In Los Angeles, California, “The Marvels” suffered the worst opening weekend in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with a disappointing performance at the US box office. Directed by Nia DaCosta, the film failed to meet expectations, grossing just $47m in the US against a budget of $220m. Despite some positive reviews, the overall reception to the film has been lukewarm at best.

The low opening weekend earnings have sparked concerns about “Marvel fatigue” among fans, with many feeling that the franchise has become oversaturated. Critics have described “The Marvels” as a “disjointed mess” with a rushed final act, leading to questioning of the future of the MCU.

The disappointing performance of “The Marvels” follows a trend of underwhelming releases in the MCU’s phase five. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” set a new negative milestone for the franchise, becoming the lowest-scoring MCU film on Rotten Tomatoes. However, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3” fared better with critics, with some calling it the best Marvel movie in years.

The struggles of “The Marvels” raise concerns about the future of the MCU and its ability to maintain its previous levels of success. With the franchise facing criticism for exploitative labor practices and overstuffed production lines, the performance of future releases will be closely watched by industry observers. Despite its setbacks, the MCU remains a dominant force in the film industry, with audiences eagerly anticipating its future offerings.

“The Marvels” is currently showing in cinemas.