Are there too many superhero movies?

1. 83

   M. T. Dremerposted 9 years ago

   Are there too many superhero movies?
   
   I've heard this a few times; that Hollywood is churning out only superhero movies and that it is hindering newer, original films. However, with Marvel only halfway through it's infinity wars story arc, and the Justice League a glimmer in Superman's eye, some might argue superhero movies have only just started. What is your opinion? Are there too many superhero movies in Hollywood today?

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2. 71

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   I believe we're heading there. (At least by U.S. standards)
   Once Hollywood starts churning out movies about "heroes" that are primarily only known to comic book geeks there will likely be a backlash. Most people were familiar with Batman, Superman, Captain America, The Hulk, Spiderman, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, and Thor.
   However once you get into the B, C, and D list characters like "Flash", "Ant Man", "Aqua Man", and "Black Panther" in (stand alone) movies that will be the real test. Their movies will need critical acclaim and a stamp of approval from the true comic book geeks to make money.
   "Guardians of the Galaxy" received both endorsements.
   Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be a blockbuster that is "critic proof". Even if it were to only make $200M in the U.S. It's likely to make another $700-$800M around the globe pushing it towards $1B. Foreign box office will really determine when it's overkill.

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   1. 69

      Rod Marsdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Overkill may not happen for a decade or so. It depends on the continuing quality.

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3. 69

   Rod Marsdenposted 9 years ago

   I say let the market decide if there are too many superhero movies coming out.
   
   There was a time when the same argument could be put to Westerns. I grew up at a time when just about every second television show coming out of the USA had something to do with the West. My favorites were non-traditional westerns such as The Wild Wild West and Have Gun Will Travel. Meanwhile you had westerns at the movies such as The Magnificent Seven, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, A fist Full of Dollars, and The Sons of Katie Elder. Westerns, whether for television or the movies, were once cheap to make so they churned them out. Nowadays I miss a good western where growing up I tended to avoid them.
   
   Lots of ideas could be worked around the Western just as a lot of ideas can and will be worked around the Superhero. Having a lot of films follow the notion of the Superhero could stifle creativity. This didn't happen with the Western so there is no need for it to happen with the Superhero.
   
   In any event there is a trend for Superhero films because there are some studios that have gotten good at making them.
   
   Up until the '80s you couldn't find a good Superhero movie or television series. Certainly nothing that reflected the wonder of the comic books. Now it is possible and some would argue being done. I hated The Six Million Dollar Man because it was neither true science fiction nor true superhero. I put up with The Incredible Hulk because it cut as close as was possible back then. I remember this '80s Spiderman film that was so boring it put people to sleep. There was also a really bad live action Spiderman television show and a truly awful Captain America television show. Imagine Captain America with a flexible see-through shield. Yeesh! The Wonder Woman television show was the shining light showing that doing a superhero show right and on a limited budget was possible. I thought Captain Nice was great fun but it only lasted one season.
   
   In 1978 it became possible with special effects to do Superman right. The Adventures of Superman television series of the 1950s was entertaining enough but it never really did the comic books justice. It was, however, imaginative with those responsible doing what they could with what resources they had at the time. But the special effects of 1978 were fantastic. And so began the rise of the superhero in both film and television.
   
   Today anything and everything seems possible.

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4. 92

   satomkoposted 9 years ago

   I'm not so sure my problem is the preponderance of superhero movies so much as that so many of them are the same.  Origin stories all play out essentially the same way, and even those that aren't origin stories have pretty much the same third act where a major city is threatened and/or destroyed.

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   1. 69

      Rod Marsdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. There is the argument for more variety of content. If the Westerns of the '60s were all about the shootout and nothing else that would have been dullsville.

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5. 0

   Miran Shuletaposted 9 years ago

   Tbh as long as they continue to be good movies I really don't mind. The new Spider-Man movies have been crap, I would end those asap

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6. 47

   anviyusposted 7 years ago

   I think that is good, young generation today will learn the value of heroism. Standing up for what they believe in, just like superhero.

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