the story would have to involve more subtlety than previous Marvel films that star CG crashing into CG.

Potential Saving Graces: The two actors in these roles are amazing and could carry off a character driven film. also they are Avengers so that helps, AOU is rumoured to give them expanded roles so if they gain some real credibility a spin-off coiuld work.

Captain Marvel

I want Marv, others want Caroll, no-one wants Genis. Either way though could this character support a movie?

Risks: Again it's a character that is not well known to the general public, Marv has in fact been dead even in the comics for a rather long time. It is about an alien that can fly around, is rather straight edge and would probably end up battling an invasion of his own people. Man Of Steel anyone?

If Marv isn't there to fight Thanos I will chop the heads off of everyone at Marvel.

Potential Saving Graces: Potentially could introduce the first real female lead in a comic book movie. it would present the opportunity for a SFXgasm and would link in well with Agents of Shield storylines.


The Hulk

"BAD CGI POINTLESSLY SMASH INTO MORE BAD CGI. RAWR!" 'nufff said.

Ultimately I think what I am saying is that Marvel's plans to roll out more movies are exciting but they must make sure that it is about more than making money; they have to find real unique approaches to these characters and stories or risk losing audiences amidst comic book movie saturation.





Also if they get Marv into the MCU in time to fight Thanos I won't have to go and chop the heads off everyone at Marvel.
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GhostSurfer
GhostSurfer - 7/25/2014, 5:10 AM
As long as CBM are extremely well-made, and marketed correctly, like all the movies in the MCU, they will generaete interest. Over saturation is only something that will annoy hipsters.

After Avengers, the average box office gross for Marvel movies has went up, not down, and as long as the movies are quality pieces handled with care, that will always be the case. Keep in mind that every movie is a "type" of some sort, and with decades upon decades of film, almost nothing is original anymore. Perhaps the entire film genre is over saturated than.
Pasto
Pasto - 7/25/2014, 5:13 AM
I always love reading the rules on how to make articles for this website.
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 7/25/2014, 5:15 AM
I don't think you can be "tired" of superhero movies.
They've essentially become a genre in themselves and we don't, as a society, really get "tired" of genres.
Every year we'll get action, comedy, horror, drama movies and now we're getting more superhero films.

The "poor" numbers for Green Lantern and TASM2 were not because people were "tired" of superhero movies, they were just poor films, it showed because X-Men:DOFP was a success.
- The Wolverine was a success, it made about the same as Origins compared to it's budget.

But you do bring up some good points.
I can't wait to see more female superhero movies.
Pasto
Pasto - 7/25/2014, 5:24 AM
I have a problem with you referring to Marvel as 'Marv'.
kong
kong - 7/25/2014, 5:27 AM
"He has no powers, his story would have to be more political and character driven rather than SFX like we are used to in Marvel movies. Winter Soldier paved the way for this but are audiences ready for a superhero film that takes itself seriously?"



  • Black Panther Knowledge: He now has the power to draw all the knowledge, strength, and every experience from every previous Black Panther.

  • Superhuman Agility: T'Challa's agility, balance, and bodily coordination were heightened to the pinnacle of human development upon digesting a special herb. His reaction time is far superior to most opponents and any Olympic level gymnast that has ever competed, which allows him to evade attacks from potential enemies.

  • Superhuman Senses: The Heart-shaped Herb elevated T'Challa's sense of sight, hearing, and smell. His superhuman senses enables him to see within complete darkness and hear sounds that ordinary humans can not. T'Challa has memorized thousands of scents and is proficient in tracking them. His sense of smell is powerful enough to allow him to smell fear and detect if someone is lying, by sensing a change in their body odor.

