A Superhero Summer

Though other summers have had multiple superhero/comic book movies, this summer was unique. With Marvel setting up its Avengers franchise with two movies (Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger), with a re-boot of the X-Men franchise (X-Men: First Class) and DC pulling out a lesser-known character but popular hero (Green Lantern), this was a summer that didn’t depend on a Spider-Man or Batman movie to carry the day.*

* There was, of course, another superhero movie earlier in the year — The Green Hornet. I didn’t see it, but it made $227 million worldwide, so it’s hard to call it too much of a flop (even if it only made $98 million in the US).

The success of these movies is a mixed bag. The four movies have combined to make $524 million at the domestic box office, and that’s with Captain America being in only week two, and some change coming in on the other films. We could be talking $600 million for the four films, which would only be called a complete failure by the extremely pessimistic.

But none of them are going to break $200 likely (though Cap has a chance), and none will grace the top 5 in 2011. Heck, they’ll all be behind Hangover 2 and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and I’ve heard lots of negative about those two sequels.

Are superhero movies starting to die?

I believe the answer is yes. When X-Men (2000) initiated the new era of superhero flicks, my fanboy dreams were realized. I remember talking with a friend, who thought America would burn out of superhero movies within 2-3 years. The Spider-Man series and especially the new Batman series by director Christopher Nolan, made sure that didn’t happen. We’re 11 years into this run of movies, and it’s going strong.

Next year it will continue with The Dark Knight Rises, but I think we’re at the top of the hill. When I saw previews for The Amazing Spider-Man (due in theaters next July, a couple of weeks ahead of The Dark Knight Rises) there was no enthusiasm. It was mostly: why are they already re-doing Spider-Man? Spider-Man 3 will only be six years old, and though it was the worst of that trilogy, it still feels too soon.

I really hope I’m wrong. Next summer will also feature The Avengers (out in May), a movie I’ve anticipated since I was 12. I know a lot of moviegoers are griping about Hollywood’s lack of originality, but I have loved the last 11 years and all the cool superhero movies. Of the top 20 best US grossing superhero films of all-time, 19 of them have come in the last 11 years with Batman (1989) being the lone exception.

So I will enjoy the next few years and the continued superhero era, because it’s likely not going to be that way too much longer.