Summary

2023 was a riotous year for superhero movies , with both theMCUandDCEUsuffering wretched result at the box spot for a 10000 of ground . The very public declination in enthusiasm for each studio ’s superhero offering will have hurt both in more ways than one , threatening the hereafter of the musical style as a whole and signifying that the heady Clarence Shepard Day Jr. of superhero film at their peak may be submit a fracture . Both studio apartment released two record - breakers in 2023 , withThe MarvelsandBlue Beetleboth gross the low - ever cosmopolitan boxful office for their respective franchise . Spider - Man : Across The Spider - Verse , conversely , was a bountiful win for Sony .

The truth , however , is that the expectation may not be so black . The superhero genre ’s futureis not yet written in rock , with plentifulness of actionable solutions for both studio to go after . Not only that , but 2023 hosted a miasma of unfortunate circumstances that could easily excuse the failures of the DCEU and MCU oblation . 2024 , meanwhile , will offer a reprieve from the distinctive deluge of superhero movies as the DCU gears up for a sassy spin on the genre , andthe MCU is set to publish just one movieinstead of the typical 3 . Plus , on expression , the reasons for the 2023 box office result may be easier to debar with the benefit of hindsight .

Here ’s every new DC movie confirmed as in development by WB for 2024 and forward , including release dates and where they belong in the dealership .

Collage of characters from Super Man 2025, Constantine and Batman II

Superhero Fatigue May Be At Its Peak

Lack Of Enthusiasm Is Worse Than Ever

The dread specter of superhero fatigue is credibly the big rationality superhero motion-picture show suffered in 2023.The argument that the superhero genre has been done to destruction is search more valid than ever before , with both of the foremost superhero musical style studio experiencing historic flops in just one class . A steady rise in combined box office take across all cinematic releases since 2020 does not seem to have extended to the MCU and DCEU , withBarbieandAvatar : The way of life Of Waterclinching the worldwide box office top spot in 2023 and 2022 , severally , while former old age have gone to MCU offering .

There Is A General Downturn In Cinema Attendance

There Is Less Cinema Attendance Overall As People Budget And Stream

Audiences Are Not As Interested In Ant-Man, The Marvels, Or Blue Beetle

Unfortunately , Ant - Man , The Marvels , and Blue Beetle do not carry the same star force as Spider - Man , the Avengers , and Superman . The consequences of this are reflect in the comparatively poor public presentation at the box office , as audience seem less disposed to shell out for picture show sport new or less pop characters . This is particularly concerning for the MCU , as its highest performer of 2023 was the last in a trilogy , splitting the Guardians of the Galaxy apart , whileAnt - Man and the Wasp : QuantummaniaandThe Marvelsattempted to foreground the central figures in its young Multiverse Saga , but fall flat disregarding .

The SAG-AFTRA Strikes Took Their Toll

The Strikes Hurt Marketing For The Marvels And Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

After striking a plenty with studios , the SAG - AFTRA strikes over the summer were a vast success for the writer and actors of Hollywood . Unfortunately , The Marvels , in particular , suffered the most out of all superhero flick in 2023 asthe month leading up to its release were distinctly barren of its main stars helping to advance the movie . Their absence took its toll on the marketing drive forThe Marvels , which is indicative of just how valuable their involution is . Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom , meanwhile , which released just over a calendar month later , will have also feel the result of the summer silence .

The DCEU Was Made Redundant By The DCU Reveal

The DCU Announcement Will Have Made Seeing A DCEU Movie Feel Like A Waste Of Time

James Gunn and Peter Safran ’s design for the DCU- a reboot of DC ’s cinematic universe - was a double - edged blade . While the promise of a revamped DC cinematic universe has reinvigorate ebullience for the literary genre , it was also the death knell for the several motion-picture show under the DCEU streamer that were still to be released . give that the DCU is totally separated from the event of the DCEU , audiences lost reasons to enchant up onShazam ! Fury of the Gods , The Flash , Blue Beetle , andAquaman and the Lost Kingdombeyond a general heart for the characters , knowing that these would no longer element into a wider narration .

