Avengers: Doomsday will be here before we know it, and it's likely that fans may want to prepare themselves for the showdown between Earth's Mightiest Heroes with Robert Downey Jr.'s enigmatic Doctor Doom. Well, Marvel just dropped a watchlist filled with titles for fans to watch (or rewatch) to prepare for the highly anticipated team-up film. But what’s catching some fans’ attention right now isn’t what’s ON the list, but what’s been left OFF of it. And I can’t blame them for being surprised at this exclusion.

The list that's been released is being considered “essential” for fans ahead of Doomsday's release on the 2026 movie schedule. Pre-MCU films as well as some of the earlier installments in the sprawling franchise fill out this list as well as more recent multiverse-centric shows and movies. Check out what made the cut:

• X-Men
• X-Men 2
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame
• Loki Seasons 1 and 2
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• Captain America: Brave New World
• Thunderbolts*
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Truthfully, I wasn’t surprised with some of these choices, especially since the most recent MCU films have set up this epic new Avengers film in key ways. For instance, I don’t think anyone was shocked to see Deadpool & Wolverine to make the cut. I think it's possible that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman will actually appear Doomsday. That recent “hostage video” of Hugh Jackman asking for a role in the film (on Reynolds' orders) feels like a marketing ploy.

Despite all the relevant titles, one that was surprisingly left off was 2023's The Marvels, which has an ending that overtly links to Doomsday. Check out what fans had to say on X:

• @michaelp93: It’s absolutely CRAZY that The Marvels isn’t here. That film truly deserved better.
• @undeniablydezzy: Soooo Monica is just stuck then or maybe even another retconned post credits scene that never gets explained? Ugh. I hope that’s not the case!
• @RedHood75: Leaving Days of Future Past and The Marvels out is crazy!
• @MCUPerfectGifs: I don’t get why The Marvels isn’t included on the list of essential projects to watch before Doomsday. Its post-credit scene is directly linked to the multiverse.
• @lil_krispi: Everyone saying “they weren’t needed” when Monica Rambeau is literally in the X-Men universe rn.
• @Sksj002: No The Marvels. No Thor Love and Thunder. No Ms. Marvel. No Moon Knight. The Kang era getting erased from history in real time.

This is a real head-scratcher. And, as can be seen above, what many fans are pointing to is the end of The Marvels, which sees Monica Rambeau waking up in another universe. Not only that, but said world is populated by the X-Men, including Kelsey Grammer's Beast and Binary (a variant of Monica's mother, Maria). It may have just been a small tag, but it's still weird not to include the film on this list.

The fan responses remind me of when Agents of SHIELD was always left out of MCU canon, despite following the timeline set by the films. Hopefully, the events of The Marvels don't ultimately translate into a wasted B storyline of this franchise.

And, while the Nia DaCosta-directed film is being highlighted, fans also pointed out other movies (and shows) left out on the list. Overall, some are worried that they mean Doomsday won't feature characters such as Monica Rambeau, Moon Knight’s Steven Grant/Mark Spector or Kamala Khan (a.k.a Ms. Marvel) again. Another project left out was the original Fantastic Four from 2005, which introduced the origins of Doctor Doom. (Ironically, Robert Downey Jr. was considered for the role then , before it went to the late Julian McMahon.)

It is possible that the events of unlisted films might come into play. Honestly, I just can't see a world where that Monica cliffhanger is left unresolved in Avengers: Doomsday, which includes Beast and other X-Men. We'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out when the movie hits theaters on December 18. In the meantime, prep by streaming the films on this list and more with a Disney+ subscription.

I’ve got to be honest. I saw Supergirl last week, and I’ve nearly forgotten that I sat in a theater for almost two hours viewing it. That’s not the kind of impression I wanted the newest DC movies to leave me with, and I’m not surprised by the movie’s big box office drop this past weekend. Especially because it’s yet another comic book flick for the girlies, and another example of big studios not giving female superheroes the same kind of fanfare as their male superhero counterparts. Let’s talk about it.

I Have A Theory About What Makes Superhero Movies Good... Supergirl Didn’t Pass

Now, I didn’t think Supergirl was as bad as some critics did. I thought Milly Alcock was awesome as Kara, and I liked getting to know her and going on the adventure she has in this movie. It’s a three out of five – right down the middle for me. What I didn’t like was the villain and a lot of the script decisions. And, I have a theory about what makes a superhero movie good: a superhero is only as good as its villain. Seriously, think about it and tell me it's not true! I think the only time where this hasn't been the case is the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, and those guys fit more into the anti-hero archetype.

Supergirl had a very one-dimensional villain in the form of Krem of the Yellow Hills. Sure, he was in the Woman of Tomorrow comic book the movie adapts, but I’d argue the filmmakers could have had a lot more fun and creativity when bringing the pirate assassin to the big screen. I found Krem to be very boring, and in turn so was the movie itself at times. The disappointment I feel regarding Supergirl I feel is sadly a familiar feeling in the genre, especially in movies starring women.

Why Supergirl’s Weak Villain Really Bothers Me

Sadly, we’re in a time when there've been hundreds of big-budget superhero movies and only a few have been led by women. Like, what's up with that? And I don’t think a single one has had a well-written villain. Let’s do a little role call: Wonder Woman, Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Birds of Prey… are we still talking about any of the big bads in these movies? I’m certainly not.

To me, it feels like there’s an undercurrent of “Wait, let’s not give the female-led superhero movie a good villain and save them for the other superhero movies people care about” stench to it. Supergirl is just as cool as Superman is, and yet she was given the villain no one has ever heard of?

I really hope that the next time a women-led superhero movie is greenlit, one of these studios takes a chance on a truly great villain to put head-to-head with our protagonist because I need this trend to stop... like now and prove my point wrong.

Thankfully, Milly Alcock has another chance to really shine (and possibly punch Lex Luthor) in Man of Tomorrow alongside Superman; I just think Supergirl deserved a much better opponent in her own movie.

We’re gearing up for Supergirl on June 26. Jason Momoa’s been hitting red carpets on his motorcycle. Milly Alcock’s been bringing back the casual carpet fit. The whole thing has screamed “fun.” Which is why I was a little surprised to see box office estimates going the way of The Marvels. If you can remember back to 2023, this is not a good thing.

Here’s what’s happening. Supergirl’s tracking has been a little up and down. Box Office Pro, which spends considerable time on long range forecasting, has the movie opening at $45-$55 million domestically. However, a new report over at World of Reel estimates the movie might only make in the $40 million+ range, which is garnering it comparisons to other superhero films that were ultimately considered to be box office disappointments.

Yes, I’m talking about The Marvels, which made about $47 million opening weekend. It was a No. 1 stunner opening weekend, but it didn’t linger there. Disney ultimately stopped tracking the movie’s grosses before it had even made back its budget globally.

The Marvels’ budget was a little bloated at around $250 million. Supergirl, on the other hand, was reportedly made for around $175 million and would only need $315+ million in grosses to break even, given theaters and studios split ticket sales. Yet, if the movie only kicks off with $40 million, it will be a slog to get there.

This is a shame, because the movie is very different then The Marvels or like Morbius, another heroes-property movie with a notoriously low opening weekend. This 2026 movie release has an already-established character in Superman, but it's the new characters who really pop.

This Is Dumb, Because Supergirl Is The Perfect Summer Movie

Outside of opening weekend box office estimates, Supergirl and The Marvels have one other thing in common: much shorter runtimes. In The Marvels’ case, I thought there was more story to be told, but in Supergirl’s case, reactions seem to indicate most of what the movie does works. There have been some mixed perspectives here, but I think the average viewers’ experience will be much, much more positive than “mixed.” As I noted, Supergirl is the perfect summer movie.

There’s still a reasonable chance box office estimates could be off base, or even very off base, and people might come out to theaters in much larger droves than is currently being expected. We’ve seen that several times this year, as movies like Obsession actually saw an increase in the percentage of ticket sales in the second week of release. We’ve also seen some established properties like The Mandalorian and Grogu falter.

In short, it’s been a weird year. Supergirl falls into an odd area as both established and brand new, with an actress who broke big on House of The Dragon and does such good work she deserves to be a household name. And yet, It really needs the core audience to come out and see it; I hope they do.

Can we take a second to talk about Nia DaCosta? The 36-year-old writer and director has been making waves ever since she blasted onto the scene with 2018’s Little Woods, and she hasn’t looked back since, including directing 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple on the 2026 movie schedule.

And, the thing is, no genre really defines her. While one of her contemporaries, Jordan Peele, has carved out quite a niche for himself in the realm of horror, DaCosta has shown in her brief but wondrous career that she can do horror, sure, but also dramas, and even a superhero flick, all of which I will get into later.

So, let’s talk a bit about Nia DaCosta, shall we?

She Has Made 5 Feature Length Films, And They’re All Amazing

For me, my first Nia DaCosta film was Candyman, which we called “so tense, it’s numbing” in our review. And, I agree! As somebody who loves the Candyman series (especially the first one), DaCosta’s approach to the franchise somehow revitalized the franchise, while also being a spiritual sequel to the original. It was intelligent, confident filmmaking, and I had no idea that DaCosta’s debut picture was actually a film called Little Woods.

Would you believe I was even MORE impressed with this movie? Here, we had a crime drama about people truly struggling. Tessa Thompson and Lily James star as two sisters just trying to survive in rural America. Thompson plays a woman in trouble with the law, but she’s doing everything in her power to help her pregnant sister. However, Thompson’s character, who has a history of distributing pills, gets involved with the wrong person, and things go awry.

What impresses me the most about this film, though, is just how audacious and honest it is. Lily James’ character, Deb, eventually decides she wants an abortion, and I was impressed by DaCosta’s approach to the subject matter, both as a writer and as a filmmaker.

We once did an article about 32 directors who made a really good movie on their first try, and I would like to add Nia DaCosta to that list, as this is definitely one of the greats. But she made four other excellent films after this, and I want to talk about all of them.

I Know People Loved Candyman, But I Just Want To Gush About It Some More

I brought it up earlier, but I want to talk about Nia DaCosta’s Candyman again, because this is the film that introduced me to the talented director. Now, what impressed me the most about this film is that it’s definitely Candyman, but it also carves its own path, very much unlike the other two sequels, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh, and Candyman 3: Day of the Dead.

Initially, I went into this movie thinking that Jordan Peele had a major influence on it, since his name was attached as producer. But, as soon as I started watching it, I noticed that it had a much slower, more methodical approach to storytelling than Peele’s work. His trademark humor was also noticeably absent.

Instead, we got a creepy tale of gentrification, generational trauma, and police brutality. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II played a visual artist who became deeply devoted to the legend of Candyman. So much so that he intentionally had people call upon his name to bring him back to life. It’s a film that’s more creepy than scary.

That’s what makes it so special. It’s a modern horror classic that takes its time and wants you to think about how a landscape can change, but the bones of the past will never be silent. Not as long as somebody still remembers. It’s a daring sequel to a genre-bending series. Not only that, but the film was a massive success. DaCosta was the first Black female director to have a movie debut at number 1. But, it wouldn’t be her last.

The Marvels, Despite Its Reputation, Is Still The Highest Grossing Movie From A Black Woman

DaCosta’s next movie, The Marvels, also debuted at number one, and I really enjoyed it. That said, it still annoys me that it wasn’t a bigger hit at the box office, because I actually thought it was superior to the first Captain Marvel, and that film crossed a billion. However, it seems like the biggest story is not that it is one of the highest-grossing movies from a black female director, but rather that it was a box office flop for a Marvel movie.

Again, this troubles me, since if it had come out prior to Avengers: Endgame, just like the first Captain Marvel, then it certainly would have crossed the billion-dollar mark, just like the original. Unlike that film, I think it actually would have deserved it (Sorry, not sorry). Like Candyman, The Marvels takes established characters like Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau and puts them on an adventure together.

The Marvels astounds me since it’s the complete opposite of Little Woods and Candyman, in that it’s big, loud, and propulsive. In one regard, it feels like other MCU movies, and in another, it doesn’t. The constantly fluctuating dynamic between the three leads makes the film light and fun.

It’s unlike any other film in DaCosta’s filmography, and is just further proof that she can do pretty much anything, which is made all the more evident with her latest two films.

Hedda And 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Back To Back, Shows Her Exceptional Range

One of my all-time favorite playwrights is Henrik Ibsen. A Doll’s House, The Wild Duck, The Master Builder, if Ibsen wrote it, I'd likely read it. And, one such play that I’m intimately familiar with is Hedda Gabler. Usually, I’m a purist when it comes to Ibsen, but DaCosta is just so talented that I can openly get on board with a queer version of the famous play.

Tessa Thompson returns again to work with DaCosta, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more interesting, conniving version of the character. Her Hedda will do whatever it takes to live the life that she wants, and it’s an interesting take on the character, and further proof that DaCosta can do anything.

And then, she directed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Though it was written by Alex Garland, the same writer of the other films, 28 Years Later has a totally different vibe than the previous film directed by Danny Boyle. The Bone Temple is completely unpredictable, all the way up to its ending, and it both adds to the previous film, but also takes it in strange new directions, making it one of the most unique horror movies in a long time (and distinctly different from Candyman).

I’m telling you, DaCosta has never made a bad movie, which leads me to my final point.

Plus, She’s Still So Young! I Can’t Wait To Watch The Rest Of Her Career Unfold

I don’t know what DaCosta’s next movie will be, but I’m also glad I don’t know. That’s because DaCosta is constantly surprising, making her one of my favorite modern directors.

She likely won’t do anything else superhero-related, at least not for Marvel, since she apparently didn’t like the direction that The Marvels took. And, since The Bone Temple didn’t do too well, she might want to give horror a break for a little while.

But honestly, I’m just guessing, because as I’ve said throughout this whole article, DaCosta can seemingly do whatever she wants, and it will still turn out engaging and wonderful.

The horror genre's current renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down, to the joy of fans like me. Some of the best horror movies have returned to theaters with new sequels, such as the two recent 28 Years Later films. The latest of which was Nia DaCosta's The Bone Temple, which hasn't been performing at the box office. And this isn't the first time that moviegoers have failed the filmmaker, despite the quality of the projects themselves.

CinemaBlend's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review was glowing, and indeed that was the sentiment from most critics. And while audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is also positive, unfortunately it hasn't been making money in theaters. This follows The Marvels bombing at the box office, and I have to wonder: why do folks keep sleeping on DaCosta's movies?

The Bone Temple And The Marvels Both Deserved Better At The Box Office

It's not like Nia DaCosta's movies always fail to make money. For instance, her Candyman crushed at the box office. But for some reason, both 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and The Marvels bombed. Although I think these were for very different reasons.

Personally I think The Bone Temple's box office performance came be blamed on a few different factors. To start, January is almost always a slow point in the film industry, so it's hard for any project to make real money. That, combined with how little promotional the movie had, put it in a bad position. Seriously, I don't recall seeing a single commercial on TV for the horror sequel. So even though the first 28 Years Later (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription) did well in theaters, DaCosta's sequel wasn't necessarily set up or success.

Then there's The Marvels. From the start, the Captain Marvel franchise was the subject of hate online, seemingly due to her being a female superhero. But the first movie did relatively well, and Nia DaCosta's sequel ended up becoming a bonafide crossover that connected to both WandaVision and Ms. Marvel. Unfortunately the sequel was the subject of more hate, and failed to make money at the box office. And that's a real bummer, as I thought it was a delightfully unique blockbuster, with a short runtime and awesome action sequences. Plus, I'm a sucker for any movie with a musical number.

Personally, I loved both The Marvels and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is why I'm so bummed that moviegoing audiences have failed both titles. Nia DaCosta has proven herself as a visionary filmmaker across multiple genres, and I'd hate to see if these movies' poor performance negatively influences what type of projects she's offered in the future.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list, and The Marvels is streaming over on Disney+. As for Nia DaCosta, she recently celebrated the release of her acclaimed drama Hedda, and is attached to two upcoming TV projects.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is likely to have a good year in with both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday on the 2026 movie schedule. Both upcoming Marvel movies are likely to be big winners at the box office, which will be a welcome change from what has largely been a series of underperforming titles, Deadpool & Wolverine notwithstanding.

One movie that is, at least financially speaking, Marvel’s biggest flop was The Marvels. The movie struggled at the box office and failed to win over critics, very much unlike its predecessor, Captain Marvel. However, while the movie may not be deeply loved, its director, Nia DaCosta, has absolutely no regrets about the movie. She tells Deadline that everybody involved worked hard on the film, and she’s still glad to have had the experience, saying:

While The Marvels had its champions, it was certainly a film that didn’t blow away audiences, leading to it having one of the lowest box office grosses of any film in the franchise. We haven’t seen Captain Marvel or any of the characters from that film since, and despite The Marvels post-credits scene having a direct tie to Doomsday via the X-Men, there’s no confirmation that any of those actors are in the new film.

Considering the movie’s rocky reception, I’m not sure anybody would blame Nia DaCosta for not having the best outlook on Marvel, or if Marvel had decided to move on from the director. However, she says she visited the set of Avengers: Doomsday at one point, and she clearly has strong relationships with many people still part of the “Marvel Machine.” She said:

Having strong relationships with a number of major stars as well as people in the industry is never a bad thing when you're a director. While DaCosta and Marvel might be on good terms, it’s unlikely that she’ll be back directing an MCU movie anytime soon. But who knows?

