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This summer saw a surge in the superhero movie genre, with breakouts “Thunderbolts*,” “Superman” and “Fantastic Four: First Steps” crowding theaters across the country.
While the summer of the superhero was fueled by longtime fans of Marvel and DC franchises, superhero movies are not only popular because of their universal pull: pressure from the business side of the entertainment industry also have a role in shaping their success.
“Because of digital streaming and other pressures, Hollywood has become increasingly risk-averse,” FSU Professor Ross Moret, who teaches a class on ethics and superheroes, said. “Studios know superheroes have a large built-in audience, which reduces risk.”
The first film of the season, “Thunderbolts*,” released on May 2. The superhero group’s title, “The New Avengers,” was revealed at the end of the film, sparking hope for a sequel. While it was considered substandard for a Marvel film, it still garnered over $382 million worldwide in the box office.
“It presented a relatable theme of imposter syndrome and self-doubt, which is fine on the surface,” motion picture arts major Sean Evans said. “The film didn’t use those themes to reveal all that much interesting about the characters outside of the fact that they have those struggles.”
“Thunderbolts*” was composed of a collection of characters from previous installments in the franchise, a trend that Marvel Studios is known for. Familiar faces like Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), a character who has appeared in eight previous movies, to less recognizable ones like John Walker (Wyatt Russell), a brief antagonist in the “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” TV show, marketed to super-fans and new movie watchers alike.
In the team’s journey to rescue newcomer Bob (Lewis Pullman), also known as The Sentry, and eventually New York City — which Marvel loves to destroy — the action movie morphs into something deeper than expected. The film’s themes of mental health and finding solace in community are new for Marvel and provide a breath of fresh air to the franchise.
DC swooped in to release the second superhero film of the summer, directed by James Gunn in his third year of being co-CEO of the studio. “Superman” came out on July 11 and, at least monetarily, has been the most successful superhero release so far.
David Corenswet, the lead actor of the film, presents a modern take on the character. Superman made its cinematic debut for the first time in 1978, with each new movie since putting a different spin on the the beloved and timeless hero.
This version of Superman is a bright, optimistic and more comic-accurate hero compared to previous adaptations, such as the grittier films directed by Zack Snyder. This Superman asserts that kindness is the real punk rock, projecting a sentiment that in a world that embraces negativity and compassion is rebellious.
“My sense is that James Gunn is trying to get back to the essential goodness of the Superman character,” Moret said. “I think this is resonating with people because we are living in deeply cynical times. It’s important for many of us to believe that at least some people do things because they are the right things to do.”
“Fantastic Four: First Steps” rounded out the summer on July 25, being the second Marvel release of the season. Similarly to “Superman,” this cast is new to the franchise, but the characters themselves have been adapted to screen multiple times by the company.
The retro-futuristic feel and large production value initially excited audiences when the teaser trailer was released in February, but the final product produced varying levels of satisfaction among viewers.
“This was the first Fantastic Four movie I have seen. I appreciated that you didn’t need to see other marvel TV shows or movies prior to this one to understand it, but I wish they handled the exposition differently,” sophomore editing, writing and media major Camille Friall said, citing the film’s reliance on multiple montages to unfold the story. “While I did enjoy the movie, I wish there were more opportunities to form deeper connections with the characters.”
Despite this, “Fantastic Four: First Steps” received a 91% audience score and 86% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising the actor’s chemistry, the intricate visuals and the grounded feel of the movie.
As summer comes to a close, it seems that these films’ producers are not slowing down anytime soon. Next year, Marvel is set to release “Spiderman: Brand New Day” in the summer and “Avengers: Doomsday” in the winter.
DC is also expected to pump out their own projects in 2026, with “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” and “Clayface,” a villain-centered flick, coming to theaters in the summer and fall, respectively.
Be it a recognizable cast, action-packed scenes, messages of hope or predictable plotlines, it is safe to predict that audiences will continue to show up to the theater.
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