The MCU Is Struggling To Tie Its Wider Narrative Together

There Has Been No Avengers Movie For Too Long

Similarly to the DCU ’s declaration , the MCU has struggled to tie its movies together throughout MCU Phases 4 and 5.The Multiverse Saga has yet to expel an Avengers motion picture , relying on post - credit setting and cameo to unite its new card of heroes . Kang the Conqueror , meanwhile , featured in 2023’sAnt - Man and the Wasp : Quantummania , and was overcome by the end . The decision to save the next team - up movie for the orgasm of the full Multiverse Saga has made the MCU seem more disjointed than ever , removing impetus for audience to get up to speed with the take for granted star ofthe young Avengers card .

There Is A Reduced Interest In The Multiverse Saga

There Is A General Lack Of Interest Since Avengers: Endgame

MCU motion-picture show attending has steady declined sinceAvengers : Endgame , which wrapped up 22 movies ' Charles Frederick Worth of narration . Unsurprisingly , fully invest in a whole new saga is a intimidating prospect for chance viewers . The likelihood is that the MCU will not reduplicate the near-$3 billion success of its highest - gross movie , with some of the most beloved character of that era being phase out in favor of unknown ones . This puts Marvel in a hard place , as reviving onetime characters will experience dire if not done correctly .

Marvel And DC Suffered Production Woes

Tumultuous Productions Have Resulted In Sub-Par Products

Production issues that plagued motion picture likeAquaman and the Lost KingdomandThe Marvelswill have taken their toll on the timber of last year ’s superhero movies . Three rounds of reshoots forAquaman and the Lost Kingdomand a terrible delay forThe Marvelsaren’t great signs , and that seems to have borne fruit for both movies , given the lackluster response to each . Ant - Man and the Wasp : Quantummania , meanwhile , was flog partly for its overzealous extra effects , proving once again that money spend on CGI does not always implicate high expiation .

Ant - Man and the Wasp : Quantumania ’s conclusion was reshot only a few weeks before the film hit theaters . What changed and what does it mean for the MCU ?

The Quality Of The Movies Wasn’t Great

2023 Superhero Movies Garnered Middling To Poor Reviews

There are famed elision in the underwhelming class of 2023 , withGuardians of the Galaxy Vol . 3netting wonder around $ 850 million at the worldwide box office , as well as a slew of glowing reviews . Unfortunately , whileBlue BeetleandThe Marvelswere starring offerings , the quality alone was not enough to make them zoom financially . Meanwhile , average - to - poor reviews plagued the other four superhero movies free in 2023 , which will have affected the ecumenical zeitgeist surrounding the genre as a whole as audiences set forth to feel like they are lose their sheen .

Both Studios Suffered From Controversies Behind The Scenes

Dramas plagued both theMCUandDCUbehind the scenes , as the public allegation , trial , and subsequent sentence of Jonathan Majors ( Kang the Conqueror ) marred his involvement in the MCU.Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom , meanwhile , was also subject to its own controversies as public opinion in Amber Heard ( Meera ) was swayed by her unbelievably public legal battle with Johnny Depp , and hearsay swirled aroundJason Momoa ( Aquaman ) being intoxicated during take . Conscientious viewers may have been call on forth by the controversies surrounding these star , especially now that Marvel has decide to drop the Kang actor entirely .

Kang Ant-Man and Wasp in the MCU

Gorr at the Altar of Eternity in Thor Love and Thunder

Split image of Shazam, The Flash and Ant-Man

Captain Marvel blocks a Kree weapon in a fight scene from The Marvels

Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Patrick Wilson’s Orm in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Poster

Drax acts silly to entertain prisoner children on the High Evolutionary’s citadel ship in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

Aquaman (Jason Momoa) smiles at Orm (Patrick Wilson) in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror on his throne in Ant-Man 3

Marvel Cinematic Universe

DC Extended Universe