She helmed not only The Marvels, but also directed sequences for Worlds of Marvel on Disney Cruise Line, so she may show up somewhere else we won’t expect. Such as post-apocalyptic England for her latest effort, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (read our review), which hits theaters on January 16, 2026.

A plethora of directors have worked with Marvel Studios at this point, with each seeking to add their specific mark to the company’s massive cinematic universe. Nia DaCosta sought to do just that with 2023’s The Marvels, the sequel to the 2019 film Captain Marvel. Unfortunately, the creative process didn’t go all that smoothly, as DaCosta previously revealed. However, DaCosta holds no ill will towards the studio and, on top of that, head honcho Kevin Feige even did her a sweet favor.

For context, the Candyman filmmaker was hired to direct The Marvels in 2020, around which point she expressed excitement about helming a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. The movie – which was released amid the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and Writers strikes – ultimately underwhelmed at the box office and was met with somewhat lukewarm reviews. Earlier in 2025, DaCosta spoke about not having full creative control of the movie and also explained that a key issue amid production was the lack of a solid script from the jump.

Despite making those comments, Nia DaCosta recently told The Guardian that there’s no kind of “ire” between her and the Disney-owned superhero brand. DaCosta actually revealed to the outlet that she recently took a little trip overseas, which serves as evidence that she’s still tight with at least some of the folks she worked with:

It’s unclear exactly when this interview was conducted, but the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday was indeed filming in the UK for a large part of the past year. Hearing that the Little Woods director is still close enough with her former collaborators that she would visit the set of Joe and Anthony Russo’s upcoming superhero film. What’s also sweet, though, is that Kevin Feige managed to help make that trip happen in one key way:

Considering that Nia DaCosta appears to still be on relatively solid terms with Marvel Studios, I’d honestly love for her to receive an opportunity to helm a film in her way. She’s a gifted director, who can certainly tell an entertaining story if given the space to do so. However, I can also understand why she may not want to jump back into that comic book-birthed sandbox. DaCosta has also been quite busy as of late, as she helmed the recently released drama film Hedda and the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

Whether DaCosta rejoins the fray or not, it makes me smile to know there are no harsh feelings between her and Marvel. That aside, I’m also feeling a bit of envy knowing that she was able to make her way to the Avengers set courtesy of Kevin Feige. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall for the conversations that likely took place amongst those collaborators.

Many secrets will surely be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 amid the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels using a Disney+ subscription.

Halloween is almost here, and we can bet there will be more than a few superheroes ringing doorbells and looking for candy in a couple of weeks. More than a few of those superheroes will probably look a lot like Brie Larson did in Captain Marvel, and the actress admits that’s part of the reason she made the movie in the first place.

In a recent appearance on The View, Larson was asked what it meant to her to see girls dressed up as Captain Marvel for Halloween, and she joked that the hosts were going to make her cry at the beginning of her interview. She went on to explain that it means “everything” to her to see anybody dressed up in the Captain Marvel costume, and she’s happy to see people take the opportunity to feel powerful. Larson explained…

Captain Marvel was the first female-led superhero movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was a movie that some at Marvel didn't want to make. It was a pretty big deal when Larson was cast in the role, and the first movie went on to gross a billion dollars at the global box office, showing that Captain Marvel certainly had an impact on a lot of different people.

While the follow-up film The Marvels wasn’t nearly as successful as Captain Marvel, the movie reportedly lost Marvel Studios more than a little money. While the MCU hasn’t been putting up the same sort of box office numbers it did during the Infinity Saga, regardless of the gender of the leads, The Marvels was a low point for the franchise.

Still, merchandise is a big part of the Disney machine so you can be sure that Captain Marvel Halloween costumes were out there,m, and plenty of kids wanted to wear them.

As such, we really have no idea what the plans are for Larson in the MCU. She was asked straight out later in the interview if she would be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday, and she politely, but not unsurprisingly, refused to answer the question. Larson’s name wasn’t on the list of Avengers: Doomsday cast confirmed by Marvel, and neither were her Marvels co-stars, but there’s always a possibility they'll still appear.

If nothing else, there is the post-credits scene from The Marvels that will hopefully be dealt with at some point. We know the X-Men, who appeared in that scene, will have a part to play in Doomsday. It seems likely that Carol Danvers and her friends aren't quite done yet.

Can't a movie just be cool anymore and make bank?! Well, apparently not, since the recent Tron: Ares is very cool, but flopped BIG TIME at the box office. And, this really pisses me off since Tron: Ares should have been a major hit!

However, this is nothing new, as there have been several cool movies that I've loved, only to learn that nobody else turned out to see them. And, keep in mind. Just because I think a movie's cool doesn't necessarily mean I think it's “good.” As my colleague, Eric Eisenberg, said perfectly in his review of Tron: Ares, the movie is a “radically empty spectacle…but at least it's very pretty.”

And, doggonit, shouldn't that be enough? So, here's why I'm pissed off that Tron: Ares (and five other movies) weren't bigger hits at the box office.

Tron: Ares (2025)

The most recent box office failure, Tron: Ares is one of the most visually stunning movies you’ll likely see. Its soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails is also so pulse pounding that it may even rival Daft Punk’s from Tron: Legacy.

But, what about the plot? Well…it’s fine. Unlike the other two Tron movies where the films take place in a game, this one takes place in reality as an AI soldier named Ares (Jared Leto) becomes a self-aware good guy. There’s more to the story, but a lot of it feels overly complicated. Plus, most of us just came to see cool light cycle sequences.

And, that’s what we get! To be honest, I’ve actually never been a fan of the Tron series since I found both the original and Tron: Legacy to be boring. But, this film puts emphasis on the sights and sounds, which creates a really engaging film.

There’s even a tease for a sequel, but Tron: Ares did so poorly that this might spell the end for the franchise for good in theaters. This sucks since a series like Tron NEEDS to be seen on a big screen.

Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)

Quite possibly the coolest Tom Cruise movie ever, Edge of Tomorrow truly had to be seen on a big screen to get the complete experience.

Based on the Japanese light novel, All You Need Is Kill, I've heard some people say that the title, Edge of Tomorrow, might have been why people didn't turn out to see it (which might be the reason why it was later renamed Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow on Blu-Ray).

Whatever the reason it didn't do well, it's not for quality's sake, since unlike Tron: Ares, which has a mediocre narrative, Edge of Tomorrow has an amazing story. In fact, it’s one of the few original movies I can remember being wowed by in theaters.

Essentially, the movie is a roguelike in movie form. What I mean is, similar to some roguelike video games, like Hades, Tom Cruise keeps dying, but with each time he comes back to life, he gains more experience, which he brings to the enemy aliens head-on. It's a killer movie, and it should have been huge! So, why wasn’t it then? Wah!

Dredd (2012)

Dredd is my favorite comic book movie of all time. I mean, even from the first few minutes, I knew it was going to be a huge departure from the first Judge Dredd movie (which I still unabashedly like).

And, a huge departure it was, as it's so much cooler than the ‘90s film. Karl Urban never takes off his helmet, the action is enthralling, and it almost entirely takes place in one location, that being the drug-invested tenement of Peach Trees.

Throughout its crisp 95-minute run time, Karl Urban's Dredd goes to war with Lena Headey's terrifying Ma-Ma, who is one of the best female villains of all time.

Yet, the movie didn't do well at the box office. Hell, even though it developed a sort of cult following once it came home to physical media and streaming services, it still isn't as big as it should be, which is a crying shame!

John Carter (2012)

Does Disney make bad sci-fi movies? Well, while I wouldn’t necessarily put any of their sci-fi flicks on the list of the best sci-fi movies of all time, I will say that I’ve liked a great deal of them, even though most of them have flopped. I enjoyed Lightyear, I adored Strange World, and like I already mentioned, I had a good time with Tron: Ares.

Do you want to know another Disney sci-fi movie that I really liked? John Carter. Yes, the box office mega flop. Adapted from the first book in the Barsoom series by Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carter is a ridiculous movie about red Martians and green Martians, but it’s got really cool action sequences, and it’s a fun movie.

The story concerns a Civil War captain named John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) who actually gets tangled in another Civil War, but this one on the planet Mars (Or Barsoom). The rest of the story is your typical adventuring, not-too-violent movie that opened up a whole world to theater-goers, but wouldn’t get to see its full story as this movie’s failure squashed any chances of a sequel.

Which is too bad! In a world where we got five Pirates of the Caribbean movies (with a sixth one on the way), it really stinks that we only got one John Carter. It had such series potential!

The Marvels (2023)

When I heard that The Marvels was a box office bomb, I got viscerally upset at the time. How can a movie that was leagues better than its predecessor, if you ask me (Come on. Captain Marvel was just okay), still not manage to get its feet off the ground at the box office? What gives?!

Well, blame “superhero fatigue,” the fact that you needed to watch two Disney+ shows (WandaVision, and Ms. Marvel) to get the complete picture, or anything else, but The Marvels did miserably at the box office, which really bugs me, since The Marvels is really cool.

Featuring three main characters – Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), hence the title – our heroes have their powers entangled, which creates some interesting scenarios amongst them. It also means that they all have to work together, so this film kind of feels like a cosmic buddy comedy/action movie at times.

The villain, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), is also really fascinating and a big step up from the Supreme Intelligence from the first Captain Marvel. This movie had everything going for it, and it still didn’t even break even. Now that’s criminal.

The Flash (2023)

I might sound like a hypocrite for this one since I kind of celebrated when the Snyderverse came to an end, but I don’t necessarily think The Flash was its fault. The writing had been on the wall long before it came out.

Even though I’m kind of sick of multiversal stories at this point, I think The Flash takes an interesting twist. Because after The Flash tries to go back in the past to fix the present, he messes everything up, creating a world where General Zod didn’t die.

Here’s the kicker: we also get the best Batman in Michael Keaton in this multiversal mix-up, as well as Supergirl (Sasha Calle)

All of this is to say that The Flash had a lot going for it, but it didn’t do well, and it felt like the death knell of the Snyderverse, which is a shame. It was pretty cool.

So, what flops are you upset about? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

The summer movie season may be slowing down, but there’s plenty of Walt Disney Studios movies to look forward to on the 2026 movie schedule and in the years to come. Over the summer, the company had one of the biggest movies of the season with $1 billion hit Toy Story 5 and a misfire with the live-action Moana. So, what’s next for the House of Mouse? A lot was just revealed at the D23 Expo's Entertainment Showcase. You can take a look below and find out!

Before you continue, we should note that The Walt Disney Company also has a bunch more than you’ll see here. There are upcoming Marvel movies like Avengers: Doomsday on the way this holiday season and more Star Wars movies like Starfighter coming next summer. Here’s a look at everything Disney has announced for the rest of this year and all the years to come.

Whalefall

Release date: October 16, 2026

Another 20th Century Studios film, Whalefall is based on a novel by Daniel Kraus. It’s about a man scuba diving in search of his fathers remains, who is accidentally swallowed by a whale, and must find a way to escape. It stars Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin, and Elisabeth Shue and is written and helmed by Brian Duffield. You can learn the story behind how it became a movie as we wait for it.

Wild Horse Nine

Release Date: November 6, 2026

Searchlight Pictures has a black comedy starring the likes of John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey. It’s about two longtime CIA officers living in 1973 who get stationed in Easter Island. The movie is written and directed by In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin filmmaker Martin McDonagh. And, it’s coming out out just in time for awards season.

Hexed

Release Date: November 25, 2026

Announced during Disney’s Destination D23 event in August 2025, Hexed is an original story from Walt Disney Animation Studios. The original animated film follows a teenager named Billie and his “Type-A” mother who discover she has magical abilities. This discovery leads them to a world where magic can run free. Hailee Steinfeld plays Billie and Rashida Jones voices her mom, Alice. It was just announced at D23 Expo that Walton Goggins as a green three-eyed cat named Beef Roger Crumbchuck. Disney legend, Jodie Foster was also announced to be voicing her first animated role for the studio at the villain.

Behemoth!

Release Date: December 4, 2026

Pedro Pascal already leads The Mandalorian & Grogu in the Star Wars Universe and as Mr. Fantastic in the MCU, but this is something different. Behemoth! is a drama from Searchlight Pictures that follows a prolific cellist who returns to Los Angeles to compose film scores. The movie was written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who memorably helmed Rogue One and its spinoff Andor. Behemoth! also stars Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Will Arnett and Matthew Lillard.

Ice Age: Boiling Point

Release Date: February 5, 2027

After Blue Sky Studios shut down in 2021, there was a time when more Ice Age movies seemed out of the realm of possibility. However, when it was acquired by The Walt Disney Company as part of its acquisition of 20th Century Fox that soon changed. The new movie brings back all our favorite characters from the series: Ray Romano’s Manny, John Leguizamo’s Sid, Denis Leary’s Diego, Queen Latifah’s Ellie and Simon Pegg’s “Buck” Wild. At D23, we say a first look that included a little friend for Scrat that's gonna be a big hit for sure.

Gatto

Release Date: March 5, 2027

The upcoming original Pixar title is set in Venice and focuses on a cat named Nero who needs to pay back a debt to a feline mob boss. This leads Nero into an unlikely partnership with a street musician. It comes from the filmmaker of Luca, Enrico Casarosa. It stars Mark Ruffalo as the leading kitty, who was pitched on the movie after the filmmakers noticed his love for cats on Instagram. You can check out the first Gatto trailer as we wait for it.

Monitor

Release Date: April 30, 2027

Searchlight Pictures is known for snatching up buzzy movies at film festivals, and they did so at the 2026’s SXSW with Monitor. It’s a horror film by new Texas-based filmmakers Matt Black and Ryan Polly. Monitor follows a group of internet content moderators who accidentally unleash a demonic entity across their screens and beyond.

Beach Read

Release Date: May 7, 2027

Emily Henry has become a formidable name in romance novels, and now she’s got a bunch of adaptations of her books on the way. The next one (after Netflix’s People We Meet On Vacation) is for Beach Read from 20th Century Studios. The rom-com is about a romance novelist named January Andrews who is spending her summer in her late father’s old beach house. There, she runs into her former college rival, an acclaimed literary fiction author, Augustus Everett. As they both admit to be struggling with writer’s block, they decide to challenge each other to write a novel in the other’s specialty genre. Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor will be playing January and Patrick Schwarzenegger will be Everett.

The Bluey Movie

Release Date: August 6, 2027

Bluey, the Australian animated kids show, has proven to be a hit for all ages and is regularly among the most-watched shows on Disney+. Disney will also distribute a feature-length Bluey movie in 2027 directed by the show’s creator Joe Brumm and giving the show’s beloved characters a big-screen debut. The first teaser we saw at D23 showed that the animation style will be 3D. It looks great.

The New Simpsons Movie

Release Date: September 3, 2027

20 years after their last big screen endeavor The Simpsons will once again hit the big screen thanks to Disney’s 20th Century Studios. We don’t have many details about the plot of this one yet.

Frozen III

Release Date: November 24, 2027

Frozen is too big of a phenomenon to not receive another sequel, and it’s on the way for next fall. We know the third movie will feature Anna and Kristoff having a royal wedding. Plus, a mysterious adventure will once again have Elsa using her magical abilities to save her family and kingdom. The Frozen 3 release date for November 2027. Jennifer Lee previously confirmed that the story will probably require two movies, though when we’ll see the second one has yet to be officially announced. At D23, we saw the first teaser which included a mysterious new character.

Ghost Market

Release Date: March 10, 2028

The next Pixar original after Gatto is coming in 2028 and it's the studio's first supernatural ghost story. It's about a teenager and content creator named Kyle who is "forced" to go on vacation to Hawai'i by his mom. During the trip, while on the hunt for a midnight snack, he comes across a haunted market.

Tangled

Release Date: March 31, 2028

The next live-action Disney movie is a remake of 2010 favorite, Tangled. The movie stars newcomer Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider and Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel. It's currently being filmed on location in Spain by director Michael Gracey, who previously helmed The Greatest Showman.

Lilo & Stitch 2

Release Date: May 26, 2028

The sequel to the live action Lilo & Stitch was announced quickly after the first film's success, and the release date has already been set, indicating this movie is on the fast track. We expect to see Maia Kealoha’s Lilo, Sydney Agudong’s Nani. The voice of Stitch, Chris Sanders is not only back as Experiment 626, he’ll also direct after co-writing/directing the original movie. At D23, it was announced that the movie will introduce Angel, who is another experiment and Stitch's love interest from the animated series.

Incredibles 3

Release Date: June 16, 2028

Officially announced as being in development at D23 2024, Incredibles 3 has a summer release date which places its release at exactly a decade since the last one came out. Life moves as fast as Dash does! The movie is being penned and produced by Brad Bird, but this time he’s moving aside and leaving directing duties to Elemental’s Peter Sohn. At D23, it was announced that the movie will focus on the Parr kids and feature the return of Frozone and Edna Mode.

