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Superhero movies will always be our guilty pleasure, no matter how old we get. Whether it’s Marvel or DC, we love seeing larger-than-life stories unfold on the screen. However, there is no denying that the superhero genre has its fair share of cynics who believe that we are going through superhero fatigue at the moment. Recently, Tom Hanks opened up about the genre and the so-called “fatigue” it’s supposedly experiencing.
The actor believes that the audience is over the flashy world of superheroes and is not looking forward to seeing fresh stories that they might find relatable. Of course, Tom Hanks isn’t the only critic when it comes to these movies but the genre also has its fair share of supporters.
Tom Hanks on Superhero Movies
One of the most versatile and timeless actors in Hollywood, Tom Hanks appeared on theHappy, Sad, Confusedpodcast where he touched on the subject of superhero films.
During the conversation, he stated that there was a time when the audience would see better versions of themselves in superhero films. In his own words,
I think there was a period of time, and I felt that way too, where we would see these fantastic movies either DC or MCU in order to see these better versions of ourselves. ‘God, I feel like an X-Man sometimes. I’m as confused as Spider-Man. I’m as angry as Batman is and I love my country as much as Captain America. I would like to emulate all those guys.’
He then added that quite a bit of time has passed since these days and now, fans are asking for movies that are less flashy and have a story to tell.
I think we’ve been down that road and had probably 20 years, 15 years, to explore that kind of thing and now I think we’re in an evolutionary place of, ‘And the story is what? And the theme is what? And the point of this movie is what?’
If what he has said is true, does this mean that theAvengersand the rest of Marvel are in danger? Not as long as it has these stars standing beside it in solidarity.
Chris Hemsworth
Criticism against superhero films has existed since time immemorial butChris Hemsworthsolemnly stands against it all. While he does admit that sometimes some movies just might not work, it is unfair to look down on the genre as a whole.
In an interview withThe Times of London, he talked about directors bashing the franchises stating,
It bothers me, especially from heroes. It was an eye-roll for me, people bashing the superhero space. Those guys had films that didn’t work too — we all have. When they talked about what was wrong with superheroes, I thought, cool, tell that to the billions who watch them. Were they all wrong?
We love it when an actor defends the work he is proud of! Pulling down an entire genre seems a bit excessive anyway.
Kevin Feige
Kevin Feigedoes not believe in superhero fatigue. While appearing onThe Movie Businesspodcast, the Marvel boss stated that there is an abundance of reference material to inspire adaptations – material that spans over eight decades to be exact.
A Sacred, Time-Honored MCU Tradition Started by Kevin Feige Has Been Butchered in Phase 5
He revealed that people have been questioning him about the lifespan of the superhero genre since only his second year with the company.
I didn’t really understand the question. Because to me, it was akin to saying after ‘Gone With the Wind,’ ‘Well, how many more movies can be made off of novels? Do you think the audience will sour on movies being adapted from books?’
There’s 80 years of the most interesting, emotional, groundbreaking stories that have been told in the Marvel comics, and it is our great privilege to be able to take what we have and adapt them.
Clearly, he and the genre are both going pretty strong.
Tom Holland
Tom Hollandalso came to the films’ rescue in an interview withThe Hollywood Reportercalling them“real art.”He knows that there are different pressures that come with making a big-scale supe flick as opposed to making an indie movie. Regardless, he doesn’t believe that it’s fair to pull one down to lift the other up.
He stated,
I’ve made Marvel movies and I’ve also made movies that have been in the conversation in the world of the Oscars, and the only difference, really, is one is much more expensive than the other. But the way I break down the character, the way the director etches out the arc of the story and characters — it’s all the same, just done on a different scale. So I do think they’re real art.
And real art just doesn’t experience fatigue. It all comes down to the writing – some may hit while some may miss.
Russo Brothers
TheRusso Brothersduo has done wonders for the MCU and thus, when they talk about superhero fatigue, we listen. In an interview withGamesRadar+, Anthony Russo stated that superhero fatigue is just“fatigue in general”and has nothing to do with superpowered beings.
It’s Confirmed: Avengers Doomsday and Secret Wars Won’t Repeat What Russo Brothers Did With Infinity War and Endgame
He added that this is a complaint that has been present since forever. Before, people complained about the Western genre which ended up lasting for“decades and decades and decades”and is still going strong as creators continue to reinvent and reach new heights. The same goes for superhero films.
Joseph Quinn
Joseph Quinnwill soon be joining the MCU as Johnny Storm inThe Fantastic Fourand he opened up about the genre’s supposed fatigue. WhenEntertainment Weeklyasked the actor about these concerns, he dismissed them by stating,
Superhero movies are movies about people. And if we’re invested in the people and the characters and the peril and the spectacle, then that’s why people go to the theaters to watch films. We’re not just in a penny; we’re in for a pound with this one. We’re going to go for it.
Well, we sure hopeThe Fantastic Fourproves the haters wrong!
In the end, superhero fatigue might be real but it all really only comes down to the writing. When done right, there is no better entertainment than a good supe flick.Deadpool & WolverineandSpider-Man: No Way Homeare the best examples of what happens when these films are done right.
Mishkaat Khan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2257
A connoisseur of all things horror, fantasy, and the occasional chick flick, Mishkaat has been penning pieces for FandomWire since 2022. She started off as an intern and has worked her way up to a Senior Writer with over 2000 articles to her name.Outside of entertainment, she has also written well-researched medical content as a freelance writer and has experience in social media management.When not writing, you can find her relaxing with a romance novel and a tall glass of iced coffee in her hand or watching re-runs of ‘Supernatural’ and ‘The Office.’
