The Marvels, the latest Marvel movie featuring three female superheroes, has been struggling at the box office since its release on November 3, 2023. The movie, directed by Nia DaCosta, who is the first Black woman to helm a Marvel film, earned only $26.5 million in its opening weekend in North America and $93.6 million worldwide so far. The movie has also received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, with some praising its diversity and action, and others criticizing its plot and humor.
However, some people are not just indifferent or disappointed by the movie, they are actively celebrating its failure. This phenomenon has caught the attention of Stephen King, the famous horror writer, who expressed his displeasure on X/Twitter over the weekend. King said he does not watch or like Marvel movies, but he finds the gloating over the flop of The Marvels very unpleasant and possibly motivated by misogyny.
“I don’t watch or like Marvel movies, but the gloating over the failure of THE MARVELS is very unpleasant. It may be adolescent fanboy hate, but it feels like misogyny to me,” King tweeted on Saturday.
King also defended the film’s star, Brie Larson, who has faced online harassment from some toxic fans since her casting as Captain Marvel, the leader of the Marvels. Larson has been accused of being arrogant, feminist, and anti-male by some of her detractors, who have also tried to sabotage her movies by posting negative reviews and ratings. King said Larson is a terrific actress and a good person, and he does not care what anyone says.
“Brie Larson is a terrific actress and a good person. I don’t care what anyone says,” King tweeted on Sunday.
King’s tweets have received thousands of likes and retweets, as well as hundreds of comments from his fans and followers. Some of them agreed with his views and praised him for speaking out. Others disagreed and argued that the movie’s failure has nothing to do with misogyny, but with its quality and appeal.
The Marvels is a movie that celebrates women of color, both in front of and behind the camera. It features Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Photon, three powerful and heroic women who team up to save the world from a cosmic threat. The movie is also a milestone for Marvel, as it is the first one to be directed by a Black woman, Nia DaCosta, who has previously directed the critically acclaimed horror film Candyman.
DaCosta has also expressed her pride and joy for being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and has urged the fans to support the movie and its message. In an interview with MSN, she said, “The Marvels is a movie that celebrates women of color, both in front of and behind the camera. It’s a shame that some people can’t appreciate that.”
Larson, who plays Captain Marvel, has also shown her gratitude and enthusiasm for the movie and its cast. In a video message to her fans, she said, “I’m proud to be part of this amazing cast and this groundbreaking story. We are the Marvels and we are here to stay.”
The Marvels is still playing in theaters worldwide, and it remains to be seen if it can recover from its slow start and prove its critics wrong. However, one thing is certain: the movie has sparked a heated debate among the fans and the public, and has also gained a powerful ally in Stephen King, who has slammed the misogyny behind its flop.
Relevant articles:
– Stephen King Doesn’t Care for Marvel Movies but Says ‘Gloating’ Over ‘The Marvels’ Flopping Is ‘Very Unpleasant’: It May Be ‘Adolescent Fanboy Hate’, Variety, November 13, 2023
– Stephen King Defends The Marvels & the MCU Against Negative Comments, MSN, November 13, 2023
– Stephen King defends ‘The Marvels’ from negative comments – Movie News, Euro, November 13, 2023
– Stephen King Defends The Marvels & the MCU Against Negative Comments, Boxden, November 13, 2023