Clay

Release Date: November 2028

Walt Disney Animation's next original film after Hexed is called Clay. It will star Oscar winner Kieran Culkin as the titular character Clay, who becomes the mentor to a piece of Clay named Mooshy. The visuals are very whimsical and vibrant. It comes from Wish co-director Fawn Veerasunthorn.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: February 16, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: March 9, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: May 25, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Animation

Release Date: June 15, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed animated movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: August 3, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: October 5, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: November 9, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Coco 2

Release Date: November 21, 2029

Coco 2 is in development, and officially on the way for the fall of 2029, as announced at D23. The animated sequel will follow Miguel, who's now a teenager. We know that Benjamin Bratt's Ernesto de la Cruz will be coming back to get his revenge and Miguel will reunite with Mama Coco in the Land of the Dead.

Avatar 4

Release Date: December 21, 2029

James Cameron has said that parts of Avatar 4 were filmed alongside Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash, but another massive production will need to get underway to finish out the five-movie cycle. Cameron had hinted the last two films may not actually happen, but thus far, we still expect them.

Avatar 5

Release Date: December 19, 2031

The final Avatar movie will finally arrive in 2031, assuming there are no more delays, or plans change for James Cameron.

Recent Releases

Are you looking for a recently released Walt Disney Company movie that already came out that you may have missed? Check out how you can watch the latest movies that came out within the past year below:

Now In Theaters
The Dog Stars

Now Streaming On Disney+
The Mandalorian & Grogu
The Devil Wears Prada
Orangutan
Hoppers

Now Streaming On Hulu
The Devil Wears Prada
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
In The Blink Of An Eye

Available To Buy/Rent
Toy Story 5 (on VOD now, arrives on physical formats on September 22 & Disney+ on September 23)
Moana (on VOD now, arrives on physical formats on October 6)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly expanding, thanks to new releases in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will recall that there have been some struggles at the box office post-Endgame, and The Marvels is on that list. Now director Nia DaCosta explained one big issue the blockbuster had.

The Marvels was a box office bomb, despite its connection to a number of previous projects like Captain Marvel, WandaVision, and Ms. Marvel. DaCosta has also worked on some of the best horror movies from recent years, and spoke to THR about why 28 Years Later was easier to pull off as a director. In her words:

Honestly, this makes a great deal of sense. Filmmaking is a monumental job, and having a great script is no doubt helpful when one is trying to steer the ship. Add in the pressure and budget of The Marvels, and it sounds like not having that baseline helped create a stressful experience.

Ultimately the title is somewhat infamous at this point, and it's unclear when we'll see the trio of heroes back in upcoming Marvel movies. Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris weren't included in the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement.

Personally I really enjoyed both The Marvels and the new Candyman, but clearly there were script problems happening behind the scenes. I'd love to know more about what went down on the MCU blockbuster, especially since it a number of risks throughout its runtime. I need the details, Ms. DaCosta!

From the interviews of various filmmakers, it does sound like making a Marvel movie is a fluid process. Case in point: Black Widow's reshoots greatly changed the movie's villain. In juxtaposition, it sounds like the script for 28 Years Later was locked in from the start, and DaCosta was able to methodically tell that story.

CinemaBlend's 28 Years Later review praised the flick as "worth the bloody wait", once again cementing DaCosta as an accomplished horror director. I still maintain The Marvels is great, but I have to wonder if we'll see her return to the genre.

The Marvels is streaming on Disney+, and the next MCU movie hitting theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list.

It’s not exactly a controversial statement to say that the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while still being successful overall, has struggled to reach the same heights of success recently that it once achieved. Post-Avengers: Endgame, few movies have seen the box office success of earlier entries, and while there's reason to be hopeful for some upcoming Marvel movies, recent entries, like Ant-Man: Quantumania and The Marvels, have really struggled.

The Marvels now has the dubious distinction of being the lowest-grossing MCU movie at the global box office. There are any number of reasons why that may have happened. However, director Nia DaCosta recently spoke openly at the Storyhouse screenwriting festival (via Deadline) about her experience and may have given us some answers. She admits that the Marvel way of making movies and her own style didn’t necessarily mesh. DaCosta explained…

DaCosta is far from the first person to describe the Marvel Studios process as “a machine,” and like all machines, it’s designed to work in a particular way. Trying to get a machine to do something it wasn’t designed to do usually breaks it.

Some directors have clearly thrived inside the Marvel Studios system. The Russo Brothers have recently returned to Marvel. James Gunn went from making movies in the Marvel machine to running his own machine at DC Films. But others have had a tougher time. Some directors have declined to work with Marvel specifically because they didn’t want to become a cog in the machine. DaCosta says that, being a huge comic book fan, she really wanted to make a Marvel movie.

In the end, however, due to what sounds like a production that was pushing to hit a release date, DaCosta realized that The Marvels simply wasn’t going to be the movie that she wanted it to be. She’s clearly disappointed in that but has taken it all as a learning experience. The director continued…

The most disappointing thing about all this is that, one assumes, whatever version of The Marvels Nia DaCosta pitched to Marvel was the reason she was hired to do the job in the first place. It’s incredibly frustrating if the Marvel “machine” then prevented that movie from happening.

One has to wonder just what sort of movie we would have seen if Nia DaCosta had made the film she had wanted to make. Maybe it wouldn’t have been more successful, but it also could have been brilliant.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe usually keeps fans on their toes, thanks to the projects in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans are currently tuned in for information about upcoming Marvel movies, and the studio is currently in the midst of a Marvel live stream, which is full of chairs with actors' names on it. Kelsey Grammer's name was featured, seemingly confirming he'll be returning as Beast. And as a fan I'm so relieved that the narrative threads set up during The Marvels' credits scene are actually continuing on.

Fans who spent yeas watching the Marvel movies in order have seen a number of thrilling credits scenes introduce new characters... who haven't seen or heard from since. The Marvels was no exception, with Monica seemingly transported into an alternate universe which featured Kelsey Grammer's return as Beast. It seems like the studio has plans for him, thanks to Grammer being one of the many actors who was given a director's chair in this ongoing live stream.

Of course, there's been no official confirmation as to exactly when/how Grammer's Beast will pop back up. Most fans assume this means he'll have a role in Avengers: Doomsday, this technically hasn't been announced. So we're going to have to keep tuning in for more information.

Ever since the MCU's inception, fans have been waiting years for the X-Men to join in on the fun. Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox finally opened the doors for this to happen, and mutants have been slowly trickling into the shared universe. The end of The Marvels offered a connection between the X-Men and the Sacred Timeline, and now it seems that story is going to continue. And with Grammer seemingly reprising his role as Beast again, it would indicate that we'll get even closer to the beloved team of mutants assembling in live-action.

Kelsey Grammer debuted as Beast in The Last Stand, which was the third entry on Fox's X-Men franchise. He got to suit up and do some epic battle, and went through long hours of prosthetics to become the hairy blue mutant we all know and love. While he got a quick cameo in Days of Future Past, he hasn't gotten to really take center stage as his hulking X-Man. Hopefully we'll get to see him do just that in Avengers: Doomsday or whatever project that Marvel studios is currently teasing.

Grammer's return stands out among other recent MCU credits scene character reveals that have gone nowhere (so far). Harry Styles was introduced in Eternals, Charlize Theron had a cameo in Doctor Strange 2, and so on. Grammer's brief appearance in The Marvels pleased longtime fans, and it's a relief that this is one set up that's seemingly being followed through on.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Thunderbolts* on May 2nd as part of the 2025 movie release list. Of course, all eyes are on what's happening with Doomsday and Secret Wars.

When I was a teenage boy, nothing excited me more than what was known as a good ‘ol "catfight." You know, mud wrestling, women pulling each other by the hair... If I saw that, I was in adolescent heaven.

However, as an adult, I can’t think of anything that would turn my stomach faster. Yes, The Jerry Springer Show is my favorite talk show of all time. That said, thinking back, there were way too many episodes where women fought each other over some man. Nowadays, I think women should fight The Man! Not fight over a man.

My colleague, Sarah El-Mahmoud, wrote an excellent article about 20 great movies to watch for Women’s History Month, and some of those movies will end up on this list. However, my focus is purely on movies that highlight women supporting women, since we don’t have nearly enough of them. I have a daughter, and these are the kinds of relationships that I want her to establish. So, without further ado, 10 movies about women supporting one another.

Wicked (2024)

Based on the Broadway show of the same name (though, I much prefer the movie to the show), Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, who would later go on to be known as the Wicked Witch, and Glinda, who would later be called the Good Witch.

If you were to re-watch The Wizard of Oz, you might think that Glinda and Elphaba were enemies. However, Wicked is a re-imagining, in which Glinda and Elphaba went to school together and grew to be friends.

What I love about the story though is that they don’t start out as friends. In fact, they hate each other. Glinda only seems to care about being popular (I’m sorry, pop-Uuuu-lar), and Elphaba is more concerned with learning. However, through events that bring them together, they become the closest of friends.

I love how their friendship blossoms, as it creates a good message that even enemies can become partners.

The Marvels (2023)

Even though The Marvels didn’t kill it at the box office, it still perseveres as one of the better post-Endgame MCU films.

Acting as a sequel to both Captain Marvel and the MCU shows WandaVision and Ms. Marvel, The Marvels sees Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan banding together after their powers make them switch places every time they use them.

They need to figure out how to work together and defeat a Kree Leader who is out for revenge after Captain Marvel destabilized her home.

What I love about The Marvels is that Kamala’s hero worship of Captain Marvel disconfirms the idea that you should never meet your heroes. Yes, she learns that Danvers isn't perfect, but she also learns that she can contribute just as much as her hero whenever the time arises. Couple this with Monica Rambeau’s ability to keep them altogether, and you have a match made in grrl power heaven.

Frozen (2013)

Undoubtedly the biggest Disney animated movie in the past 20 years (though I prefer Tangled), Frozen is a film that is essentially about two sisters with wildly different ambitions.

Queen Elsa—at first, anyway—simply doesn't want to let her people down. That is, until she decides to just “let it go” and not worry about her little snow-controlling secret. Princess Anna, on the other hand, wants to get married to a man she just met.

Through a series of misadventures, Anna and Elsa grow closer than ever, and Anna comes to realize that she doesn't need a man (though, she ends up with a nice one) to feel fulfilled. She only needs the love of her sister.

Frozen is a great film about the importance of sisterhood, and I love that message for young girls and grown-up women alike.

Hidden Figures (2016)

The story of three brilliant women who work at NASA and change history, Hidden Figures doubles as both a movie about females working together, and also as one of the quintessential Black-led movies.

Based on the actual historical figures Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson, Hidden Figures is a period piece that showcases the kinds of racist nonsense that these women had to go through just to do their jobs.

Still and all, they made it work through tenacity and intelligence, and proved their worth many times over by getting the fly boys into space at a crucial time in American history.

The film is phenomenal, because it’s a testament to the idea that women who stick together are stronger than women who work apart. Even though they all worked in separate areas of NASA, they still always came together at the end of the day, which is most important.

Thelma & Louise (1991)

The feminist buddy crime drama of the ‘90s (honestly, one of the best movies of the ‘90s, period), Thelma & Louise is the story of two friends who truly will ride or die together.

Thelma is a housewife with an abusive husband, and Louise is dating a nice (though mostly absent) musician. But, after an incident that results in murder (The bastard had it coming), the two friends go on the lam.

Along the way, they both have good times and bad, but in the end, they ultimately go out on their own terms in one of the most famous endings in cinema history.

Thelma & Louise is a masterpiece, and a story that proves that a woman’s closest ally will always be another woman.

Set It Off (1996)

Since I’m on the topic of crime dramas, Set It Off is another story of women sticking it to the man; this time as bank robbers.

Four friends band together and rob banks because society has done them dirty. They hatch elaborate robberies, getting away with them when they can.

Of course, since this is a film from the ‘90s, it all catches up to them, as four Black women couldn’t possibly get away scot-free and all drive off happily into the sunset.

That said, even with all of their inner squabbling, Set It Off is still a wonderful film about women bucking the norms and taking what they want, together, arm-in-arm.

The Woman King (2022)

Basically Black Panther's Dora Milaje, the movie, The Woman King is about women warriors who actually existed in West Africa during the 17th-19th centuries.

The story of a female general who leads other women into combat, this movie is all about what it takes to fight oppressors, especially those who align with your enemies.

The women train, kill, and survive, all in the name of protecting the kingdom.

The story, which is based on the actual Agojie, is a testament that women can do anything that men can do, and often better. Especially when they work together.

A League Of Their Own (1992)

One of my favorite films as a kid, A League of Their Own is about an all-female baseball team during World War II.

All of the players come from different walks of life, but they come together whenever they can to play a good game of baseball (while doing a split, no less!).

The men in their lives play a part, but in the end, the team is what brings them all together as a unit.

A League of Their Own is a fan-favorite because it’s funny, and the cast is great, but the theme of female teamwork making the dream work is this film’s longest-lasting legacy.

Booksmart (2019)

I envy the young women in Booksmart, who are Ivy-league bound, but also viewed as boring.

What I envy is that they are both reluctant to come out of their shells, but will do so whenever they call a “Malala,” which is their code word for following each other, no matter what trouble they may get into.

It leads them to party after party, and also to trip on hallucinogenic strawberries, because YOLO, right?

Booksmart is a story about two friends who can both be brilliant, but also bawdy and “bad.” What woman doesn’t need a good friend to “Malala” with?

Barbie (2023)

Lastly, I want to talk about Barbie, which surprised a lot of people when it debuted.

The story of the famous doll having an existential crisis and entering into the real world, Barbie’s whole society is a matriarchy, and the men (Ken dolls) basically feel worthless without the women in their lives.

When Ken learns of the patriarchy, though, the women make the men see the errors of their ways, as the matriarchy is superior (as it should be).

This is a story about identity, and womanhood, but it’s also about the positives of a female society. Long live the matriarchy!

Those are just 10 movies about women supporting women. What’s your favorite?

Brie Larson has the most significant female role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She was the first actress to lead an MCU movie in Captain Marvel, one of several Marvel movies that made $1 billion at the global box office. However, that place of prominence has also made her a target. While Larson has been outspoken in the past regarding her conflict with a certain subset of the male audience it seems Larson is now done talking about it.

Larson recently sat down with The Telegraph ahead of her debut on London’s West End in Elecktra but the conversation also got around to her pivotal Marvel role. The actress calls the role “life-changing” and is clearly very proud of the character and the way Carol Danvers has influenced and supported others. But when asked why some men were threatened by her casting, Larson responded…

It seems quite clear that Brie Larson is ready to move on from this conversation. She understands that whatever response she might give to a question like that is likely to generate a lot of response from the very people she’d be discussing. It’s been long enough that Brie Larson’s feelings on Captain Marvel are not a major topic of internet conversation, but if she makes a new comment, they could be again.

Larson may not pay attention to that conversation, but that doesn’t mean she’s looking to start it up again. When pressed on the topic, and if female superheroes get “pigeonholed” she reiterates that there’s no right way to answer the question, saying…

While Captain Marvel was a massive box office hit, the follow-up film, The Marvels was not. The Marvels lost money for Marvel studios, which is not something we’re used to seeing. The question of why that happened, and whether the backlash from the fans had something to do with the movie's lack of success has been an ongoing question.

Larson has continued to stand behind the film, but it’s unclear what the future holds for Captain Marvel or her fellow heroes. While it seems likely they will appear in upcoming Marvel movies, specifically one or both of the two Avengers films, we certainly don’t know that for sure.

If Brie Larson does appear as Captain Marvel again, it will generate plenty of conversation, positive and negative, there likely isn’t much value in starting that conversation right now.

There’s nothing quite like a great onscreen duo. From heroes and villains to your favorite buddy cop team the big screen is full of some great team-ups. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) has no shortage of great pairings, but one of the best has to be Captain Marvel and Nick Fury. Brie Larson sent a shout out to Samuel L. Jackson on his birthday, he just turned 76, and fans are ready to see these two together again.

Larson and Jackson have been together for more than just Captain Marvel. They also appeared in Kong Skull Island together as well as The Unicorn Store. It was with a behind the scenes shot of that latter movie, with the two of them eating ice cream, that Larson used to wish her “bestie” a happy birthday on Instagram earlier this week.

These two certainly looking like they were having a wonderful time together when this picture was taken. Larson’s comments here show just how much she loves Jackson and Jackson has reciprocated the love himself, it does appear the two really enjoy working together.

Larson and Jackson were at their buddy cop best together in the original Captain Marvel, when Larson’s Carol Danvers and Jackson’s younger Nick Fury worked together to battle an alien threat. That movie went on to make a billion dollars at the global box office. I’m not saying that the fact that sequel The Marvels wasn’t as warmly received is due to the two of them having limited screen time together, but it may have been part of the reason.

A lot of other fans would seemingly like to see the two of them on screen together again, be it in an upcoming Marvel movie, or really just anything. Many fans responded to Larson’s birthday wishes with comments of their both wishing Jackson a happy birthday as well and hoping to see the pair on screen together in the future…

• Happy Birthday to Samuel L Jackson. Can't wait to see you two work together again. - jjdaborn
• The best duo!! Love Unicorn Store!! - vetmed11
• You know I was looking for this post on his birthday! - distractedbyflight
• Happy Birthday to the legend. Ngl, cinema would be complete the day that we get a Sam and Brie "Bad Boys" type buddy cop movie - sharjeelmoghal

If Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson really want to work together again it seems likely they will. Both are big stars who have significant control over their own careers. The only question is if it will be in the MCU or in some unrelated project. Despite the last movie’s box office disappointment, and Nick Fury’s own Secret Invasion series not being a big hit, it seems unlikely we’ve seen the last of their heroes.

