There are too Many Superhero Movies

The past two years have seen the release of 11 comic book movies, with Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” and D.C.’s “Justice League” still slated for release this November. Not even mentioning the countless comic book television shows, the entertainment industry has seen no shortage of superhero-related action, with Marvel and D.C.’s cinematic universes coming to a head these past few years.

    While comic book movies are currently cinema royalty, at least from a financial perspective, some are wondering how long it will take for moviegoers to be fatigued by the current trend. Legendary director, producer and screenwriter Steven Spielberg, for one, is not so certain about the future of these movies. “We were around when the Western died, and there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western,” Spielberg said in an interview with Associated Press.

    While superhero movies are certainly suffering and will continue to suffer due to the frequency of their release, this issue also extends to the quality of these movies. Filmmaker Ridley Scott, while speaking with Digital Spy, even went as far as saying these films have “no story.”

    Now before you grab your torch and pitchfork, let me make it clear that there is nothing wrong with enjoying superhero movies. They are, for the most part, fun, exciting and oftentimes emotional experiences made with an incredible amount of blockbuster polish. Because of this, the superhero offerings of Marvel, and occasionally D.C., are a safe bet for your time and money at the theaters. However, herein lies the biggest problem with the modern superhero film – you know exactly what you are going to get when you walk into that theater. Every film hits the same beats, and every sequel continues the trademarked explosive action heavily infused with humor of the last.

    This is worsened by the creation of the cinematic universe. Instead of focusing on telling an engaging story in one film, studios have to focus on creating an overarching story that ties each movie together. While this doesn’t always hamper their stories in a significant way, there are still far too many examples of this going wrong (namely “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad”).

    Fortunately, there have been a handful of movies that have sought to break the mold of the standard Marvel/D.C. fanfare. Last year brought us the merc with a mouth “Deadpool,” which actively parodied the many tropes of the average superhero film. This year, comic book fans were delighted with “Logan,” a superhero movie where the characters actually respond to the violence around them, and with the R rating, it is utterly brutal. While most comic movies only dwell on the stylishly cool heroes during moments of tumultuous violence that no doubt result in the loss of innocent life, “Logan” chose not to shy away from dwelling on the physical and emotional impact of the carnage that follows the Wolverine wherever he goes, leaving viewers feeling anything but the “fun” they have come to expect in a Marvel movie.

    While these movies serve as a nice break in between Marvel and D.C.’s typical releases, they are a dime a dozen among the ever-growing pool of formulaic superhero movies, which show no sign of slowing in the near future. With Marvel and D.C. both having films scheduled through 2020, critics and moviegoers alike will have to wait and see if the genre truly does edge further and further down the path of the Western.