MOVIE NEWS – The box office success of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ and the June slump of ‘The Flash’ may spell deeper implications for superhero movies.

‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ achieved an enormous victory, broke records, and received positive reviews, while ‘The Flash’ struggled due to negative reviews, CGI issues, and a divided fanbase. The success of ‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ proves that innovative and evolving superhero franchises can still thrive, whereas ‘The Flash’ overly focused on nostalgia, neglecting its title character. The June revenue data suggest that future superhero movies indeed need to be original to be successful, as the audience wants to support franchises that continue to innovate and show them new things.

What does it mean that ‘The Flash’ bombed at the box office in June while ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ reigned supreme? Both superhero films tackled a common theme, exploring the multiverse of their own cinematic universe. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes apparent that the two films and their reception are as different as night and day.

‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ was unequivocally successful among critics and audiences alike, earning more money during its theatrical run than the original ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’. It broke several box office records at Sony Pictures, marking the studio’s strongest debut both globally and domestically. In contrast, ‘The Flash’ was the latest in a long line of underperforming productions from DC Studios, and the biggest bomb in Warner Bros. Discovery’s history.

Why is the box office for ‘Across The Spider-Verse’ stronger than ‘The Flash’?

Despite having similarly multiverse-centered stories, comparing ‘The Flash’ and ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is like comparing apples and oranges. The recent ‘Spider-Verse’ movie was a much-anticipated sequel to a beloved film that won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2019. The original ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ was also a groundbreaking film, redefining both superhero movies and animated films, presenting a complex story in a variety of styles that was easily enjoyable for a family audience. This same audience was eager for the sequel, and turned out in droves for ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’.

In contrast, ‘The Flash’ did not have this established audience, and too many negative factors worked against it to have any hope of success. Early negative reviews and complaints about incomplete CGI following the trailer screenings dampened excitement. The DCEU fanbase was split among loyalists who celebrated the film as the last gasp of the Snyderverse, and those who boycotted it, believing a bomb would hurt the new leadership at DC Studios. The film was also boycotted due to ongoing legal disputes surrounding its star, Ezra Miller. Ultimately, many avoided the film because they felt it did not really matter, since a new DCU is in the works.

What might the June box office figures mean for the future of superhero movies? While superhero fatigue explains why many superhero films in 2023 did not perform as well as expected, the success of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ proves that superheroes still have a place in the popular zeitgeist. The audience wants to support franchises like the ‘Spider-Verse’ movies that continue to innovate and evolve, and show them things they have not seen before. In contrast, ‘The Flash’ was stuck in the past, more interested in the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman and a number of other nostalgia-centered cameos than its title character. The next wave of superhero films indeed needs to be original to be successful.

Source: ScreenRant