Everybody makes mistakes but that fact does not make it any less frustrating when a character in a movie makes a blunder. Sometimes, the person we are supposed to be rooting for does something that makes us more furious than anything the bad guy is responsible for. See what we mean by reliving these moments that made heroes the accidental villains of their own stories.

Superman II (Clark Gives Up His Powers)

In 1980's Superman II, Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) believes he can only have a normal life with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) by becoming human, which he achieves by entering a device at the fortress of solitude. Soon after, he realizes the error of this decision when General Zod (Terrence Stamp) and his allies take over the White House.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones (The Jedi Council Hires Anakin To Protect Padme)

In the second Star Wars movie (in chronological order), when Padmé Amidala's (Natalie Portman) life is threatened, the Jedi Council chooses none other than trainee Anakin Skywalker to be her bodyguard. They should have known better, given his obvious emotional connection to her, which would eventually lead to a forbidden affair and marriage. Silver lining: the birth of Luke and Leia in the next movie.

Inglourious Basterds (Lt. Hicox Flashes The American Three)

One of the most intense moments from one of Quentin Tarantino's best movies, 2009's Inglourious Basterds, sees a disguised Lt. Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) accidentally reveal to Major Hellstrom (August Diehl) that he is not German by merely holding up the wrong fingers when asking the bar for three drinks. Perhaps this one is really on the British Army for not teaching him that the German Three is made up of the thumb, index, and middle finger but who could have known when that would come in handy?

Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Tony Stark Creates Ultron)

Wanting to create a "suit of armor for the entire world," Tony "Iron Man" Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) teams with Bruce "Hulk" Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to develop a powerful computer program that could do their work for them. Little did he know that this creation would become the eponymous villain of 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron (voiced by James Spader), providing another cautionary lesson against relying on AI.

Scream (Sydney Runs Upstairs Away From Ghostface)

Minutes after condemning the slasher movie trope of women running upstairs from the killer instead of out the front door, Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) does the same exact thing after Ghostface first attacks her. The star of the Scream movies is still one of our favorite horror final girls but it almost makes you wonder how she manages to survive as long as she would with a blemish like that on her track record.

Prometheus (Meredith Vickers Runs From A Rolling Spacecraft In A Straight Line)

Ridley Scott's 2012 Alien prequel, Prometheus, is one of the most divisive sci-fi movies ever made but even its strongest supporters cannot argue against one character's uproarious miscalculation. Why Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) does not choose to easily run out of the way of the alien spaceship rolling toward her and, instead, keep running straight until it crushes her is a mystery that may remain unsolved.

Guardians Of The Galaxy (Drax Summons Ronan)

In 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, a few drinks make Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) confident enough to fight Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) himself, so he sends the tyrant to his current location. As a result, he gets his butt handed to him and Ronan gets away with The Power Stone.

Shrek Forever After (Shrek Makes A Deal With Rumpelstiltskin)

If there is one downside to Shrek (Mike Myers) finding love with Fiona (Cameron Diaz), she may have made him more willing to let his guard down a bit, potentially leading to his disastrous decision in 2010's Shrek Forever After. His nostalgia for his swamp-dwelling days clouds the ogre's judgment when speaking with Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), who convinces him to wish himself into an alternate reality where the trickster rules Far Far Away.

Bee Movie (Barry Sues Humanity)

Writer Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie stars the comedian as an insect named Barry B. Benson, who becomes angry at humans profiting off of their honey and seeks legal action. He succeeds and bees no longer work in favor of the human race but it ends up causing an environmental disaster.

Avengers: Infinity War (Star-Lord Punches Thanos)

By putting Thanos (Josh Brolin) under Mantis' (Pom Klementieef's) trance, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Peter Parker (Tom Holland), and the remaining Guardians come super close to removing the Infinity Gauntlet from his hand. However, Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt) learns that the Titan killed Gamora and punches Thanos in anger, breaking the trance and allowing him to get away. This is one moment from 2018's Avengers: Infinity War that understandably prevents some fans from calling it one of the best Marvel movies.

The Descent (Juno Chooses An Unmapped Cave To Explore)

We are not sure if we can count Juno (Natalie Mendoza) as a hero of 2005's The Descent, due to the idiotic stunt she pulls in the otherwise great horror movie. Her friends learn that she chose an unexplored cavern for their spelunking trip only after they get trapped inside with man-eating, nocturnal mutants.

Hancock (Hancock Fights Mary)

It is revealed in Hancock that Will Smith's eponymous superhuman gets weaker the longer he stays in contact with Mary Embrey (Charlize Theron), who turns out to be part of his kind, too. That does not stop him from engaging in a cataclysmic fight with her near the end of the superhero movie not based on a comic book from 2008.

The Blair Witch Project (Mike Throws The Map In The River)

It is not unusual for horror movie characters to make questionable decisions but when Mike (Michael C. Williams) tosses the map to the Black Hills Forest in The Blair Witch Project is simply unforgivable. He argues in the 1999 found footage thriller that the map was ultimately useless, and he may have been right, but discarding the one chance you may have of reaching safety is never the right move.

Skyfall (Q Connects Silva's Computer To MI6's Mainframe)

There is a reason they say you should go through IT before you investigate a suspicious piece of equipment at the office yourself and Q (Ben Whishaw) demonstrates why in 2012's Skyfall. Perhaps the older version of the tech wizard from previous James Bond movies would have been smarter about hooking up Silva's (Javier Bardem) laptop to MI6's main system, which causes the organization to lose control of their tech to the villain.

Army Of Darkness (Ash Speaks The Wrong Incantation)

Bruce Campbell's Ash Williams becomes increasingly dumber in each of the Evil Dead movies, leading up to his absolute worst mistake while trapped in the Middle Ages in 1992's Army of Darkness. He does not even bother to properly memorize a set of words that will take him back to modern times when he finds the Necronomicon and, in attempting to fake his way through it, ends up unleashing more evil forces.

The Big Lebowski (Walter Destroys A Stranger’s Car)

Suspecting that teenage Larry Sellers used stolen ransom money to purchase a hot Corvette, Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) smashes it repeatedly with a crowbar, only to discover it belongs to Larry's angry neighbor. It is easily one of the funniest moments from one of the best movies of the 1990s, The Big Lebowski, but also makes us sad for The Dude (Jeff Bridges) that he is best friends with such an impulse-driven dolt.

Jeepers Creepers (Darry Tries To See Into The Creeper's Pipe)

In Jeepers Creepers, witnessing the Creeper (Jonathan Breck) shoving dead bodies down a large pipe sticking out of the ground, Darry (Justin Long) tries to investigate by looking down the pipe himself but ends up sliding right into the killer's lair. If only he had listened to his sister, Trish's (Gina Philips), meta warning: "You know the part in scary movies when somebody does something really stupid, and everybody hates them for it? This is it."

The Flash (Batman Sacrifices Himself To Destroy Zod's Ship)

While Michael Keaton's return as Batman in 2023's The Flash was awesome, one not-so-stellar moment sees him attempting to save the day by crashing the Batwing into Zod's ship. Unfortunately, the otherwise valiant effort caused very little damage to the craft and only the Dark Knight fatally succumbed to the crash.

Moana (Maui Steals The Heart Of Te Fiti)

The opening scene of the modern Disney animated movie classic, 2016's Moana, explains how Maui (Dwayne Johnson) stole and misplaced the heart of Te Fiti, which he insists was for humanity's benefit. It is not until he meets the title character (voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho) that he realizes that the artifact's absence caused damage to the Hawaiian Islands and their locals.

Jumanji (Peter Tries To Cheat The Game)

In the original 1995 adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's children's book, Jumanji, Peter (Bradley Pierce) tries to end the wild board game's reign of terror by dropping the dice at the right number to finish. Unfortunately, the game knows better and punishes him for trying to beat it by reverting the evolutionary process, turning him into a monkey.

Iron Man 3 (Tony Stark Gives The Mandarin His Address)

One of the major issues fans have with Iron Man 3 is Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) rash decision to challenge The Mandarin to a one-on-one duel, going as far as revealing where he lives on a video recorded by a press member. Well, the fearsome terrorist clearly got the message, based on the violent attack on Stark's home, which forced him to jump ship and get stuck in Tennessee.

Paranormal Activity (Micah Breaks Out A Ouija Board)

If we were to make a list of the worst significant others in horror movie history, there would definitely be a place for Micah (Micah Sloat) from the first Paranormal Activity movie, released in 2009. Exhibit A: after a medium warns against using a Ouija board, as that would make his and Katie's (Katie Featherston) haunting situation much worse, Micah decides to bring one into the house and makes their haunting situation much worse.

Sleeping Beauty (Flora And Merryweather Fight Over Aurora's Dress Color)

In 1959's Sleeping Beauty, Aurora's fairy guardians want to make a dress just for her but Flora wants it to be pink and Merryweather is dead set on making it blue. Despite being advised not to, they use magic to change the dress' color over and over, which ends up alerting Maleficient of their location and putting Aurora in danger.

Evil Dead (Eric Reads From The Necronomicon)

Fede Alvarez's Evil Dead is considered one of the best horror movie remakes of its time but is certainly not without its flaws. In fact, the demonic carnage is caused when Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), for no reason at all, reads aloud from the Necronomicon, ignoring blatant warnings written into the flesh-bound, blood-inked book to leave it alone.

Deadpool (Wade Leaves His Ammo Bag Behind)

Twice in the 2016's Deadpool does the Merc with the Mouth (Ryan Reynolds) leave behind a huge duffle bag full of weaponry that certainly would have really come in handy against his foes. Instead, he is forced to rely on "maximum effort"... and his immortality, of course.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (Peter Gives Mysterio E.D.I.T.H.)

In 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home, feeling that he has found a trusted friend in Quentin "Mysterio" Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), Peter Parker (Tom Holland) decides to give him full control of E.D.I.T.H. – an augmented reality security, defense, and artificial tactical intelligence system designed by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Unfortunately, that is exactly what the disgruntled former Stark Industries employee wanted him to do, planning to use it to launch an attack on London.

Annabelle Comes Home (Daniela Explores The Warrens' Artifact Room Alone)

Whether or not you believe in the stories behind the Conjuring Universe movies, we imagine no one wants to be caught dead where Ed and Lorraine Warren keep their collection of haunted heirlooms. However, Daniela (Katie Sarife) braves the forbidden room in hopes of making contact with her late father but ends up unleashing the demon that possesses the eponymous doll in Annabelle Comes Home.

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (Clark Fails To Properly Explain His Situation To Bruce)

In the moments leading to the climactic battle of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) takes way too long to explain to Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) that Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) is holding his mother (Diane Lane) captive and, instead, resorts to doing exactly what the evil billionaire wants him to do and fight the Dark Knight. When he finally gives an explanation, with Batman seconds away from killing him with a Kryptonite spear, he says, "Save Martha," instead of the more matter-of-fact, "Lex is going to kill my mom."

The Marvels (Carol Destroys The Supreme Intelligence)

In The Marvels, Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) is forced to work with Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) after their powers become linked but the hero otherwise known as Captain Marvel is reluctant to rope her friends into the battle against Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton). This is because she is personally responsible for their enemy's vengeful motivation, having created a Civil War among the Kree after destroying their A.I. leader.

Fantastic Four (Reed And Others Test Their Teleportation Device While Inebriated)

The 2015 Fantastic Four adaptation was widely disliked for a multitude of reasons, including the dumb decision that leads to the four main characters gaining their superpowers. After a few too many drinks, the designers of a groundbreaking teleportation device decide to test it out themselves, changing their lives forever.

Thor: Ragnarok (Loki Summons The Bifrost To Escape Hela)

In 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, when he and the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) are confronted by their sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett), Loki (Tom Hiddleston) tries to make a quick getaway with the Bifrost. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time but Hela ends up chasing after them, ultimately leading her right to Asgard while the half-brothers get stranded on Sakaar.

Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (Austin Keeps The Receipt For His Special Pump)

In the spy movie parody, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, when the titular agent (Mike Myers) is collecting the belongings he left behind before being cryogenically frozen, he claims that a certain special, Swedish-made pump does not belong to him. However, a credit card receipt for the item, a warranty slip with his name on it, and a book about his experiences using the product found with his stuff prove otherwise.

Thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine the Marvel Cinematic Universe is back on top when it comes to the box office. It’s the place that most Marvel movies have found themselves. However, the recent success comes following a string of stumbles. Two of the last three Marvel movies. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels were flops, and surprisingly, we know just how big the bombs were.

We usually don't know how much movies cost to make. Studios don't release that information so if you see anybody claiming what a film's production budget was, it's usually little more than an educated guess. However, in the case of Quantumania and The Marvels we can say with near certainty that Disney lost $300 million in total on the two movies, all thanks to the fact they were made in the U.K.

Why We Know How Much The Marvels And Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Lost

We obviously know how much the Marvel movies made at the box office, but the reason we know how much Disney lost is that we have an accurate accounting of how much the films cost to make, $762.4 million together, according to Forbes. We have this info because both Quantumania and The Marvels were filmed in the U.K., and U.K. production rules require a strict accounting of costs that is not required in the U.S.

Marvel, and Disney generally, has been filming a lot more in the U.K., ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm and filmed, Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the historic Pinewood Studios.

This is because of a significant tax credit that films can take advantage of as long as 10% of the film’s total production costs are spent there. Thus the need for the strict accounting of costs. The credit can give a film up to a 25.5% of its production costs back, which is significant enough that it’s going to make it worthwhile for the studio to put up with the different accounting rules.

Even These Numbers Aren’t Perfect

With the numbers we have, the math becomes pretty easy. By taking the cost of the movie, and then subtracting out Disney’s share of the global box office take, and the amount they received in the U.K. tax credit, just under $125 million, you come to the $300 million number.

There is still some wiggle room in the amount the movies lost of course. The production costs don’t include the costs of marketing the film, and the income numbers don’t include any post-theatrical business from Blu-ray or streaming. As such, the movies actually cost a bit more, but also made a bit more money in total. Still, this is likely a far more accurate number than most movies.

Disney plans to produce more upcoming Disney+ TV series and upcoming Marvel movies in the U.K. This means we can expect to get this more detailed information. Disney likely hopes that the future numbers will detail massive profits, not losses.

There are a surprising amount of films based on comic books and graphic novels that are directed by women. Traditionally women have been underrepresented in directing, and while there are still way more movies directed by men, we see more and more directed by female filmmakers. Here are some examples of movies based on comic books directed by women.

Tank Girl (1995)

Comic book movies were much rarer in the 1990s than they are today, much less movies based on an alt-comic like Tank Girl. Still, in 1995 director Rachel Talalay took the helm to make a movie based on the hit underground comic. Lori Petty starred as the titular character and while it's not the best adaption ever made, it has its moments and at least it's an early-sh example of a female-led comic book movie.

Captain Marvel (2019)

In 2019 one of Marvel's most powerful superheroes joined the MCU with Captain Marvel. Brie Larsen stars as the titular character and the film was co-written and co-directed by women, because it just had to be, right? Directing duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck teamed up to direct it and co-wrote the script with Geneva Robertson-Dworet.

Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

It's always good to remember that not every comic book was from Marvel or DC and not every comic book movie is about a superhero. 2001's Josie and the Pussycats is a great example of both and while it's not high art, it's still a really fun movie. Rachel Leigh Cook stars as Josie alongside Tara Reid, and Rosario Dawson as her Pussycats.

Wonder Woman (2017)

2017's Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins is the best installment in the now-defunct DCEU. Set during World War I, the movie follows the beloved DC character Wonder Woman as she does what she does best, save the world. Gal Gadot is wonderful as Wonder Woman, and it just wouldn't feel right to have anyone but a woman like Patty Jenkins direct it.

Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

As great as it is to see female superhero movies directed by women, it's even better to see a woman at the helm of a movie based on a male villain/anti-hero like Venom in Venom: The Last Dance. The 2024 movie was directed by Kelly Marcel, who also directed the two previous Venom films starring Tom Hardy as well, but has said that the 2024 installment would be the final film in the series.

The Old Guard (2020)

The underrated 2020 movie The Old Guard had the unfortunate luck of being released in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. The Charlize Theron-led movie, based on a comic by Greg Rucka (who wrote the movie as well), was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Prince-Bythewood is not shy about directing movies about powerful women, including the great The Woman King from 2022.

Batman: Year One (2011)

It's not just live-action films that women get in on the fun of. The excellent 2011 animated flick Batman: Year One was co-directed by Lauren Montgomery who has a long history in animated features and TV shows. She is also set to direct 2026's Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is fantastic news.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)

Appropriately, 2015's The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a true female-led project. Starring Bel Powley as the lead, with support from Kristen Wiig, and Alexander Skarsgård, the film is written and directed by Marielle Heller. It's all based on the graphic novel by Phoebe Gloeckner. The movie wasn't nearly as popular as it should have been and is definitely worth seeking out to check out if you've never seen it.