  • Superhuman Strength: The Heart-shaped Herb enhanced T'Challa's physical strength to the pinnacle of human perfection, which allowed him to lift upward to 800 lbs. Black Panther has demonstrated exceptional feats of strength like wrestling down a Rhino and breaking its neck, knocking out a Polar Bear, stopping a Elephant's charge, sending Namor flying with a kick despite his opponent's superhuman durability, destroying a water mill by bracing himself on the ground and flexing his muscles, even killing a T-Rex dinosaur while using a palm tree as a catapult while in a weakened state. The extent of T'Challa's strength is unknown.

  • Superhuman Stamina/Endurance: Years of conditioning and training, combined with the effects of the Heart Shaped Herb, allows T'Challa to exert his body to higher degrees of stress. He can endure more physical stress than average humans, and. can tolerate large amounts of physical pain.

  • Superhuman Durability: T'Challa's ability to endure and resist damage is exceptionally high for a human. His body can withstand powerful crushing blows and puncture wounds. The effects of the Heart Shaped Herb, combined with a vibranium-laced suit, allows T'Challa to heal at an accelerated rate far superior to the average man. He also possesses a nigh-invulnerability to various diseases, poisons, virus/bacteria, etc.

  • Healing Factor: Due to a Heart shaped Herb, T'Challa's natural healing is at its peak.
  • Superhuman Speed: T'Challa can run/move faster then normal humans and any Olympic Athlete. His top speed is unknown.

  • King of the Dead: As of late, T'Challa has relinquished his title as Wakanda Monarch to his sister, and has since then become the overseer of Wakanda's "City of the Dead" (The Necropolis). Upon becoming the "King of the Dead", the Panther Goddess granted T'Challa a blessing that elevated his power levels. The blessing also gave T'Challa the ability to access the knowledge and experiences possessed by previous Wakandan kings/queens.


^Black Panther's Powers thanks to comicvine.com


Also, the 4th most successfull Comic Book Movie of all time is The Dark Knight. The third is The Dark Knight Rises. These are both movies that use WAY less CGI special FX than Avengers and Iron Man 3 (the two largest grossing) and both take themselves VERY seriously. Winter Soldier is the 62nd most grossing film of all time, TDK is 18th, TDKR is 10th.
kong
kong - 7/25/2014, 5:29 AM
Also...TASM 2 made $706,342,322 worldwide. That's not disappointing.
yossarian
yossarian - 7/25/2014, 5:52 AM
No.

Market Share for Each Source 1995-2014
Rank Source Movies Total Box Office Tickets Share
1 Original Screenplay 6,909 $110,603,360,942 22,694,704,649 46.89%
2 Based on Fiction Book/Short Story 2,287 $51,465,662,802 13,088,950,857 21.82%
3 Based on Comic/Graphic Novel 172 $12,976,300,878 2,017,749,265 5.50%
4 Based on TV 240 $11,429,585,572 2,016,340,777 4.85%
5 Remake 328 $11,198,066,139 1,960,469,374 4.75%
6 Based on Real Life Events 2,030 $9,625,079,373 1,816,617,309 4.08%
7 Based on Factual Book/Article 105 $3,852,383,910 591,948,926 1.63%
8 Based on Play 322 $3,341,192,041 986,836,270 1.42%
9 Based on Folk Tale/Legend/Fairytale 55 $2,519,151,215 1,321,418,785 1.07%
10 Spin-Off 20 $1,432,503,384 197,794,724 0.61%
11 Based on Theme Park Ride 7 $1,372,018,326 206,121,497 0.58%
12 Based on Musical or Opera 44 $1,203,259,870 402,703,362 0.51%
13 Based on Game 41 $1,060,881,264 174,168,593 0.45%
14 Based on Religious Text 30 $1,056,724,262 693,245,178 0.45%
15 Based on Toy 6 $585,665,141 77,503,023 0.25%
16 Based on Short Film 26 $559,318,753 86,610,320 0.24%
17 Compilation 29 $211,158,946 377,102,943 0.09%
18 Based on Musical Group 5 $44,858,027 18,618,060 0.02%
19 Based on Movie 4 $8,937,963 1,095,337 0.00%
20 Based on Ballet 3 $1,202,981 233,778 0.00%
21 Based on Web Series 1 $1,380 173 0.00%


Did you see that? From 1995 to 2014 there have been 172 CBMs and 6,909 original screenplays.

