Marvel's The Marvels Sees Lowest Opening in Franchise History

In a surprising turn of events, Walt Disney Co.'s The Marvels recorded the lowest opening in the history of the famed superhero franchise, raking in $47 million in US and Canadian theater ticket sales over the weekend. This falls below Boxoffice Pro's estimated range of $35 million to $49 million and even the studio's own projection of around $60 million. Despite the domestic downturn, the film managed to pull in $110.3 million globally.

Marvel Studios, known for its consistent box office prowess, has recently faced challenges with weaker reviews and revenue from films like The Eternals and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Some Marvel TV shows on Disney+, including She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Secret Invasion, have also struggled to resonate with critics and audiences.

The Marvels, starring Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, faced marketing setbacks this fall, with actors unable to promote projects until the resolution of the Screen Actors Guild strike on November 9. Disney CEO Bob Iger, returning to helm the entertainment giant in November, expressed plans to address issues at the film studio after summer releases fell below expectations. In response to challenges, Disney recently reshuffled its theatrical movie release calendar, pushing some Marvel titles to 2025.