Madame Web (2024)

Writer and director S. J. Clarkson took the helm for 2024's Madame Web starring Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney. The movie took a beating from critics when it was released, but it didn't totally deserve the harsh comments. No, it's not the best superhero movie, but the piling on by critics started to feel a little like bullying. It was like each critic was trying to out-snark the last one with their reviews and it wasn't totally fair.

Radioactive (2019)

One of the most interesting graphic novels of the last couple of decades is Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss. The movie adaptation, called simply Radioactive starring Rosamond Pike and Anya Taylor-Joy and directed by Iranian director Marjane Satrapi is a mixed bag, but it's really cool story and one worth learning about.

Eternals (2021)

Hiring a director like Chloé Zhao for a movie like Eternals is a no-brainer and you'd expect it to be fantastic. Sadly, it doesn't quite live up to the expectations. it's hard to say exactly what doesn't work about it, other than the pacing being a bit of a mess. There are great things that happen in the story and the acting performances are great. We trust Chloé Zhao to make great movies, this one just missed.

Speed Racer (2008)

Based on a manga series from Japan in the 1960s, Speed Racer was also a beloved cartoon in the States in the 1980s after it was imported from its home country. In 2008 the Wachowskis adapted it for the big screen. Though it initially bombed with critics and at the box office, in classic Wachowskis fashion, over the years more and more people have come around to it and it is thought of much better today than when it first came out.

Birds of Prey (2020)

There is no way anyone could make a movie like Birds Of Prey and not have a woman direct it. In this case, that director was Cathy Yan. While the movie struggled as part of the overall disappointing DCEU, it's really not a bad movie by any means, especially from a "grrl power" point of view. The writer was also female, Christina Hodson.

The Marvels (2023)

Following in the footsteps of the first Captain Marvel movie, The Marvels also has a great female director, Nia DaCosta. DaCosta has made a quick name for herself in Hollywood with her first three films, Little Woods, Candyman (2021), and, of course, this one.

Superman: Doomsday (2007)

Superman: Doomsday kicked off the DC Universe Animated Original Movies in 2007. That series, a direct-to-video/streaming franchise has proven far more successful than the doomed DCEU. Based on the comic series The Death of Superman, Superman: Doomsday is a must see for any DC fan. Like others in the series the animated film is directed by artist Lauren Montgomery along with Bruce Timm.

American Splendor (2003)

Underground comic book writer Harvey Pekar was a different kind of writer than most and the movie based on his life and autobiographical comics, American Splendor is a different kind of movie. Paul Giamatti is fantastic as Pekar in this cartoon/live-action hybrid directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini.

Black Widow (2021)

The most famous female superhero in the MCU is Scarlett Johasson's Black Widow and when she finally got her own stand-alone movie, it made all the sense in the world to bring in a female director. Australian Cate Shortland was hired to make the movie with a screenplay by Eric Pearson.

Punisher: War Zone (2008)

it may seem a little weird to bring in a woman to direct a movie like Punisher: War Zone based on one of the most testosterone anti-heroes in comics. But director Lexi Alexander is no wallflower. The former stunt performer and martial artist isn't afraid to mix it up with the boys, and she was actually kind of perfect for this imperfect adaptation from the Punisher series.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)

Director Lauren Montgomery has been a mainstay in the DC animated universe, getting the call for some of its most ambitious works like Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths in 2010. She might just be the best animation director working on DC movies at this point.

The Kitchen (2019)

It's really too bad 2019's The Kitchen from first-time director Andrea Berloff didn't work, because it's a cool comic and a great story. Unfortunately, Berloff's film missed the mark in a lot of ways. She will hopefully get another film because she's a great writer and deserves another chance to get one right.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

After the huge success of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins teamed up again for Wonder Woman 1984. The critical response was mixed and it's hard to gauge the success of the film with audiences as the movie was released simultaneously on streaming with its limited box office release due to the pandemic in December of 2020. It's not as good as its predecessor, but it's still a really fun movie.

The Demon Stirs (2005)

It's not often you see a rom-com come from a graphic novel, so we had to include the 2005 French film The Demon Stirs directed by veteran French director Marie Pascale Osterrieth. It turns out there are a few examples of rom-coms based on graphic novels, it's not all superheroes.

Gemma Bovery (2015)

French director Anne Fontaine helmed the 2015 comedy Gemma Bovery starring Gemma Arterton and Jason Flemyng. The movie is based on a graphic novel of the same name by English cartoonist Posy Simmonds.

Father Of Four (1953)

Way back in the 1950s, Danish director Alice O'Fredericks started a series based on a comic in Denmark called Father Of Four. Over the next eight years, O'Fredericks would write and direct seven more films in the series that have become staples for Danish kids for decades.

Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High (2018)

Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High may not be on your radar screen unless you are the parent of girls, but it was a pretty popular series for a minute there in the mid-teens. This movie, based on the series was directed by Elsa Garagarza.

Falcon Lake (2022)

In the English-speaking world, we don't often hear about French-Canadian films, but Falcon Lake is one worth seeking out. Directed by Montreal native Charlotte Le Bon, this movie, adapted from a graphic novel by French writer Bastien Vivès is a wonderful coming-of-age story that translates to any culture.

Aya of Yop City (2013)

Aya of Yop City is another kind of French animated feature based on a graphic novel Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie, who also directed the feature. It takes place in the Ivory Coast and tells a story of young love that anyone can understand,

Persepolis (2007)

2007's Persepolis, directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, and based on the graphic novel by Satrapi is a powerful autobiographical film about her life growing up in Iran during the turbulent 1970s. It's a movie from a female director with a strong voice and something to say.

Ninjababy (2021)

Norway may not be the first place you think of when it comes to graphic novels or, frankly, films, but Ninjababy might just turn you around on both. Yngvild Sve Flikke directed this fascinating take on a young girl's struggle with her unwanted pregnancy. It's a story only a woman could tell.

The Hunters (2013)

Did you know that the Hallmark Channel has dabbled in sci-fi? That's what they did in 2013 with the Nisha Ganatra-directed The Hunters based on the graphic novel Mirror Mirror by Joshua Williamson. It's about what you would expect, so if you love sci-fi/fantasy and Hallmark Christmas movies, this may be right up your alley.

Ever since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, and with it the film rights to the X-Men, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been seeing mutants into the Marvel multiverse. While Deadpool & Wolverine is obviously the most prominent example of this so far, another one of the big MCU X-Men references came in The Marvels’ end-credits scene, when Kelsey Grammer played Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, in the universe where Monica Rambeau ended up. But will we see this take on Beast again following his cameo in the 33rd of the Marvel movies in order?

Grammer addressed this while speaking to ComicBook about Frasier Season 2, which will premiere to Paramount+ subscription holders next Thursday, September 19. When Beast was brought up during the outlet’s conversation, namely if we’ll be seeing more of him in the MCU, the actor responded:

Although Nicholas Hoult has more appearances as Beast under his belt thanks to the “First Class” era of X-Men movies, it was Kelsey Grammer who originated the role in live action through 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand. He later cameoed towards the end of X-Men: Days of Future Past, with both those performances seeing him don makeup. The Marvels, on the other hand, realized its Beast through CGI, so only Grammer’s voice was heard. Regardless, Hank McCoy’s appearance was among the movie’s biggest surprises, and now Grammer has shared this has led to talks about the character potentially returning, though there’s not a concrete update just yet.

During the battle against Dar-Benn, Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau closed the jump point that the villain had opened to take Earth’s water for Hala and steal our sun’s energy to restore the one near the Kree homeworld. Monica was able to get the job done with Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan, but she was left stranded in another universe, one where Beast is active as an X-Men member. Additionally Monica met a variant of her mother, Maria Rambeau, who is the superhero Binary, but never had a daughter.

Assuming Marvel wants to bring back Monica for one of the upcoming Marvel movies, then it stands to reason when that time comes, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast will probably be alongside her. Avengers: Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars are the likeliest candidates, as those will be the culminating chapters in The Multiverse Saga. There’s also an X-Men reboot in the works, which I’m hoping will take one of the MCU’s 2027 release dates. However, assuming this is going to follow a brand-new team of X-Men, and if Beast is part of that lineup, then hopefully a new actor is cast as that version, and Grammer’s Beast can continue operating in his own reality.

We’ll, of course, let you know if/when it’s announced that Kelsey Grammer will return as Beast. Until then, stream The Marvels, and nearly all of the MCU’s other movies and TV shows, with your Disney+ subscription.

Rumors of the demise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been greatly exaggerated. The massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine at the box office has shown that audiences are still interested in the MCU. However, that success only throws into sharper perspective some of the franchise’s recent struggles, including, perhaps above all else, The Marvels.

As the last big screen release in the MCU prior to Deadpool & Wolverine, The Marvels failed to find an audience in theaters, leading to one of the lowest box office totals of an MCU movie to date. While there are any number of potential explanations for why the movie flopped, Brie Larson tells The Playlist that she still appreciates the film because she loves her co-stars and believes in what the movie was trying to say. She also teased that perhaps, despite the movie’s failure, Captain Marvel and her friends might have more to do. Larson said…

While Larson wouldn’t reveal any specifics, the fact that she knows something at least confirms that there’s something to know regarding herself and upcoming Marvel movies. If there were no plans for Captain Marvel in the MCU, she would likely have had a conversation to confirm that. If there was nothing to know, she wouldn’t know anything at all.

This is certainly good news for the fans of The Marvels out there. While we can’t overlook that the movie wasn’t the massive hit that the original Captain Marvel was, the film certainly has its fans who would love to see any or all of the film’s three leads again.

If there are plans to see Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau or Kamala Khan again, then it would seem Marvel Studios isn't putting too much stock in the movie's lack of success. It would be easy to assume that people just don't care about those characters, and with the MCU having so many to choose from, it could easily focus elsewhere. But Bob Iger blamed a lack of "supervision" for The Marvels' bad performance, which would seem to indicate the problem wasn't the characters or the actors, just that the movie they were in wasn't right.

If nothing else, the MCU needs to resolve The Marvels post-credits scene, which left Monica Rambeau in another universe. While the MCU recently confirmed its plans to pivot away from Jonathan Majors’ Kang, replacing him with Roberty Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU as Doctor Doom, we still expect the multiverse will play a major role in the franchise at least through the two currently planned Avengers movies.

When the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched in 2008 with Iron Man, the overall landscape of the Marvel movies in order looked quite different. In addition to Sony having the film rights to Spider-Man, which is still the case today, 20th Century Fox had exclusive dibs on telling cinematic stories centered on the X-Men and Fantastic Four. But when Disney acquired Fox in 2019, Marvel’s mutants and First Family came along for the ride, so now the MCU can finally utilize these characters in its ever-growing mythology.

While The Fantastic Four is slated for release this summer on the upcoming Marvel movies schedule, there’s still no word on when we’ll get a straightforward X-Men movie in the MCU, although various elements from the Fox era of X-Men movies were revisited in summer 2024 in Deadpool & Wolverine. However, even setting aside that team-up between Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman’s Logan, the MCU has dropped various X-Men references and appearances in its movies and TV shows in the last several years, so let’s go over what’s been dished out to fans so far.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

The MCU’s first foray into X-Men-related territory came in May 2022 with the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. When the Earth-616 version of Stephen Strange visited Earth-838 with America Chavez, he met the Illuminati of that world, and a Patrick Stewart-reprised Professor X was one of its members. This version of Professor X was visually modeled after his counterpart from X-Men: The Animated Series with his green suit and yellow hover chair. A riff on the classic ‘90s cartoon even played when he first appeared onscreen.

Like the other Illuminati members aside from Mordo, this Professor X died while trying to prevent the Earth-616 Wanda Maximoff from taking America Chavez. It’s unclear if he ever led the X-Men in this universe or was solely tied to the Illuminati, but either way, now Earth-838 is without its strongest telepath.

Ms. Marvel - “No Normal”

Two months after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness came out, the first X-Men-related seed to be planted in the main MCU reality, i.e. Earth-616, was planted in the miniseries Ms. Marvel (which, like all the other Marvel Studios-produced TV shows, streams exclusively with a Disney+ subscription). In the finale, titled “No Normal,” Kamala Khan’s friend Bruno shared with her that her hard light powers, which she channels through the Quantum Band that’s been in her family for generations, stems from a “mutation” in her DNA.

Giving Iman Vellani’s Kamala hard light powers rather than her shapeshifting abilities from the comics was already a big change, but turning her into a mutant was another significant deviation, as she was introduced as an Inhuman. Funny enough though, the comics ended up following in the MCU’s footsteps shortly thereafter, as Kamala discovered she had a dormant X-gene, thus making her a mutant/human hybrid. Now that version of Kamala is closely associated with the X-Men, so maybe Vellani’s version will follow suit down the line.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

One of the first characters introduced in what we now look at as Marvel’s mythology was Namor the Sub-Mariner. The character has frequently been called “Marvel’s first mutant” when it comes to publishing, since he’s been preceded chronologically in the comics by people like Wolverine, Apocalypse and Mystique. Well, although the word “mutant” is never uttered in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it’s been confirmed that Tenoch Huerta’s version of Namor shares the same genetic background.

In the MCU’s main reality, Namor was born in 1571, and while his mother was pregnant with him, she injected a vibranium-laced herb in order to make herself immune from smallpox. This resulted in her and the rest of the people in Yucatán growing gills and developing blue skin, moving underwater and establishing Talokan. Namor himself additionally grew pointed ears and tiny wings on his ankles and is able to breathe normally both underwater and on land, as well as looking more human compared to the other Talokan denizens and lives much longer than them. So, although Huerta’s Namor has a very different background than the one from the comics, he’s still as mutant as they come.

The Marvels

In The Marvels’ end-credits scene, Monica Rambeau was revealed to have been transported to another universe after she patched up the rupture between realities that Dar-Benn tore open. Upon awakening, she was greeted by this reality’s version of her mother, Maria Rambeau, only this Maria is the superhero Binary and never had a daughter.

More importantly for this list though, Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, was in the room, with Kelsey Grammer vocally reprising the character. This Beast also mentioned that “Charles asked for an update,” meaning Professor X exists in this universe too, and the laboratory they’re in has a circular door with the X-symbol on it, just like the one that led to Cerebro in the original X-Men movies.

Not only do we have another X-Man living on a different Earth, but it’s seemingly implied that this Earth has its own X-Men, which wasn’t as clear-cut on Earth-838. It stands to reason that there will eventually come a time when Monica makes it back to Earth-616. When that happens, maybe we’ll get to see some of this world’s other X-Men with her.

X-Men ’97 - “Remember It”

You may be asking why I’m throwing X-Men ’97 in here considering that not only would this show not exist without mutants, it’s not tied to the MCU. Well you’re right… or at least, it’s not tied directly. Indirectly, however, the fifth episode of the X-Men: The Animated Series revival established a connection with What If… ?, the show that explores various realities throughout the Marvel multiverse. It’s hard to make out above, but if you look closely, you’ll see the outline of a Watcher, specifically Uatu, What If… ?’s narrator.

This confirms that the X-Men: The Animated Series/X-Men ’97 universe is set within the same multiverse as the MCU franchise. However, don’t go assuming this means those shows’ versions of Cyclops, Jen Grey, Wolverine and more will ever appear in live-action. That doesn’t seem likely, though maybe there’s a chance that X-Men ’97 could someday have a direct crossover with What If… ? or another animated show like Marvel Zombies or Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Although Deadpool & Wolverine serves as a sendoff to the 20th Century Fox era of Marvel movies, it still has some big ties to the MCU, and not just because Marvel Studios put it together. First, while Wade Wilson lives on Earth-10005, he somehow made it over to Earth-616 in 2018 to try and join the Avengers, only to be denied membership. Then Wade gets thrown into his main multiversal journey when he’s taken to the Time Variance Authority, previously seen in Loki’s two seasons, and sent into The Void with Wolverine. Finally, towards the end of the movie, Hunter B-15 shows up, as she’s now leading the TVA following the events of the Disney+ show.

What If... ? - "What If... the Watcher Disappeared?" And "What If... What If?"

Before What If... ? concluded after three seasons, the animated series threw in a fun X-Men connection in the form of a Storm variant voiced by X-Men '97's Alison Sealy-Smith. This version of Ororo Munroe appeared in the show's final two episodes and stood out for wielding Mjolnir, the enchanted hammer that traditionally belongs to Thor. What If... ?'s Storm worked with Captain Peggy Carter, Kahhori and Byrdie in stopping multiversal incursions, and the four later rescued Uatu from his fellow Watchers. Unfortunately, we never learned the circumstances behind how Storm came into possession of Mjolnir.

Captain America: Brave New World

While no mutants appear in Captain America: Brave World (the movie's loose adaptation of Sabra, named Ruth Bat-Seraph, was made an ex-Black Widow rather than a mutant), the metal adamantium was introduced into the main MCU continuity. The indestructible metal, known best for coating Wolverine's skeleton, is mined in this universe from the petrified Celestial known as Tiamut, whose emergence was prevented in Eternals. What will be done with the metal going forward remains to be seen.