You can learn more http://www.the-numbers.com/market/sources
DrKinsolving
DrKinsolving - 7/25/2014, 6:10 AM
the audiences aren't in the mood to be introduced to new heroes anymore and they are getting sick of seeing the same thing over and over again


No, you have no numbers or real facts to support this at all. The Green Lantern and The Wolverine are bad choices to make an argument with, especially because DOFP performed amazingly well at the Box Office and Green Lantern was just bad across the board.

TASM 2 also definitely didn't reach the $1 Billion mark that Sony expected but was it a total failure? I really wish it was because I couldn't stand the movie.... but as bad as the movie was it looks like they still made some profit and they are still moving forward with the franchise and the characters.

It will be interesting to see how GOTG does at the Box Office. I think Marvel has the right idea, they are telling a story, their movies do blend together well, and I can't wait to see more.
MightyZeus
MightyZeus - 7/25/2014, 6:15 AM
I honestly don't think anyone is getting tired of comic book films. I think audience's are actually feeling the opposite, there getting more and more excited about comic book films.
yossarian
yossarian - 7/25/2014, 6:18 AM
No sweat deth.
yossarian
yossarian - 7/25/2014, 6:24 AM
I mean, when you look at the numbers. THE market is not over-saturated. YOUR market is. You have options. You make your choices and you live the the consequences of your actions. You choose to watch each CBM to the point of boredom and then complain they don't hold up. You choose to scrutinize CBMs to the point of displeasure. You choose to consume every movie/TV show they market at you.

The editorial "you" not the author or anyone specific.
tonytony
tonytony - 7/25/2014, 7:03 AM
stop moaning buddy. I will be watching each and every single one of those movies. I hate the forced humour if they switch tbat up I will be supporting. Also dc will be coning through with their own style which should make things amazing if you arr a comic book movie fan
tonytony
tonytony - 7/25/2014, 7:08 AM
i genuinely hate Threads like this. Would you do this for comedies or rom coms or films from books? stop thinking of cbm as its own genre. look at it as source material adopted for big scrern
GinjaNinja
GinjaNinja - 7/25/2014, 7:53 AM
There are so many different ganres that it will be hard to get bored of them as long as they are good
Parkerluckpersonified
Parkerluckpersonified - 7/25/2014, 12:41 PM
As always cheers for the comments guys :-). Few things to respond to:

Amazing Spider-man 2- I loved this film eventhough I know others didn't, i just meant it didn't do well financially compared to projections and other spider-man films.

Black Panther Powers: Sorry i just always thought he was a very fit, intelligent person; didn't realise he was strung out on more power mushrooms than Mario ;-).

Ant-man- I'm a rugby player with lots of friends that i guess would be the jocks in America (Do you have those or is it a made-up media thing?) who genuinely laugh when i say the names of characters like ant-man or Shazam for example. It's more this audience I'm referring to becoming jaded with these movies- the ones who snicker at the idea of a Robin movie cos they only know him from the movies and the gay jokes.

'I hate articles like these'- Don't read it then :-)
Parkerluckpersonified
Parkerluckpersonified - 7/25/2014, 12:43 PM
oooooh and worst three marvel films?

-Ironman 2
- Cap America 1
- I can't think of a third :-(
Parkerluckpersonified
Parkerluckpersonified - 7/25/2014, 12:45 PM
** Is calling him Marv any different to calling Spidey Spidey or Cap Cap?**
riddlemethis09
riddlemethis09 - 7/25/2014, 2:00 PM
As others have said- as long as the movies are quality, people will watch and enjoy!
Take 3d animated movies- they have gone down in value only on occasion. Typically people still love them!
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