Shazam 2 was released to the public on March 16 and in less than a month the movie reached home streaming services. The movie was such a disappointment it prompted a statement from James Gunn, recently appointed head of DC projects, that general audiences have grown tired of superheroes.

The term “Superhero fatigue” has started showing up in social media and refers to the social agreement that modern superhero movies have become stale, boring, or just plain mediocre. 

Despite Shazam 2 being an enjoyable film for both hardcore and general audiences, it is a box office failure for the simple reason that the movie is just “fine”. It isn’t the final movie in an epic trilogy. It isn’t the inspiring beginning of a new superhero. It isn’t some large event that has had fans holding their collective breaths for years. It is a fine example of a superhero movie that plays it safe, and that is the problem.

As one online synopsis of the film wrote, “When a vengeful trio of ancient gods arrives on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world.”

If that sounds like the most superhero plots, it’s because it is. There is nothing mind-blowing or extraordinary and to succeed with modern audiences, average is just not good enough.

The last three Marvel movies, Ant-Man & The Wasp, Wakanda Forever, and Thor: Love and Thunder averaged an IMDb score of 6.4/10. For comparison, the first three Marvel movies Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, averaged 7.1/10. There’s been a clear drop in quality over the years. Combined with the excessive number of superhero movies and TV shows released in the last few years, it feels as though the once beloved Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has opted for a quantity-over-quality approach to their projects.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine, James Gunn, director of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, and head of DC projects, stated:

“I think there is such a thing as superhero fatigue. I think it doesn’t have anything to do with superheroes. It has to do with the kind of stories that get to be told. It doesn’t have anything to do with whether they’re superhero movies or not. If you don’t have a story at the base of it, just watching things bash each other, no matter how clever those bashing moments are, no matter how clever the design and the VFX are, it just gets fatiguing, and I think that’s very, very real,”

With superhero movies falling out of mainstream cinema, audiences are turning their attention to upcoming projects and genres. In contrast to Shazam 2, which made $120 million dollars worldwide, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released April 5 has successfully garnered $377 million USD worldwide in three days, and is predicted to surpass Frozen 2 for the biggest box office opening for an animated film in history, a clear sign of success to studio executives and producers. Additionally, James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water grossed $2.3 billion USD worldwide, and has already announced three more sequels.  

The solution is clear, superhero movies have to evolve or disappear. Nowadays, making a generic movie is not enough, like it was a decade ago, it is an obligation to make the audience feel a strong emotion instead of just mindless consumption. Future superhero movies depend on innovation and the elimination of recurring cliches, empty arcs, and redundant characters.

In conclusion, if they want to survive, superhero movies need to start implementing core changes. Audiences prefer waiting patiently for a movie instead of getting one every other month. Audiences prefer emotionally packed discussions among vulnerable characters than demi-gods bashing each other above New York City. And most of all, audiences prefer a good movie with heart and care put into it, instead of a disappointing and messy cash grab.