Keep checking back here for more updates on how the X-Men are being seeded throughout the MCU. Feel free to also get the lay of the non-MCU cinematic land in the coming months with our 2025 movies schedule.

I did something crazy recently — I watched the entirety of the MCU in a month.

Let me preface this by saying that I watched only the Marvel movies in order. I didn't count the TV shows because if I had, you wouldn't get this article until next year, but as someone who has seen all the television shows already, I decided to check out the movies for the first time again in years. 

I love the MCU and will always have a special place in my heart for superhero movies, but they've been getting a lot of slander over the last few years or so. I decided to take it upon myself to rewatch the supposed "best MCU" films from the earlier years – and boy, do I have thoughts before all the upcoming Marvel movies. Let's get into it. 

While We Have Good Memories Of Phase 1, It's The Weakest

Sorry, ya'll, Phase 1 of the MCU sucks. 

Okay, that's a bold statement, but if we're being honest, the first few films of the MCU were not its best, and the real good ones came many years later. The first Iron Man film certainly gave us a great character in Tony Stark, and I always had a special love for Captain America: The First Avenger, but the others that were released were just not that good. 

Iron Man 2 was different from its predecessor and felt flat. Thor was just…meh. Don't even start on The Incredible Hulk and how terrible that one is. I did enjoy the first Avengers, but Loki was the main thing I liked. Phase 1 was objectively the worst. 

Phase 2 Has Some Of The Best-Written MCU Films

Without diving into all the details, Phase 2 of the MCU has some of the best-written films. I found myself enjoying Tony Stark's mental health crisis after the Battle for New York in Iron Man 3. 

I enjoyed the very first Guardians of the Galaxy film because it stood out from the rest of the competition. Ant-Man was also a hilarious entry that made Paul Rudd an even bigger star. 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier Still Stands Out Ten Years Later

Something about this movie shifted how I felt about the MCU. Maybe it was because it led to my absolute obsession with all things Bucky Barnes or because it was so expertly well-shot and told a complete, conclusive story. 

The Winter Soldier bridged the gap between superhero movies and compelling drama, creating a masterclass in filmmaking. 

I can see why Anthony and Joe Russo became golden boys for Marvel after creating something like this. 

Also, Avengers: Age Of Ultron Is An Underrated Film, And I Stand By That

I recall that when Avengers: Age of Ultron came out, this movie got so much hate I could not believe it. 

Now, nearly ten years later, I still stand by it not being a bad film. It's underrated. It's a fun superhero movie with a gripping villain, and it introduces some excellent characters. Sure, some plot points fall flat, but it's still an enjoyable movie. I love Ultron and other people do, too. 

Phase 3 Hits Your Emotions The Hardest, No Doubt

Most people my age remember Phase 3 of the MCU the fondest, and I can see why. We received some of the best-shot movies with great stories during this time. The most significant change was that, at this point, the characters reached their achieved state of flow. 

They didn't just feel like characters anymore. They felt like real-life co-workers, friends, and family members because we had spent so much time with them at this point. This is what makes Phase 3 the most emotional.

Captain America: Civil War Altered My Brain Chemistry

As a seventeen-year-old, I recall watching Captain America: Civil War, and something shifted in my brain. To this day, it's a stand-out movie. 

I can understand why the Russo Brothers came back for this film. Not only was it great to show the growing divide between the Avengers after Ultron, but it gave us the great T'Challa. This film is just so good, and I have rewatched this movie the most out of any MCU film. 

Also, the introduction of Spider-Man into the MCU was everything I needed. 

Infinity War And Endgame Still Hit Just As Many Years Later

I can't say anything terrible about Infinity War and Endgame. People talk about these superhero films as if they are pieces of art, and while I don't think they're at Sistine Chapel levels of masterpiece, they are pretty damn close. 

The Russo Brothers delivered a powerful punch to the gut with these, so much so that I still feel the same pain I felt walking out of the theater in 2018, seeing my favorite characters turn to dust. I still bawled my eyes out when Tony died, and Steve moved on. They're still fantastic films. 

The Movies In Phase 4 Aren't Bad – They're Just Different In Certain Ways

Phase 4 was not a "bad" set of movies. They're just different, and many people don't like change. 

The old Avengers, as we know them, are over. Half of them are gone, and the other half are off having their own adventures. So, of course, we're going to have new movies that really dig deeper into the other characters. 

That is why I know so many people were upset when we got movies like Shang-Chi, Eternals, or even Black Widow, with Nat being long gone at that point. They were to give us new characters to love, analyze, and connect with. 

It's hard for us to move past some of the best times of the MCU, but I stand by the fact that most of these films are not horrible, as people would make you think. Thor: Love and Thunder, sure, the MCU can take that L, but the rest? I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if some could have had better-written stories. It feels that many films in Phase 4 don't connect as well, but they're still enjoyable. 

Spider-Man: No Way Home Is A Banger Even Three Years Later

I've always been a fan of Spider-Man – I just re-read about my love of Miles Morales – but biases aside, No Way Home is still such a fun film, no matter what. 

Don't listen to people who hate the movie now, years later, and say it's overrated or whatever. This movie took a lot of time, effort and passion to make and is going to be the most memorable of Phase 4. 

Multiverse Of Madness Sadly Doesn't Feel As Good

Okay, so I'm all for Scarlet Witch's most powerful moments, and I was so excited for Multiverse of Madness after WandaVision, but…yeah, the movie is not as good on a second watch. 

There are many moments in this movie where I felt things could have been done better, made scarier, or just…been better written. The John Krasinski/Reed Richards moment, in particular, left a bad taste in my mouth. 

Maybe Wanda Maximoff will get the movie she deserves in the future. Until then, we have this. 

Phase 5 Has Dipped And Rose In Quality So Much I Have Whiplash

Yeah, I'll openly say Phase 5 has been a whirlwind. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was freaking fantastic and had me sobbing. Ant-Man: Quantumania is meh-ish, but it could have been great, and it's nice that it sets up the multiverse aspect a little more.

But The Marvels…dear lord, The Marvels. 

This is coming from someone who is a fan of Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Ms. Marvel, and it was just…so objectively wrong and written terribly. Why are we giving these three powerful women such a bad movie? The quality has dipped and risen so much that I'm struggling to keep my head above water. 

I Do Have Hope For Future Films – But Nothing So Far Beats The Original Infinity Saga

I'm looking forward to the hyped-up Deadpool and Wolverine, and I'm excited about the upcoming Fantastic Four movie. Thunderbolts could be an excellent addition to the world of anti-heroes. Phase 5 of the MCU and Phase 6 sound great on paper, and despite recent missteps, I have hope for the future. 

With that said, nothing quite beats the Infinity Saga, at least so far. Aside from the characters, the writing and movies are just better, and I think what we need to do is take a step back from the grand scheme of the entire multiverse and get back to what made the MCU good — well-told superhero stories. 

There's no superhero fatigue — we need thrilling tales, grand quests, compelling character stories, and so much more, and we just… haven't gotten that in some time. And that's a shame. 

I'm hoping Phase 5 does balance itself out, but until then, I'll sit with my hope — and maybe rewatch the Infinity Saga again. 

When it comes to the best zombie movies we’ve ever seen, Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later is up there! So when it was reported earlier this year that the director would be returning to his apocalyptic franchise for 28 Years Later, it was exciting news. Now the latest on the movie series' return is The Marvels director Nia DaCosta being lined up for 28 Years Later’s intended sequel. This is such great news! 

So here’s what’s going down. Danny Boyle is already attached to helm 28 Years Later from a script set to be written by Alex Garland. Garland wrote the script for 2002’s 28 Days Later before going on to write and direct movies like Ex Machina and this Friday's release, Civil War. Now Nia DaCosta is apparently in talks to direct the movie already being developed to follow 28 Years Later, per The Hollywood Reporter. The next 28 Days Later movie getting its director in line (which is also expected to be written by Alex Garland) is not only a good sign that these movies have a vote of confidence from Sony Pictures, but is a great next step for DaCosta. 

Nia DaCosta made an impressive debut in feature films with the 2019 indie drama Little Woods, starring Lily James and Tessa Thompson. She followed her debut with 2021’s rather excellent and rather chilling sequel to Candyman that was co-written and produced by Jordan Peele, and starred Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Teyonah Parris. After that, DaCosta moved into the world of the MCU with The Marvels, which was actually quite well received despite its being a box office letdown. 

DaCosta is a talented filmmaker already, but she’s especially great at creating tension. Little Woods and Candyman were great examples of this, and I’m so happy she’ll get to put her own stamp on the untitled 28 Years Later sequel. It’s exciting that Danny Boyle will already be back for the next movie in his franchise, but I also love that he’s passing it off to Nia DaCosta to continue telling the story! 

You can catch up on what to remember about the zombie movies by checking out what happened at the end of 28 Days Later. There was also a 2007 sequel called 28 Weeks Later, but Boyle and Garland were only involved at a distance as executive producers. When it comes to 28 Years Later, apparently Cillian Murphy is involved as an executive producer himself, but it’s unclear at this point if he’ll return to star. 

Ahead of DaCosta being part of this franchise, the director is currently filming her next movie, Hedda, which is a drama starring Tessa Thompson. Release dates for these 28 Days Later movies have yet to be determined, but stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for what upcoming horror movies are on the way. 

For the past decade and change, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a well-oiled machine, constantly releasing new content in both theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But while some fans are hyped about upcoming Marvel movies, others are concerned about superhero fatigue, especially after The Marvels became shared universe's biggest box office bomb. Monica Rambeau actress Teyonah Parris got asked about all the hate that's come at that project, and what she was feeling while making the movie.

Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen how things changed after the release of Avengers: Endgame. There have been a number of box office struggles since then, although none were quite as dire as The Marvels. Parris was recently asked by IGN about the movie's icy reception, saying:

Well, that's certainly refreshing. While it can be difficult to deal with negativity online (especially from the super passionate Marvel fanbase), Teyonah Parris didn't feel that with The Marvels. Namely because she was surrounded by folks who were excited about the movie and her growing role in the MCU. If only all of us were immune to the negativity on the internet. 

After the wild, Emmy-nominated success of WandaVision, Parris was able to bring her adult version of Monica Rambeau to the big screen with The Marvels. And her character was key to The Marvels' ending, and to the shared universe as a whole. Especially considering that wild credits scene that involved the X-Men. 

Later during that same interview, Teyonah Parris further spoke about making The Marvels, and the strange way she said goodbye to the set. Because after having a COVID exposure, she ended up wrapping her role without much fuss. In the Candyman actress' words:

Well, that's one way to leave a major film project. But since The Marvels was filmed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the set has some strict health guidelines to follow. 

It should be interesting to see what comes next for Monica Rambeau in the MCU. She's seemingly the key to bringing the X-Men to the main timeline, which fans have been waiting for. I'd also love to see her reunite with Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch at some point down the line. But with The Marvels rumored to not be getting a sequel, this is all a big mystery for the time being. 

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates. 

Over the years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has sought to diversify its roster of characters, having done so during the Infinity Saga by introducing the likes of Anthony Mackie's Falcon and Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther. Those efforts have seemingly increased amid the Multiverse Saga, though, with Simu Liu's Shang-Chi and Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel entering the fray. Another one of the franchise's newest major players is Monica Rambeau, who's played by Teyonah Parris. The actress takes pride in role in the MCU, and she's now weighing in not only on its efforts to be diverse but her hopes for the future as well.

The Marvels exemplified Disney’s push for inclusion -- both in front of and behind the camera. Teyonah Parris co-headlined it alongside Brie Larson and Iman Vellani. Additionally, it was helmed by Nia DaCosta, who's the first Black woman to direct an MCU film. The film was bombarded with trolls throughout its promotional push and box office run, but it seems to have struck a chord with a sum of fans. Parris is very conscious of the fact that she's helped bring representation to the MCU. With that, she spoke with IGN about how a diverse MCU can impact a young audience, saying:

When it comes to young children, it can be crucial for them to see themselves represented in both movies and TV shows, and that's especially true in regard to kids of color. It’s nice to know how aware the They Cloned Tyrone star is of her position within Disney's ever-expanding superhero franchise. Many can definitely argue that the progress has been somewhat slow, as Captain Marvel only became the first female-led movie in the franchise 2019. Luckily, the tide seems to be turning when it comes to recent and upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows. So far, we've definitely been treated to many young and diverse MCU heroes.

More specific to Teyonah Parris' position, major Black female characters from the comics were largely underrepresented in the MCU for years. It wasn’t until 2018's Black Panther that they truly took center stage. Shuri, Queen Ramonda, Nakia, Okoye, the Dora Milaje, and Riri Williams even became the central focus of the 2022 sequel, Wakanda Forever. As for Parris' Monica Rambeau, placing her at the forefront of The Marvels was a great move and, as a result, she saw considerable character development following her appearance in WandaVision.

One would hope that studio present Kevin Feige and his colleagues continue to consider diversity and representation as they craft their stories. It goes without saying that the storytelling itself is important but, as the Dashing Through the Snow alum so eloquently conveyed, it can also mean a lot for people to see themselves represented in these superhero-centric tales.

Stream The Marvels as well as the Marvel movies in order using a Disney+ subscription. Also, be sure to check out Teyonah Parris' best movies and TV show performances.

If you’re reading this, then you’re likely someone who pays close attention to news about upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Marvel TV shows, and rightly so. Still, sometimes it’s nice to revisit past MCU events, specifically by watching the Marvel movies in order, whether you’re breaking out your own copies or streaming these features with a Disney+ subscription. And, of course, one of the main ways the MCU has stood out is by popularizing post-credits scenes, many of which lay groundwork for future projects.

For those of you who specifically have these scenes on the mind, but don’t have the time to go back and revisit any of these movies, don’t worry, we have you covered. Below is every MCU Marvel movie post-credits scene in order, with many of these flicks containing more than one scene to enjoy after the main story is finished.

It’s also important to mention first that neither The Incredible Hulk nor Avengers: Endgame had post-credits scenes, hence why they aren’t included here (although the latter movie does play the sound of a hammer striking metal, harkening back to when Tony Stark was constructing his first suit of armor).

Iron Man

After revealing to the world that he and Iron Man are one and the same, Tony Stark returns to his mansion to find Nick Fury waiting in the shadows. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. broke into the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist’s home to pick his brain on the Avengers Initiative.

Iron Man 2

When Tony Stark and Nick Fury chatted at Randy’s donuts, the latter told the former he had bigger problems in the Southwest region to deal with than him. Later on, Phil Coulson relinquished his Stark babysitting duties because Fury was sending him to New Mexico. In the movie’s final minutes, we learned this was to track down a mysterious hammer embedded in the desert: Mjolnir, Thor’s weapon.

Thor

Nick Fury brings Dr. Erik Selvig to a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility to show him the Tesseract, a mysterious glowing cube that could potentially provide unlimited power to humanity. Unbeknownst to Fury, Selvig is being controlled by a still-alive Loki.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Some time after Steve Rogers awoke in the present day, Nick Fury approaches the super soldier about going on an important mission to save the world. This leads into a teaser for The Avengers.

The Avengers

Following Loki’s defeat at the hands of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the mysterious entity known as The Other meets with his master, i.e. the being who approved giving the Asgardian God of Mischief his Chitauri army, the mind-controlling scepter and the promise of being able to rule Earth, all if he obtained the Tesseract. That master turns out to be Thanos, who merely grins when The Other tells him that to battle the Avengers would be to court death.

Iron Man 3

It turns out that Tony Stark has been recounting the events of Iron Man 3 to Bruce Banner, a.k.a. one of his new Avengers teammates. Unfortunately, Bruce fell asleep basically right as Tony started telling the story, making it clear he doesn’t have the temperament to be a therapist. Undeterred, and perhaps out of spite, Tony starts talking about the “original wound” he suffered when he was 14 years old.

Thor: The Dark World

Post-Credits Scene #1: With the Aether finally out of Malekith’s hands, Asgardian warriors Volstagg and Lady Sif give the weapon to Taneleer Titan, a.k.a. The Collector, for safekeeping. It’s here we learn that the Aether and Tesseract are both Infinity Stones, with Volstagg saying it’s not safe to keep two of those powerful artifacts in the same place. After the Asgardians leave, The Collector quietly says, “One down, five to go,” indicating his interest in collecting all six Infinity Stones.

Post-Credits Scene #2: As a complete 180 from the first Thor movie, The Dark World’s final moments see the the God of Thunder and Jane Foster reuniting on Earth. As they embrace, the Frost Beast from earlier in the movie is seen frolicking around nearby.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Post-Credits Scene #1: HYDRA leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker is shown to have possession of Loki’s scepter from The Avengers. Strucker informs Dr. List that they’ll feed the location of other HYDRA facilities to Captain America and his “colorful friends” to keep them off the scent of their work, and we then see that the only two survivors of these experiments with the scepter are Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, who are respectively seen showing off their telekinesis and super speed.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Some time after rescuing Steve Rogers from the Potomac River, Bucky Barnes, now cut off from his HYDRA handlers, is seen at the Smithsonian visiting his own memorial.

