On Thursday, Zack Snyder’s long-awaited director’s cut of “Justice League” debuted on HBO Max, which, like CNN, is owned by WarnerMedia. If that wasn’t enough, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Marvel Studios’ next big-budget Disney+ series, premiered on Friday. It’s nothing unusual for superhero content to take over a weekend. Take a look at the list of the top box office opening weekends of all time. Similarly, watching superhero entertainment on television is nothing new, since there have been a slew of shows on the airwaves over the years, ranging from animated series to an interwoven DC world on The CW, which is owned by WarnerMedia and CBS. (This isn’t the first time Marvel TV programs and a DC blockbuster have appeared on Netflix.) Nonetheless, this weekend seems like a watershed moment in the entertainment industry’s most lucrative genre. A contrast between a superhero show and a superhero movie has existed for years. However, as Hollywood makes streaming a priority and the distinctions between what defines a film and what constitutes television continue to blur, that distinction is swiftly fading. Continue reading There is no longer a distinction between a big-budget superhero movie and what you watch at home. This weekend was a perfect example of that. Snyder’s “Justice League” brings together DC’s biggest superheroes for a four-hour director’s cut of the 2017 film, while “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” is expected to cost $150 million, which is a lot of money for a film that isn’t a significant release. So, what does that imply for the burgeoning strength of streaming and for a genre that’s been at the core of the theater industry’s grosses for the previous decade if more people get used to seeing cinema’s caped crusaders from the comfort of their couches? “The box office’s pillar ” It’s an understatement to suggest that superheroes are crucial to theaters. “Superhero series’ global appeal is near the center of the pulse that has drove mainstream moviegoer attendance for the past decade,” according to Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at Boxoffice.com. “Those films and brands have long been pillars of the box office, and they’ll be critical to long-term theatrical recovery when viewers return to theaters.” Fans who fought for ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ get to see the director’s grim vision. For years, the box office and the success of comic book movies have been inextricably linked. For example, according to Comscore, four of the top ten films at the domestic box office in 2019 were superhero flicks (SCOR). The number was six in 2018. It was five in 2017. According to Zak Shaikh, vice president of programming and entertainment at research firm Magid, the fact that “Justice League” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” are focusing on streaming this weekend shows that “Hollywood is adjusting.” “It just proves how important streaming is as a venue for large launches,” Shaikh said. He did say, though, that the box office might change as streaming evolves. “It’s possible that the box office may evolve into a location for the whole movie experience, with movies that people want to see in a more social environment taking precedence,” he said. “I don’t think the types of movies made will alter much because the film industry is generally driven by consumer demand, not necessarily by where the film is available. What makes it to the theaters, though, will need to have a mix of theater-worthy features.” While superhero movies are unlikely to disappear from theaters anytime soon, streaming, like everything else in Hollywood, is set to become a bigger home for the genre’s narrative. Beyond the potential impact on theaters this weekend, the premieres of “Justice League” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” are also noteworthy for the services hosting them. “It’s more of an expansion than a cannibalization.” The release of a revised “Justice League” represents a huge chance for HBO Max. After filmmaker Zack Snyder stepped away from the project due to a family tragedy, DC fans have been begging for Snyder’s version of the film. Exclusive material like “Justice League” serves two functions in a streaming environment where content reigns supreme: it pleases dedicated fans while also potentially increasing Max’s subscription base. In terms of Disney+, the service is coming off the success of Marvel’s debut series for the streaming service, “WandaVision.” “Falcon and Winter Soldier” intends to maintain the service’s pace as it expands its membership base, which just topped 100 million users. Disney+ has reached a significant milestone. While fans stay at home this weekend to watch the latest exploits of their favorite heroes, audiences may become accustomed to a future where DC and Marvel films and shows appear on the small screen as frequently as they do on the big screen. According to Robbins, it doesn’t have to be a terrible thing for theaters if streaming offers another home for superheroes as long as demand for movies remains strong. “As long as the content is of great quality,” Robbins added, “theatrical and streaming releases may drive each other’s success.” “With ‘WandaVision,’ Marvel has already constructed the connective fibers to prospective flicks such as the Doctor Strange sequel.” Robbins went on to say that the future will be “far less cannibalization and greater expansion in terms of available material.” “Most comic book films, in my opinion, absolutely belong on the large screen,” he remarked. “However, that isn’t to suggest that excellent narrative in other forms isn’t possible.” Continue reading
