Comic book movies have become the customary stock of motion pictures and have been reigning at the box office for the last 20 years. Box office sales are a huge factor in the production of comic book movies and the money spent to produce them is extraordinary. Hollywood has invented a world of fantasy that has become an obsession for viewers and the most consumed narrative to date. Our values are reflected on the big screen, politically and socially in the characters that illustrate our principles, and yet the lack of context in these movies is still appealing. The big draw to comic book movies has a lot to do with technology, simple storyline, and obvious good and bad guy characters trying to save mankind. This essay will proclaim that the interest in comic book movies is a component of prosperous marketing, technological aspects, and the social need for uncomplicated narratives.
As of October 2019, ten comic book adaptations have been released, adding to the largest box office success of superhero films in 2017. The success of these movies at the box office is a significant component of why comic books are significant to the film industry. The 10 highest-grossing films of all time include 5 comic book movies according to James Andrews of A Room with a View (Andrews). The intercontinental movie industry has a flourishing forecast for the coming years as worldwide box office profits are predicted to increase by 50 billion dollars in 2020. In movie ticket sales, the United States is the third largest globally behind China and India, leaving few to say that the film industry isn’t big business. A recent survey indicated that “19 percent of Americans go to the movies about once a month and 8 percent see movies several times a month” (Watson). Drama had been the most common genre to be released in the United States that is, until the comic book movie franchise of Marvel. Marvel now successfully reigns at the box office with over 22.55 billion dollars in box office sales as of October 2019. Marvel’s franchises include “Spider-Man,” “Avengers,” “The Incredible Hulk,” and “Iron Man.” To add to Marvel’s success, the stars of these big franchises are the highest-paid actors in the world, celebrities such as Scarlett Johannsson, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Hemsworth. The ten comic book movies of 2019, started their big screen releases in March when Marvel presented the universe’s most powerful superhero, Captain Marvel, portrayed by Brie Larson which has worldwide grossed over a billion dollars at the box office. Then DC Comics joined the ranks of Marvel with their superhero, “Shazam,” released in April and grossed 365 million at the box office worldwide. Following Marvel and DC was “Dark Horse” Comics' release of “Hellboy,” on April 12, 2019, this failed at the box office by grossing 45 million against a production budget of 50 million. On April 26, Marvel’s Avengers franchise continued the saga with the release of the highest box office blockbuster in history, “Avengers: End Game,” which has to date grossed worldwide over 2 billion dollars in box office sales. By June 7, Marvel release another saga from the X-Men series with “Dark Phoenix,” which unfortunately did not perform well at the box office but didn’t discourage Marvel with their next release on July 5, “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” which has grossed over a billion in box office sales. On August 2, the next generation of mutants from the X-Men series was scheduled to be released titled, “The New Mutants” but Disney pushed back the date to April 2020, now fans will have to wait and see if it’s going to live up to the hype. The latest comic book movie released is DC Comics’ “Joker,” which is expected to pass a billion dollars in box office sales before the end of 2019. It’s obvious, box office sales are a huge factor in the production of comic book movies and why the film industry is spending astonishing amounts in aspiration of creating the next blockbuster. Critics have expressed concern that audiences will eventually become oversaturated with comic book movies and no longer feel the need to spend money on more of the same movies. McAllister believes that filmmakers are taking bigger risks to produce intellectual films that challenge the viewer, and these films may never become a blockbuster at the box office. “Movie producers assume these superhero movies will be a sequel and shoot both films at the same time” (McAllister). There is a lot to be said when film production cost millions but to assume its sequel is a bankable hit is incredible confidence in a product.
It’s apparent the motivation behind the film industry's ambition to produce such expensive movies but what's different today that make comic book movies so popular? Simple comic books are still popular with young collectors, but not to the extent of 50 years ago. Today’s demographic audience of comic book movies is very diverse, in the sense that many never bother with a comic book yet have no problem waiting in line to view the next comic book movie. The film industry has reached an above range of normal with technology that has enhanced the viewers’ experience when watching comic book movies. Children are no longer their only target audience, it’s anyone 6-90. The New York Film Academy believes the audience age is no longer a factor with a PG-13 rating because the older audience that has grown up appreciating comic books are more likely to treat themselves to watch their childhood heroes on the big screen. The New York Film Academy also stated, “PG-13 is primarily made for adults who grew up on comic books and now have a disposable income” (New York Film Academy).