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Collector is sitting in the ruins of his museum, which was destroyed when his slave Carina grabbed the Power Stone and triggered an explosion. Cosmo the Spacedog, who had been one of The Collector’s exhibits, licks his face, and Howard the Duck, another exhibit, proclaims how gross that is while sipping a drink.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

With Loki and Ronan the Accuser having failed to respectively procure the Space and Power Stones for him, Thanos decides to handle searching for the Infinity Stones personally, and he retrieves the Infinity Gauntlet from his vault.

Ant-Man

Post-Credits Scene #1: Hank Pym reveals to his daughter, Hope, an advanced prototype Wasp suit that he and his wife Janet had been working on before she disappeared. At a certain point, Hank realized that he and Janet had been working on the suit for Hope, and she’s more than willing to don it, declaring, “It’s about damn time!”

Post-Credits Scene #2: Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson are shown to have Bucky Barnes in their custody, but because of “the accords,” they can’t contact Tony Stark for help. Steve thinks they’re on their own, but Sam mentions that he knows a guy who could help, referring to Ant-Man, whom he came to blows with during the main story. An expanded version of this scene is later shown in Captain America: Civil War.

Captain America: Civil War

Post-Credits Scene #1: Bucky Barnes is cryogenically frozen by Wakandan scientists so they can safely erase the HYDRA programming in his mind. Steve Rogers warns King T’Challa that if the U.S. government learns where Bucky is, they’ll come for him, prompting T’Challa to confidently respond, “Let them try.” We then see that they are actually in Wakanda, the most technologically advanced nation on Earth.

Post-Credits Scene #2: While giving an excuse to his Aunt May about why he’s beaten up, Peter Parker discovers that the web-shooter Tony Stark gave him is emitting a red light. After May gives him an ice pack and leaves the room, Peter points the red light to the ceiling, and it’s revealed to be a Spider-symbol with a variety of icons, indicating the web-shooter comes with some special features.

Doctor Strange

Post-Credits Scene #1: Doctor Strange is meeting with Thor at the Sanctum Sanctorum. The God of Thunder and his brother, Loki, have come to Earth in search of Odin, but Strange is not happy about Loki hanging around, given what a threat he is. So, after Thor agrees that he and Loki will leave Earth once they find Odin, the Master of the Mystic Arts agrees find the All-Father. An expanded version of this scene is later shown in Thor: Ragnarok.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Karl Mordo corners Jonathan Pangborn, the man who directed Stephen Strange to find Kamar-Taj, and takes away the magical energy he uses to walk. With Pangborn rendered a paraplegic once more, Mordo informs him that there are “too many sorcerers.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Post-Credits Scene #1: Kraglin practices using Yondu’s whistle-controlled arrow, but it doesn’t go well, as he accidentally impales an offscreen Drax with it.

Post-Credits Scene #2: In honor of Yondu’s sacrifice, Stakar Ogord and his cohort Martinex reunite with with old Ravager buddies Charlie-27, Aleta Ogord, Krugarr and Mainframe. This team is based on the original version of the Guardians of the Galaxy from the comics.

Post-Credits Scene #3: High Priestess Ayesha informs one of her underlings that she’s created an artificial being named Adam who will exact revenge on the Guardians for her, and the birthing pod he’s being formed in is shown.

Post-Credits Scene #4: Years after the main events of this movie, Peter Quill expresses his disappointment that Groot, who’s now a teenager, hasn’t cleaned up his room.

Post-Credits Scene #5: The three Watchers walk away from their informant, played by Stan Lee, after growing bored with his stories. Unfortunately for him, they were supposed to be his lift home.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Adrian Toomes is confronted in prison by Mac Gargan, the weapons buyer from the Staten Island Ferry. Now boasting a major scar on his face, Gargan informs Toomes that he and some friends of his on the outside are wanting to exact revenge on Spider-Man and have heard that Toomes knows who the superhero really is, but Toomes denies this.

Thor: Ragnarok

Post-Credits Scene #1: As Loki is questioning Thor about if it’s a good idea for him to come to Earth with the rest of the Asgardians and their allies, their ship is intercepted by a gigantic spacecraft, which Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige identified as the Sanctuary II, Thanos’ vessel.

Post-Credits Scene #2: After being overthrown by his former subjects, Grandmaster confronts the angry crowds gathered around him in the outskirts of his realm on Sakaar. He declares that the revolution is a tie, since if he’s take out of the picture, they’ll have nothing to rebel against.

Black Panther

Post-Credits Scene #1: T’Challa appears in front of the United Nations to announce that Wakanda will be sharing its knowledge and resources with the rest of the world for the first time. When questioned about what a nation of farmers can offer the world, T’Challa simply smirks, indicating he’s about to reveal the existence of his country’s advanced technology.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Bucky Barnes, now unfrozen, is shown in a Wakandan village with Shuri, rehabilitating after having the HYDRA programming erased from his mind.

Avengers: Infinity War

Nick Fury and Maria Hill are shocked by the sudden destruction unfolding around them in a city, and soon they are among the half of the universe that Thanos erased from existence using the Infinity Stones. However, before he turns to dust, Fury manages to send out a signal using a spruced-up pager that displays the Captain Marvel symbol.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Post-Credits Scene #1: Scott Lang is in the Quantum Realm gathering quantum energy that will be used to stabilize Ava Starr’s condition, and Hope van Dyne, Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne are monitoring him from our dimension. Unfortunately, all three are snapped away by Thanos, leaving Scott trapped.

Post-Credits Scene #2: The oversized ant that Scott was using to carry out his house arrest routine in order to fool the FBI continues to play drums while the world goes to hell from the Snap.

Captain Marvel

Post-Credits Scene #1: Post-Snap, some of the surviving Avengers are monitoring Nick Fury’s pager at Avengers Compound and trying to figure out who the signal is being sent to. Suddenly, the pager shuts down, and seconds later, Captain Marvel appears before them asking where Fury is.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Back in 1995, Goose vomits up the Tesseract in Nick Fury’s office.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Post-Credits Scene #1: After swinging through New York City, Peter Parker (suited up as Spider-Man) and MJ watch a news report out in public where TheDailyBugle.net’s J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage where Mysterio not only frames Peter for the Elemental attack on London and his death, but also exposes his secret identity to the world.

Post-Credits Scene #2: As Nick Fury and Maria Hill are driving, we learn that they’ve actually been the Skrulls Talos and Soren from Captain Marvel this entire time. Talos expresses embarrassment at having been embarrassed by Mysterio’s deception, and Soren convinces him to call the real Nick Fury and inform him what happened. Talos attempts to get Nick Fury to come back, but the spy hangs up in the middle of the call, and we see he’s been on “vacation” aboard a spaceship packed with other Skrulls.

Black Widow

Post-Avengers: Endgame, Yelena Belova visits Natasha Romanoff’s grave with her dog. The visit is interrupted by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who’s come to give Yelena a new mission. Her target: Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, whom Valentina says is responsible for Natasha’s death.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Post-Credits Scene #1: Wong brings Shang-Chi and Katy to meet with Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers, both of whom are appearing as holograms. They ponder the origins of Shang-Chi’s rings, and then discover that they’re emitting some kind of beacon, but they don’t know where its message is going. After Carol and Bruce leave the meeting, Wong suggests Shang-Chi and Katy go home to get some rest, but the three of them instead go out for karaoke.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Although Shang-Chi’s sister, Xu Xialing, told him towards the end of the main story that she intended to disband the Ten Rings, we learn she’s instead taken control of the organization and is now training women alongside the men.

Eternals

Post-Credits Scene #1: Out in space, Thena, Makkari and Druig are visited aboard their ship by Eros, a.k.a. Starfox, and his companion Pip the Troll. Eros, who is a fellow Eternal and brother of Thanos, is aware that the trio’s surviving friends have been taken away by the Celestial Arishem, but he and Pip know where to find them.

Post-Credits Scene #2: After witnessing Sersi being taken away, Dane Whitman, whom she’s been dating, opens up a box containing the Ebony Blade. Before he grabs the sword though, a voice offscreen (confirmed in real life to be vampire hunter Blade) questions whether or not Dane is ready to wield it.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Post-Credits Scene #1: Following Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote being transported to the main MCU reality in the Venom: Let There Be Carnage post-credits scene, we see Eddie at a hotel bar in Mexico getting details about the world he’s in from the bartender, including learning about the Blip, Thanos and the Snap. Eddie decides to go to New York to track down Spider-Man, but he and Venom are soon returned to their universe, although a piece of the symbiote is left behind.

Post-Credits Scene #2: The first trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is shown.

Alternate Post-Credits Scene #2: If you watch Spider-Man: No Way Home: The More Fun Stuff Version, you’ll be treated to an additional post-credits that replaces the Doctor Strange 2 trailer. It shows how the effects of Strange’s second spell, i.e. the one that erased people’s knowledge of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, is affecting the lives of his former classmates.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Post-Credits Scene #1: Some time after developing that third eye and apparently getting used to it, Doctor Strange is approached by Clea, who informs him that his actions in this sequel have triggered an incursion into the Dark Dimension, prompting him to follow her back to that realm.

Post-Credits Scene #2: The spell that Strange cast to cause Pizza Poppa on Earth-838 to repeatedly punch himself finally wears off, to the man’s relief.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Post-Credits Scene #1: Dismayed at how the gods aren’t given the respect they once received, Zeus, who’s recovering from his run-in with Thor, decides that killing the Asgardian God of Thunder will make people fear their kind again. He tasks his son Hercules with finding Thor to carry out vengeance.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Jane Foster finds herself in Valhalla, the Asgardian afterlife where warriors who die in battle end up. She’s greeted outside its gates by Heimdall, who thanks her for looking after his son, Axl.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

While in Haiti, Shuri learns that before T’Challa died, her brother and Nakia had a son named Touissant, and they decided to have him raised away from Wakanda to avoid the “pressure of the throne.” That’s also why they didn’t attend T’Challa’s funeral, as it wasn’t time for the boy’s existence to become public. Shuri greets her nephew, who informs her that Toussiant is his Haitian name, but his Wakandan name is T’Challa, too.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Post-Credits Scene #1: Immortus, Rama-Tut and Centurion, three Kang variants from the Council of Kangs, discuss the recent demise of the movie’s main Kang the Conqueror. These Kangs decide because “they,” i.e. the MCU’s main heroes, are starting to “touch” the multiverse, it’s time for them to strike back so that all they’ve built won’t be destroyed. It’s then shown that the fortress where the Council is speaking is filled with thousands of other Kang variants.

Post-Credits Scene #2: The Loki variant and Mobius from the Loki TV series are seen at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair watching a presentation being given by Victor Timely, another Kang variant. Loki is terrified to see the man given his experience with He Who Remains, but Mobius doesn’t understand what the big deal is. An expanded version of this scene is later shown in the Loki Season 2 episode “1893.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Post-Credits Scene #1: Rocket Raccoon and Groot (who’s now fully grown into his King Groot form) are shown on the planet Krylor undertaking a mission to protect townsfolk from stampeding beasts. They are accompanied by Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam Warlock, his pet Blurp and Phyla, with this being the new Guardians of the Galaxy lineup.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Peter Quill enjoys breakfast with his grandpa Jason, agreeing to mow the lawn of a woman Jason knows, though Peter thinks the woman’s son, who’s 45 years old, should help. Jason, who’s reading a newspaper that includes a story about Kevin Bacon being kidnapped (referencing the events of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special) says, “Don’t get me started,” prompting Peter to want to hear more. It’s then teased that “The Legendary Star-Lord will return.”

The Marvels

Monica Rambeau awakens in an infirmary, and next to her is an alternate version of her mother, Maria, who goes by Binary. The X-Man Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, is also in the room, and he informs Monica that she’s been transported to another universe. After Beast leaves, Binary asks who Monica is, prompting her to say, “Oh shit.”

Deadpool And Wolverine

Post-Credits Scene #1: While not a scene per say, a touching tribute for the 20th Century Fox era of Marvel movies plays to the tune of Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)." It's only appropriate, as without this era, we wouldn't have Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and various other memorable portrayals of classic superheroes and super villains.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Deadpool pulls up footage in the TVA headquarters that shows Johnny Storm saying all the bad things about Cassandra Nova that the Merc with the Mouth says he did. Ok, so that part of his story checks out, but The Human Torch being killed is still his fault.

Captain America: Brave New World

Sam Wilson visits Samuel Sterns at The Raft, the same place where now-former President Thaddeus Ross is being incarcerated. Sterns warns Sam that there is an attack forthcoming from other worlds, and that he should prepare for "the others." Meaning, the main MCU reality will soon be colliding with the Marvel multiverse.

As each new Marvel movie comes out, we’ll let you know here if there are any post-credits events to go over. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to expand your horizons beyond the MCU, look over all of the upcoming superhero movies.

The 20th Century Fox era of X-Men movies may officially be over, but aspects of it live on over at Marvel Studios. In addition to the upcoming Marvel movie Deadpool & Wolverine kicking down the doors to that franchise again, Patrick Stewart and Kelsey Grammer have recently appeared as alternate versions of their characters Professor X and Beast in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels, respectively. These were standout moments in the 28th and 33rd of the Marvel movies in order, and X-Men ’97 head director Jake Castorena admitted to CinemaBlend that he felt “shocked” when he saw them in the theater.

Although X-Men ’97 is a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series, and thus not tied to the MCU continuity, I was nonetheless curious to get Castorena’s thoughts on Professor X and Beast showing up in those aforementioned movies when I spoke to him ahead of the show’s premiere to Disney+ subscribers. On the subject of Charles Xavier, here’s what Castorena said when I asked how he and his team reacted when they saw that version of the character was modeled after Professor X’s look from X-Men: The Animated Series:

Between the green suit, floating yellow hoverchair and the X-Men: The Animated Series theme music that briefly played, it’s as if Patrick Stewart was bringing to life the Professor X who mentored the mutant team of superheroes on TV from 1992 to 1997. However, this Professor X hailed from Earth-838, where he served as a member of that world’s Illuminati. Unfortunately, he met a gruesome end at the hands of Earth-616’s Wanda Maximoff, who’d been chasing after her world’s version of Stephen Strange and the universe-traversing America Chavez. Still, you can’t blame Jake Castorena and his coworkers for being “shocked” when they saw this in Multiverse of Madness, and it ultimately pushed them to using the original X-Men theme song, though that didn’t come cheap.

As for Beast, a.k.a. Hank McCoy, he was seen in The Marvels’ end-credits scene explaining to Earth-616’s Monica Rambeau how she’d ended up in a parallel universe; one where a version of her mother, Maria, never had a daughter and is the superhero Binary. Because this Beast looked a lot like the one from X-Men: The Animated Series, I wondered whether Castorena and the X-Men ’97 crew had any say in how he looked or was portrayed. He responded:

Sandbox is certainly an apt description, and one that will continue being used for a while since X-Men ’97 has already been renewed for Season 2, and Season 3 is in development. This show is also the rare Marvel Studios project that doesn’t have any ties to the MCU, but Jake Castorena is cool with he and his coworkers getting to operate in their own little corner. Besides, after that Spider-Man easter egg from the first episode, perhaps this show will end up being a platform for all the other ‘90s-era Marvel shows to be revisited, thus carving out another corner of the Marvel multiverse to explore.

Be sure to also read Jake Castorena’s thoughts on the positive fan reactions to Gambit charging Wolverine’s claws, which was included in the X-Men ’97 trailer. New episodes of X-Men ’97 premiere Wednesdays on Disney+ on the 2024 TV schedule, and peruse our upcoming Marvel TV shows guide to learn what else Marvel Studios is preparing for the small screen.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly expanding, thanks to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know the studio has a penchant for big twists, especially related to its post-credits scenes. Case in point: The Marvels' credits scene, which featured a cameo from Lashana Lynch as Binary. And after surprise appearances in both that movie and Doctor Strange 2, Lynch addressed her future in the MCU.

Lashana Lynch made her shared universe debut in Captain Marvel, before her surprise cameos in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and (of course) The Marvels. The latter seemed to tease big things including the X-Men's long-awaited entrance into the MCU, and fans are wondering if Lynch will appear in upcoming Marvel movies. She recently spoke to ScreenRant about her ongoing role in the franchise, offering:

There you have it. It sounds like even the actress herself is surprised at the way she keeps appearing in the MCU. It might not have taken long for her to film her The Marvels appearance, but it definitely made an impact. And she was just as surprised as fans, given how tight Marvel security is.

The Woman King actress' comments about being relatively clueless echo what other MCU actors have said in the past. For instance, Elizebeth Olsen has maintained that she doesn't know about her Marvel future, and if she'll be back as the Scarlet Witch following the ending of Doctor Strange 2. 

Later in the same interview, Lashana Lynch addressed her possible return to the MCU, offering:

While she's in the dark, it seems like an inevitability that Lynch will pop up again following The Marvels. Not only are the X-Men expected to finally join the MCU, and her character Binary will presumably help to bridge this gap. She's also playing a variant of Monica's mother Maria, so there's an emotional story to be told there. Although it's rumored that The Marvels won't get a sequel, so there's still plenty of questions. 

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine on July 26th. In the meantime, check the 2024 movie release dates.

