Within the last decade or so, comic book fans have been treated with a heavy dose of superhero films. Hollywood producers know that it is a perfect way to get into the wallets of audiences everywhere.
This summer, 2011 has seen its fair share of comic book adaptations, with a total of five comic book films. The films include Thor, X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern, Captain America, and Cowboys and Aliens.
Joe Badgett , a sophomore in paper science engineering, enjoyed how many comic book films came out this summer.
“It’s definitely a good year to be a comic book fan,” Badgett said.
With the release of so many comic book adaptations this past summer, is audience interest starting to dwindle for the genre? More importantly, have the films themselves been receiving praise or contempt from the hardcore fans as well as the general public?
When analyzing the summer films of 2011, the results are probably not what most studio executives would have liked to see. The studios have certainly seen more profitable comic book films in the past.
Marvel’s first summer film, Thor, had a budget of $150 million and managed a total worldwide gross of over $448 million. The first comic book film was a success, not only financially, but critically as well, receiving solid positive reviews.
Marvel’s next two films of summer, X-Men: First Class (budget: $160 million) and Captain America (budget: $140 million), earned worldwide grosses over $350 million and $286 million, respectively (although Captain America is still in release). Both films also received great reviews; however, the studio was not impressed with the profit.
Also released was DC Comics’ Green Lantern, which was deemed a mess by both critics and viewers. Critically, the film was loathed; however, the film’s financial record was even worse. With a $200 million budget (not including advertising), Green Lantern only managed to cash in just over $176 million worldwide.
A month off the failure of Green Lantern came yet another commercial disappointment: Cowboys and Aliens. Though it was a bold project to begin with, the comic book adaptation garnered mostly positive reviews and has been in theaters for almost a month. However, the film reportedly cost $163 million to produce and has yet to break the $100 million mark worldwide, sitting at a disappointing $93 million.
While the poorly reviewed comic book films, like Green Lantern, underperformed at the box office, even the more positively reviewed films, like Cowboys and Aliens, proved financial flops. The question is why have there been such dismal numbers for what seemed set to be sure-fire summer hits?
There are those who have seen the numerous comic book films and do not like them at all.
Kathryn Smith, a freshman majoring in polymers and color chemistry, feels that comic films can be hard to follow.
“I don’t like the fact that there is already existing material from the comic book that could be left out from the film,” Smith said. “That way some die-hard fans already know what’s going on while most people who don’t know all that stuff are confused.”
Could it be that more and more students and general audiences are feeling this way? Arin Taylor, a sophomore double majoring in computer science and math, thinks differently about the superhero genre.
“If you’re going to see a comic book movie, you know you’re going to be entertained,” Taylor said. “I think they are good. I like them since they are entertaining and you get your money’s worth.”
Although the idea that some viewers are confused by the back story of some comic film is a valid one, writers do their best to justify the comics while at the same time giving the audience knowledge of the story.
However, even fans such as Badgett states his reluctance towards the comic book films.
“If I’m watching a whole two and a half hour movie,” Badgett said, “there better be a good climax and a good story, otherwise it’s a waste of money.”
Whatever the case may be, the enormous amount of comic book fans will probably not be decreasing any time soon. As a result, means comic book adaptations on film most likely won’t be going anywhere as well, successful or not.