Marvel Studios has been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to superhero movies and the box office. However, that hasn’t been the case as of late, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a recent string of box office disappointments. The Marvels debuted to lackluster numbers over the weekend and there are some fans that are celebrating that very fact. One notable voice that is speaking out against this trend is none other than acclaimed author Stephen King.
Despite not being a fan of MCU movies himself, Stephen King took to social media to express his dissatisfaction with the mockery of The Marvels falling short of expectations. King pointed out how he finds it “very unpleasant” that some are gloating over the low box office numbers for the movie and emphasized that there isn’t a reason to celebrate movies failing.
“I don’t go to MCU movies, don’t care for them, but I find this barely masked gloating over the low box office for THE MARVELS very unpleasant,” Stephen King said. “Why gloat over failure?”
I don’t go to MCU movies, don’t care for them, but I find this barely masked gloating over the low box office for THE MARVELS very unpleasant. Why gloat over failure?
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 12, 2023
The author wasn’t the only one to chime in, as others shared their opinions as well:
Incels hate Brie Larson
— Ryan Bliss (Digital Blasphemy) (@dblasphemy) November 12, 2023
☝️particularly when it just happens to be the most FEMALE-CHARACTER driven Marvel movie they’ve released. That doesn’t really strike me as coincidence, especially given the gross misogynistic nature of these comments.
— Citizens of Earth (@KnewOnEarth) November 12, 2023
It’s the “didn’t-have-a-date-for-prom-to-hating-movies-that-have-women-stars” pipeline.
— Jay Black (@jayblackisfunny) November 12, 2023
Because the people who make these movies hate us, Stephen.
— Carl Benjamin (@Sargon_of_Akkad) November 12, 2023
So they get the hint and actually try to make a good movie?
— Hairbomb (@Hairbomb3) November 12, 2023
It’s only gloating when we do it right?
When they bash things like Mario or FNAF I haven’t heard you stand up for those.
How much is Disney paying you to stoop to this level?
— MasteroftheTDS (@MasteroftheTDS) November 13, 2023
The rise of social media has played a significant role in amplifying both the celebration and the criticism of films – and pretty much everything for that matter. MCU movies are popular and heavily debated amongst fans on the internet, so it’s not hard for the discussion to be turned into a toxic conversation.
While Marvel is currently facing some challenges, it’s important to point out that the company has a pretty big lineup of films on the way that include Deadpool 3, Blade, Fantastic Four and more. There is also Captain America: Brave New World, which Marvel delayed for massive reshoots – a sign that they know they have to get it right.