Critics have stated that advances in computer technology such as CGI, 3-D graphics, and special effects, are the solitary reason for the increasing popularity of comic book movies. Author Laurence Maslon has referred to the new technology that assisted in introducing Spider-Man and other comic book characters to the public as a “little magic genie that can finally render the vertigo-inducing, sky-scraping-swinging world of Spider-Man” (Maslon 281). Technology has permitted the film industry to create remarkable and striking components of comic book character narratives to look authentic and real. The success of comic book movies has lured an audience that typically has no interest in PG-13 movies or as Laurence Maslon puts it, “audiences that would not be lured into a summer action blockbuster featuring a man in tights” (Maslon 281). The introduction of comic book movies with such amazing technology is exciting to watch as well as entertaining, giving a new period of comic book movie recognition, yet it wasn’t an overnight success. “During the ’90s, Marvel sold off characters’ screen rights to save the company from bankruptcy, and projects languished in development throughout the decade” (Harrison). Marvel had some growing pains in the 90s before perfecting their big hit recipe, starting with visually appealing technology that transports the viewer to a believable fantasy world. Mark Harris in an article written in 2018 for DenGeek, stresses the necessity that Marvel needed to work through in order to succeed at the level of today. Marvel, continued to cut corners in trying to create a hit without the contents it needed just to fit a budget. “The 1990s aren’t a great time in the continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this period held some necessary painful lessons for everything that followed” (Harris). Harris continued to describe the 90’s as a “weird decade,” referring not just to Marvel but most filmmakers trying to make the next Batman of 1989. Special effects today have become so spectacular that superhuman narration has converged with reality, creating the film experience more three-dimensional and enjoyable for the vast demographic of viewers. The characters perform an abundance of fantastic and amazing feats such as enables walking through realms of time, flying the skies, or shrinking Ant-Man to the size of an ant and then towering over buildings. Some of the most spectacular effects were employed to make inventions for heroes not gifted with incredible natural talents. These special effects constructed gadgets that enable mortal humans to become superheroes. Many of the devices are just as impressive as superpowers and tease the idea of future inventions becoming a reality such as Iron Man’s suit, viewers believe it can accomplish nearly anything with Tony Stark’s continued upgrades throughout the film’s franchise.
Blockbuster movies of the past that have once dominated the box office encompassed conceptual thought-provoking works of art or romantics that illustrated historical movements, such as one of the biggest box office blockbusters of all time, “Gone with the Wind,” that reflected social and political issues that demanded the attention of the audience. Movies based on comic books have changed the context of box office hits. One factor of the success of comic book movies is the uncomplicated story of the unmistakable hero and felon. The appeal of comic book movies seems to stir the audience’s penchant for the hero's pursuit to rescue mankind and the battles they endure over and over. Matt McAllister, a professor at Penn State’s film/video studies, states, 'Audiences are easily entertained by the simple plot of 'good vs. evil” (McAllister). If the ingredients influencing comic book movies' popularity exist because of their classification, then the characters of these films could be classified as diminished civil servants and a colossal amount of technology, blocked by public implication. The heroes of comic book movies can be categorized as the outcome of favored opinion, developed to enchant present-day intellect. Comic book movies are appealing due to their relevance to the viewer while pursuing compelling topics of today. Comic book movies have become an escape or getaway from a hard world to a world where good guys always triumph. The New York Film Academy suggests that the solace of comic book movies in a depressed economic market can be reflected in an era of dispirited self-worth in a nation, “While our economic downturn is not as severe as the Great Depression, it’s notable that the popularity of comic books in the 1930s mirrors the popularity of superhero movies today” (New York Film Academy). Although the story plot of comic book films falls under the familiar heading of ‘good vs. evil’ or superheroes’ pursuit to save the world, they all have the essence of a “theme park,” according to Martin Scorsese. Consider the viewer, who walks into a formation of chairs that line a cineplex, chooses a seat, and has his or her emotions influenced by the images and sounds on the screen. Scorsese is not necessarily insulting the comic book movie, he honestly feels it’s just not his genre of movie, but he is concerned that the movie franchise will limit the freedom to take chances and creativity, resulting in fewer options in movies. “Many films today are perfect products manufactured for immediate consumption” (Scorsese). In a sense, comic book movies are comparable to a roller coaster, that leaves the viewer exhilarated and ready for the next ride and why not, if escaping reality is the goal?
The substance that creates comic book movie popularity has distinctly changed, depending progressively on the latest computer technology and obliging to specific commercial authorization instead of political or connecting to community-based issues. The increasing special effects have made it possible for the film industry to fabricate non-existent worlds, that viewers are not particularly concerned about, even if the films are not necessarily applicable socially or how it relates to public affairs. The context of comic book movies is no longer challenged by filmgoers to have specific topics in any social or public affairs. The film industry has formulated a world of make-believe that has audience members preoccupied with the latest and greatest that technology can provide. History in perilous times mirrors the escape that superheroes in comic book movies have rendered to audiences, from the Great Depression of the 1930s to the economic meltdown of 2008. The appealing, uncomplicated, straightforward narrative speaks to the masses of good vs. evil and the predictable outcome of the hero saving the world. Technology has shifted our perspective on the superhero and the world they live in. The film industry has accommodated technology, franchising, and the financial expense for the next big blockbuster that comic book movies promise. The distinction of comic book films is that these films are so well made that they’re enjoyable to even those who have never picked up a comic book.