Movies from Marvel dominated Hollywood in the 2010s, but it seems that things are not going so well for the studios anymore. The audience seems to be less than fully satisfied. Tom Hanks believes that superhero movies have a problem if they don’t change one thing.
What is it about? The Marvel Cinematic Universe was once the big thing in Hollywood. Nowadays, things look a bit different. After Avengers: Endgame, the audience is not satisfied with many movies (and series). Recently, films like Eternals, The Marvels, or Ant-Man 3 disappointed at the box office.
As for the DC film universe, there’s not much to discuss. While audiences and critics enjoy standalone films like The Batman, the larger film universe had to be rebooted before it even properly launched.
But what is the reason for this? The great acting legend Tom Hanks seems to know the answer, as he revealed in a recent interview.
Avengers: Endgame was the last good project of the MCU for many fans:
A big spectacle is no longer enough
What does Tom Hanks say? In an interview with Josh Horowitz on YouTube, Tom Hanks also discusses superhero movies. He addresses the early fascination with this genre. Back then, the technology wasn’t as advanced, and films like Superman featuring Christopher Reeves showcased a man flying, which was fascinating at the time.
Nowadays, that’s different. The movies can look like they do in the comics. The studios can project almost anything onto the screens they want. According to Hanks, this is a problem today, because audiences want more than just spectacle. They desire a reason, a deeper meaning behind it all.
I believe we now enjoy the luxury of richness because you can implement everything on screen. […] You can do that, but what does it bring at the end of the day? What is the story and what will it say about us?
Tom Hanks on superhero movies
He explains that there was a time when these films were meant to showcase better versions of oneself. He mentions Spider-Man, Batman, or the X-Men.
What would be the solution? But now we are in a time where these films need to evolve. According to Hanks, filmmakers need to offer more to the audience. Deeper stories and themes. They should ask themselves what the meaning of the film is
.
He also mentions the industry, which often operates based on known patterns because they have worked before.
Does Tom Hanks have a point? Most superhero movies are based on a formula that was already seen in the first Spider-Man film, and the spectacle worked, but there is a limit. You can see with films like The Batman and Joker that movies can also work on a smaller scale without divine threats.
He also has a point with the personal level. You empathize with Batman or Spider-Man, but these conflicts only work to a certain extent and not with every sequel. Many of the new
heroes also have personal conflicts that viewers already recognize from other heroes.
What happens with the MCU can only be seen in 2025. After the series Agatha All Along, Captain America 4 will be released on February 12. In May 2025, Marvel wants to try a Suicide Squad concept: Marvel is creating its own “Suicide Squad” with supervillains – The new trailer for Thunderbolts is really fun
