Summary

Superman & The Fantastic Four: First Steps were successful & disproved superhero fatigue.
Both films performed well commercially & critically, revitalizing the genre.
Quality & uniqueness are crucial for superhero movies to succeed amidst competition.

Superhero fatigue is a topic that many people have debated in recent years, but the release of Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps this summer has dispelled those ideas. The two movies might have been competing against each other with DC and Marvel Studios, but they’ve both helped prove that the superhero genre still has something to offer.

While everyone may have their personal favorite between Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, both have performed well critically and commercially. It has been a positive summer for superhero movies, and that’s something that may turn the tide on people’s general opinion of movies in this genre.

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By Nick Rodriguez

Superman And The Fantastic Four: First Steps Have Enjoyed Box Office Success

These Superhero Movies Have Proven They Can Draw A Crowd

The Fantastic Four in The Fantastic Four First Steps

The superhero genre has seen a surge in movie releases since the boom of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether it’s movies within the MCU itself or projects outside of that, there has been a lot for people to take in, to the point that even the biggest comic book fans have felt a little fatigue with it. Given that Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps were released in the same summer, there was a significant risk that fatigue would show itself in the form of poor box office results for both. However, that hasn’t been the case, with fans heading out in their droves to support the films, even with other major summer blockbusters like Jurassic World: Rebirth and F1 thriving.

Superman has grossed $502 million at the worldwide box office so far, which is an impressive figure considering this movie is a total refresh for the DCU under the leadership of James Gunn. Meanwhile, The Fantastic Four: First Steps managed to gross $218 million in its opening weekend alone, with $100 million of that being from international audiences. The latest MCU offering managed to beat the overseas debut of Superman by 11%, as Marvel Studios attempts to topple the Man of Steel in the battle of the superheroes this summer. However, while that competition will be closely scrutinized by executives and those involved in the movies, for the broader genre, it is simply a monumental success.

Marvel Studios Having Legitimate Competition Will Raise The Quality

The Focus Has To Be On Making Compelling Movies

reed richards stretching power in fantastic four first steps

One of the reasons why Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps have worked and been successful is that both movies are very good. Superman boasts an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps slightly edges it at 87%, proving that they have been warmly received. A reason for this is the specific tones they both possess, with each movie managing to showcase real cohesion and a tight script, along with exciting action. They cater to the hardcore comic book fans who seek unique details and homages to their favorite storylines, while also being accessible to the general public who simply want to see a summer blockbuster. The Fantastic Four: First Steps benefits from being easy to watch regardless of how much you know about the MCU, while Superman, being at the start of the new DCU, makes it a perfect jumping-off point for fans to get involved. There’s no need for people to do detailed homework ahead of time, and that has benefited each movie.

However, they have also proven that quality is key when it comes to superhero movies if they want to be successful. Captain America: Brave New World grossed $413 million and was panned by critics, while many of Sony’s Spider-Verse movies proved to be disastrous at the box office as well. Those movies suggest that it might not be a case of superhero fatigue, but rather that fans are no longer willing to watch every single superhero movie. Instead, audiences will be more selective, and that means every studio creating a movie within this world will need to focus on creating genuine quality over quantity, which is something Marvel Studios has claimed it will be doing moving forward.

DC And Marvel Studios Are Gearing Up For Big Releases

The Superhero Genre Might Be Set For Another Boom

David Corenswet as Superman in the pocket universe rift in Superman

The success of this summer for Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps might be a positive sign of what’s to come moving forward, as both DC and Marvel Studios have big plans right now. DC is at the start of its new franchise, and there are numerous exciting projects, such as Clayface, currently under development. Given that Gunn has promised the tone of each movie will be different it opens up the opportunity for all of them to feel unique, which will help with any potential fatigue. On top of that, Marvel Studios is gearing up for two Avengers movies and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which are all set to be massive projects that should dominate at the box office. It’s an exciting prospect for both Marvel and DC, and it could help to kickstart a new boom for the superhero genre, with Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps playing a key part in making that happen.