Help us, Superman!
Hollywood could use a lifeline. Badly. The box office numbers were ugly even before the new year.
Ticket sales in 2024 fell to $8.7 billion, a 23.5 percent drop from pre-pandemic levels.
The first quarter results have been less than inspiring.
Only two movies have eclipsed the $100 million mark at the U.S. box office – “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Others have been disappointments, including “Snow White,” “Wolf Man” and “Mickey 17.”
The LA Times dubbed the current box office state “terrible.”
Plus, several theater chains have filed for Chapter 11 in recent memory, including Regal Cinemas and the Alamo Drafthouse. Variety adds that there are nearly 6,000 less movie screens nationwide since the pandemic, citing media consultancy Omdia.
Enter the Man of Steel.
Director James Gunn’s reboot of the DC Comics superhero doesn’t bow until July 11, but the industry hopes it gives Hollywood a much-needed shot in the arm.
It has more than that mission on its plate.
Gunn and co. want “Superman” to reboot Warner Bros.’ superhero universe, wobbly following the seeming death of the “Wonder Woman” saga and the collapse of 2023’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” ($124 million US).
The film also could erase phrases like “Superhero Fatigue” from the vernacular, boosting the similarly wobbly MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).
No pressure, team!
If “Superman” can’t deliver the blockbuster Hollywood craves, these 2025 films could fill the gap.
- “A Minecraft Movie” (April 4) – Hollywood finally cracked the code on video game adaptations (See the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies for Examples A, B and C.) This Jack Black/Jason Momoa romp looks less assured than that franchise, but the game’s fervent fan base will come out in droves.
- “Thunderbolts” (May 2) – The next MCU installment is a massive risk. Few movie goers know these characters, and there’s not an A-lister in the bunch. The trailers have been underwhelming at best.
- “Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning” (May 23) – The latest and possibly last film in this successful saga is already doomed, at least from the studio’s perspective. A ghastly budget (a reported $400 million) means it won’t break even without some sort of miracle. The industry will take a new, gargantuan hit from Tom Cruise all the same.
- “Jurassic World Rebirth” (July 2) – Yes, it’s great to see Scarlett Johansson lead this franchise reboot. The real stars are the CGI dinosaurs. Still. The franchise has more than its fair share of mediocre sequels, but they consistently draw massive crowds. This will do the same.
- “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (July 25) – We’re at the final stage of, “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” The third swing at Marvel Comics’ dysfunctional family hopes to get the formula just right. The teaser trailer proved lackluster, and the IP’s past may come back to haunt it. This one needs swift and steady word of mouth to make it a hit.
- “Wicked: For Good” (Nov. 21) – It. Will. Print. Money. Bank on it.
- “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (Dec. 19) – Never, ever count director James Cameron out. He’s only delivered three of the top-grossing films of all time – “Titanic,” “Avatar” and “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The “Avatar” franchise hasn’t wormed its way into pop culture lore. We don’t see Na’vi backpacks in every schoolyard. The franchise delivers at the box office. Expect more of the same come December, giving Hollywood a fiscal lifeline.
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