From blockbuster hits to box office flops, this year has been a rollercoaster for comic book movies.

2023 will undoubtedly be a year of ups and downs in the comics cinematic universe. With seven great live-action titles between Marvel and DC, fans have experienced an emotional roller coaster, from the initial enthusiasm to the mixed reactions these products have generated. Let’s take a closer look at what happened in this world full of heroes and villains.

The beginning of a new era

With much anticipation for the year, fans of the genre have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania,” which is slated to kick off Marvel’s 5th installment. However, this film not only fails to live up to expectations, but also highlights the limitations of overusing The Volume as a visual production technique. Additionally, the defeat of Kang’s winner was seen as a major plot flaw.

On the other hand, “Shazam! Not only did DC’s Wrath of Gods fall short, but it was considered worse than “Black Adam,” which was released in October last year. These shaky starts set the tone for what would be a year of superhero movies full of ups and downs.

Unexpected successes and failures

Among the few highlights this year, “Guardians of the Galaxy” stands out. 3”, hailed as a beautiful conclusion to the James Gunn trilogy and ranked as one of Marvel Studios’ best films to date. However, this happiness was short-lived.

DC’s “The Flash” has been surrounded by controversy and criticism for its visual effects and confusing story, dividing fans and falling short of the title of “best superhero movie ever made.” On the other hand, “Blue Beetle”, despite being well received by critics and fans, failed to do well at the box office, which reflects the skepticism of the DC brand.

But the biggest surprise of the year was “The Marvels,” the sequel to 2018’s successful “Captain Marvel.” Although not as big a disaster as the third Ant-Man, this film became Marvel Studios’ biggest box office failure. Many are wondering what went wrong.

Ultimately, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” followed a similar trajectory to “The Marvels,” facing negative reviews and problems attracting audiences, despite being a sequel that grossed more than a billion dollars before the outbreak.

Is it time for superhero cinema to change?

After this year full of ups and downs, the film industry is likely to see a big change. The saturation of the market with superheroes and the repetition of familiar formulas is starting to show a sense of fatigue among the public. Studios, experiencing both unexpected successes and outright failures, may have to rethink their strategies. The question now is whether we will see a change in the way these stories are presented to innovate and surprise a growing audience.

Compared to previous years, 2023 was marked by inconsistencies in quality and reception. Films that were once a guarantee of success now struggle to survive in a sea of ​​criticism and seem to be changing expectations. This may be a crucial time for creators and studios to reflect on the future of the genre and to find new ways to shape the public’s imagination, perhaps focusing more on narrative quality and visual creativity, rather than relying solely on the popularity of the characters and special effects.