The initial shock hit us so hard, we didn’t really pay attention to what exactly was being said. At the end of the recent Marvel Studios movie The Marvels, Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) sacrificed herself to close a rift between universes. She left herself on the other side, and when she woke up, she ran into someone she believed to be her mother, Maria (Lashana Lynch)... and The Beast, a core member of the mutant team The X-Men! The excitement at seeing Beast on screen again was a lot. And, it was the Kelsey Grammer version of the mutant, an iteration we hadn’t seen since the 2006 film X-Men: The Last Stand. That was many moons ago, and in a continuity that occurred long before the MCU even existed. Now that we know Grammer is willing to return to the X-Men universe, I have a question about something that he said… and I think it can be answered in the upcoming Marvel Studios movie Deadpool & Wolverine. 

Let’s play out the scene. Monica wakes up in a hospital bed that’s in a lab. She sees her mom sitting by her bedside, only it becomes clear that this is not her mom. This is Binary, a hero in what clearly is another universe. And she’s a colleague (or teammate) of The Beast. We appear to be in the X-Mansion – hence, the X-Door spotted in the background. 

And on his way out of the lab, Beast says to Binary and Monica:

Which begs the question, “Which Charles is he talking about?” Back  when Kelsey Grammer was playing Beast as a member of an X-Men series, he had Sir Patrick Stewart as his Charles Xavier. And yes, Stewart returned to the role in the most recent Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though he was killed off by Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in that movie, and has been dodgy about his future in the part. Then again, Binary was not a member of that team… at least, not when we were watching in 2006. 

The other option for a possible Charles in the universe that now contains Monica Rambeau is James McAvoy, the actor who played a younger Charles Xavier in multiple X-Men movies beginning with X-Men: First Class. Going with the younger McAvoy would allow Marvel Studios to maintain a consistent Xavier in what’s expected to be a live-action reboot of the franchise, capitalizing on the popularity of the team thanks to the return of the animated series X-Men ‘97. 

The line from Beast is very intentional. He didn’t have to mention Charles. As has been proven in the X-Men ‘97 series, Magneto also served as the team leader in the wake of Xavier’s death. Beast also could have mentioned “Scott,” implying that Cyclops had taken over as team leader of the X-Men, something that’s also common in the X-stories. 

Which leads me to conclude that since the character was mentioned, and we’re eventually going to have to find out where Monica was stranded, we’re going to get the answer in Deadpool & Wolverine. Though we don’t have an in-depth synopsis of the movie, the first trailer for the upcoming sequel made it clear that Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) was being recruited by the TVA for a mission. And there have been rumors about Deadpool encountering variants of all sorts of major characters in the movie, from the original Sabertooth (Tyler Mane) to a potential cameo by Henry Cavill (or even Daniel Radcliffe) as a Wolverine variant.

Which takes me to the third – and in my opinion, best – option. The “Charles” that Kelsey Grammer’s Beast refers to might be the NEW Charles Xavier that Marvel Studios plans to introduce to audience members. Given the fact that the MCU likely plans to introduce a new X-Men team and lean on these characters for the next 10 years at least, then relying on former Xavier actors isn’t wise. The name drop might be the seed that is planted for Marvel Studios to roll out the next iteration of Charles Xavier. Even though I do believe that legacy versions of these beloved characters will be a part of Avengers: Secret Wars… if and when that movie finally happens. 

We’ll know this answer soon enough, as Deadpool & Wolverine is arriving in theaters in July, and if we don’t get it then, I’m not sure the next time that we’ll be able to catch up with Monica, as the pending slate for the MCU involves street level stories (Daredevil: Born Again) or cosmic origin stories (The Fantastic Four) set in the 1960s. Things are getting interesting in the MCU. Let’s find out which Charles the new/old Beast was referencing!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a well-oiled machine over the years, consistently releasing movies in theaters and additional content for those with a Disney+ subscription. But despite this, there have been a few notable box office bombs lately, raising concerns about superhero fatigue. And that financial situation seemingly had an effect on upcoming Marvel movies, as a new MCU rumor claims that three different franchises aren't getting new sequels. This comes shortly after Bob Iger referenced killing unnamed projects. 

The beloved shared universe had had trouble finding record-breaking success since the release of Avengers: Endgame, and there are a few prime examples of box office failure. Ant-Man: and The Wasp: Quantumania, Eternals, and The Marvels bombed at the box office. And according to a new report by scooper Daniel Richtman (via our sister site Tech Radar), those three titles will no longer be getting sequels.

This is still a rumor at this point, but the report definitely is going to turn heads among MCU fans. Richtman claims Eternals 2 is on indefinite hold, after it failed to perform critically and financially, despite Eternals' cast including celebs like Barry Keoghan and Angelina Jolie. And a sequel reportedly won't be part of the plans for Phases Five and Six.

The same report also indicated that Marvel isn't moving forward with plans for either Ant-Man 4 or Captain Marvel 3. This doesn't mean that Paul Rudd and Brie Larson won't appear in future projects like Avengers movies, but they're seemingly not getting any additional solo flicks anymore. Instead, the studio reportedly wants to focus on project that are less risky, and will definitely make money at the box office.

Ant-Man 3's box office failure definitely gave the fans reason to pause, and seemingly confirmed a negative trend for the shared universe as a whole. Because while Eternals introduced a new team of characters, the audience already loved Paul Rudd's Scott Lang. And when The Marvels became the MCU's worst performing movie ever, the public expected some response from the studio. 

These rumors come after Bob Iger referenced killing upcoming projects during an investor conference Q&A. That quote read:

This seemingly gives extra weight to the previously mentioned rumors about the studio killing sequels for Ant-Man, Captain Marvel, and Eternals. This report is sure to inspire a strong reaction from Marvel fans, who might want to see those stories continued. Indeed, there's been chatter for years about how Eternals ending left a frozen Celestial sticking out of the planet. 

Since this is still a rumor, we should probably wait until official word from Marvel and/or Disney comes to the public. But it definitely would make financial sense of the studio made these tough calls after so many box office disappointments.

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Deadpool 3 on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates.

In Brie Larson's latest projects, we've seen her playing Captain Marvel in The Avengers movies and The Marvels while wearing a spandex uniform, and she's sported some trendy 1960s looks while portraying chemist Elizabeth Zott in the Apple TV+ adaptation of Lessons in Chemistry. However, when the cameras are off, Larson gives off some major femme fatale vibes through her style, and she proved this by wearing a lacy green slip dress we can’t take our eyes off of. 

We’ve seen Brie Larson rock the lace attire before. For example, she wore a sheer blue summer-time lace set last year and a sheer lace mini-dress at Beyoncé’s concert. However, this lacy green slip dress the Oscar winner threw back to in a recent Instagram post is a whole different story. In fact, it's giving me femme fatale vibes similar to an Alfred Hitchcock or Brian De Palma movie. Using the look as an appreciation post for her glam team, Larson took to IG to show off the stunning ensemble:

Along with the femme fatale energy, looking at this stunning green dress reminds me of the “mermaid” look worn by the character Lucy in one of the best rom-coms of all time, 13 Going on 30. We can see a black lace V-neck on top and down to Brie Larson’s hips with holiday emerald green wrapped around the middle. While we’ve never seen the MCU actress play a femme fatale before, seeing her wear a dress to kill shows she’d have the knack for a character like that.

Put together by stylist Samantha McMillen, the Room actress wore this holiday dress last year to narrate the invitation-only Disneyland Candlelight Ceremony. According to DailyMail, the last Christmas season kicked off with Brie Larson telling the story of the first Christmas as a candlelight choir paraded around Main Street U.S.A. With a live orchestra, fanfare trumpeters, and handbell players, this looked like the perfect way for Disneyland residents to celebrate the holidays.

While lace is a favorite trend of Brie Larson's, she’s proven that she can rock other looks that have a repeated pattern. For example, the Unicorn Store actress and director sure doesn’t keep her abs a secret. She looked super-ripped ahead of The Marvels showing off her washboard abs while rocking a sweet top and flair jeans. Not to mention, there was also the ab-baring dress she wore at the SAG Awards that was a nod to Claudia Schiffer's ‘90s Vogue look. All Larson has to do is rock a fashion trend and all heads turn.

Seeing Brie Larson look genuinely happy wearing her lacy green slip dress shows how much we need her to play a femme fatale. She looked incredibly fierce and seductive wearing the holiday ensemble that cannot go unnoticed. 

While we don't know if she'll take on a role like that, make sure to take a look at our 2024 movie releases so you don’t miss out on Larson’s latest film projects. 

SPOILERS are ahead for The Marvels, which is now streaming with a Disney+ subscription. 

During The Marvels’ end credit scene, the MCU did what it does best, and it dropped an awesome tease for what’s to come by bringing back a beloved actor as his X-Men character. That's right, Kelsey Grammer turned up as Beast to treat the wounds of Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau when she accidentally fell into a parallel reality after saving everyone else. However, it turns out that even Parris didn’t know the big cameo was happening until it was on the big screen!

When asked about her interaction with Beast during The Marvels, Teyonah Parris shared the super next-level way Marvel kept the secret from her. In her words: 

While speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Parris revealed that when she filmed the special X-Men reveal, the actor she was playing against was an unassuming actor in a lab coat who definitely did not have bright blue skin and sideburns. Either Marvel Studios doesn’t trust Teyonah Parris and the crew of The Marvels, or well… they really wanted to keep this a secret. 

Over the years, there have been a lot of leaks in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so we get it, they wanted to keep the Beast reveal close to the vest! Teyonah Parris was completely fooled, and obviously, she didn’t get to work with Kelsey Grammer for the end credits scene. Hopefully, they’ll continue the storyline past the credits and Parris will get to be part of the introduction of the X-Men to the MCU!! 

Kelsey Grammer came back for The Marvels, after starring as Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and briefly in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Nicholas Hoult also memorably replaced him for the prequels in the same role. Following the recent cameo, Grammar has shared that he believes with a “certain amount of confidence” that he will return as Beast in another MCU movie. 

We don’t know what that will be right now, there is an X-Men movie reportedly quietly moving forward, and tons of upcoming Marvel movies on the way. What perhaps makes the most sense for Beast in the near future would be Deadpool 3, since another cameo could reunite Grammer with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Following quite a few end credits scenes lately in the MCU without any payoff, here’s hoping this one does lead to something exciting! 

The most recent Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, The Marvels, made its debut on Disney+ earlier this month. Along with that came the newest episode of Assembled, the Disney+ documentary series that takes a look behind the scenes of the various MCU projects. Not to be outdone, Brie Larson herself shared some behind-the-scenes images from the production, which include a look at Captain Marvel flying, and a slightly modified costume for Kamala Khan.

Brie Larson posted on Instagram this week to remind any fans who missed the memo that they can now watch The Marvels on Disney+. While no viewing numbers have been released so far, it will be interesting to see how the movie does streaming, considering The Marvels did not set the box office on fire when it was released last year. Perhaps Brie Larson dropped some fun images from the set as a bit of a way to nudge viewers. Check them out. 

While the pictures of Brie Larson wearing a face shield and her Captain Marvel costume certainly bring back a certain type of memory, the second image of Iman Vellani is more interesting. It shows her on the movie’s blue screen set wearing a helmet and gloves which match her superhero costume. But we never actually see Kamala Khan wear in the movie proper. 

While the Blu-ray and Digital releases of The Marvels include some deleted scenes, none of them include Kamala Khan in this particular outfit, so it’s unclear where or when it would have come in. Ms. Marvel is wearing the costume she’s given in the middle of the movie, so this setup would have been something in the latter half of the movie that was apparently cut.

We can easily guess that this would have been a scene where Ms. Marvel was in space, but there’s no scene in the back half of the movie where she must travel in space. The finale of the movie takes place on a spaceship, with an open bay into the vastness of space, and we know The Marvels had an alternate ending, so perhaps in that other ending Ms. Marvel was fighting out in space on her own, and needed the helmet to protect herself.

Since the helmet matches the costume, it seems it was part of the new costume she got, so Ms. Marvel does have a helmet as part of that suit. Perhaps we’ll see it in an upcoming Marvel movie like the Young Avengers film teased in The Marvels' ending.

While it used to feel like every superhero movie was banger after banger years ago, Marvel has been hit with a few more commercial failures as of late that has audiences wondering how bright the future of comic book film adaptations really are. After Madame Web opened No. 2 at the box office this past weekend to all-time low numbers for Sony’s Spider-Verse, as well as the internet lambasting the movie, a lot more people are getting on The Marvels's side.

When The Marvels hit theaters this past November, the MCU film wasn’t exactly a box office hit, but now that Madame Web is in theaters, fans are starting to beg forgiveness for ever bad-mouthing the feature that teamed up Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan. As one Twitter user wrote: 

In CinemaBlend’s The Marvels review, the movie received a four out of five stars, which is much better than our two-star Madame Web review. The MCU movie received generally favorable responses from critics and audiences, scoring a 62% Tomatometer and 82% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. Superhero fans are feeling bad for being so harsh on the fall release, especially after the Dakota Johnson-led movie has a 13% Tomatometer score and 56% Audience Score in contrast. Here’s another reaction: 

The Marvels recently landed on streaming (for those with a Disney+ subscription) earlier this month, leading tons of people to discover it for the first time and realize how awesome it actually is. When it comes to choosing what to watch with one’s time, one Twitter user recommended they purely just skip Madame Web and enjoy an “actually fun female-led superhero found family romp with heart” with The Marvels. Check it: 

Hey, sometimes one doesn’t know to appreciate something until they’ve seen something much worse! Now The Marvels is getting a whole lot more supporters, such as this tweet: 

While The Marvels didn’t get this praise off the bat, perhaps it's better late than never for the Captain Marvel sequel. Check out this internet response as well: 

Unfortunately, it’s not just The Marvels and Madame Web that are bringing down the reputation of superhero movies. Quite a few comic book films came out last year that either didn’t perform well at the box office or received underwhelming responses from audiences, such as Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Blue Beetle. There were some big wins though too, like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Coming up, there are two more Sony Spider-Verse movies coming out this year, with Kraven the Hunter and Venom 3. Additionally, Deadpool & Wolverine is the sole MCU movie coming out. We’ll have to see how they stack up to these other recent releases! 

The MCU has been releasing content non-stop lately, thanks to theatrical movies and live-action shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. Nia DaCosta's The Marvels struggled at the box office, but it's been getting more love now that it's available to stream. The Marvels' ending set up some big things for the future, but it turns out there was a wild alternate ending that saw one of the heroes perish. Namely, Captain Marvel herself.

The cast of The Marvels included a trio of heroes, as well as Zawe Ashton's villainous Dar-Benn. The movie's credits scene made headlines thanks to cameos by Kelsey Grammer and Lashana Lynch, but the The Marvels could have ended on a much darker note. Ashton spoke to ComicBook about an alternate take on the final battle that was shot but scrapped, saying:

Well, my mind is blown. Since The Marvels is a direct sequel to Captain Marvel, it definitely would have been wild if Brie Larson's Carol Danvers seemingly died during its final battle. And the fact that it was shot with she and Zawe Ashton makes it seems like we might have barely dodged a bullet. 

These comments offer a peek behind the curtain on what it's like to work on a blockbuster set within the MCU. And that includes alternate endings and other deleted scenes that could change the narrative. In the end, Carol Danvers didn't get blown up when facing off against Dar-Benn. 

While Captain Marvel was safe at the end of The Marvels, Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau ended up in an alternate universe with the X-Men. This, along with Kamala Khan forming the Young Avengers, could have huge implications for upcoming Marvel movies.

In her same interview, Zawe Ashton revealed that her fate as Dar-Benn was sealed from the jump. As she put it:

In the end, Dar-Benn joined the list of Marvel villains who were killed off following their first appearance in the shared universe. Although with the multiverse in play, it feels like no one is ever really gone. Just look at how many surprise cameos happened throughout What If...?'s first two seasons. 

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Deadpool 3 on July 26th. While we wait, check the 2024 movie release dates. 

Many would argue that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen its share of lows amid the ongoing Multiverse Saga. Those difficulties have translated into some lukewarm receipts at the box office, and 2023’s The Marvels, which hit #1, was no exception. The Captain Marvel sequel made much less than projected and is currently the lowest grossing MCU film. However, the superhero flick still received fans' support amid its theatrical run. And, now that it’s available to Disney+ subscribers, those who didn’t catch it in theaters are discovering just how awesome it is. Quite frankly, I’m so here for the takes they’re sharing.

The latest big-screen installment in the expansive franchise hit the streaming service on February 7 and, as expected, people are checking it out. I was personally interested in seeing how those who didn’t see it in cinemas would feel about the film. Many are sharing their thoughts on X – and while not everyone seems to be so high on it, a number of first-time viewers are ecstatic about it. Check out what one user had to say: 

What the fan might be referring to is the fact that the Nia DaCosta-directed film was initially review-bombed on Rotten Tomatoes amid its theatrical run. Elsewhere, some across social media claimed that the film was poor in quality. Someone else who has since watched the movie acknowledged that it’s “not for everyone” but personally “loved” it:

Interestingly enough, The Marvels’ critical reception was mostly positive upon its release. Much of that praise went towards the performance of lead actresses Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani. CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg also praised it as an effervescent cosmic adventure. As someone who saw it in a theater and enjoyed it, I can also say that it made for quite an IMAX-viewing experience. While I wish many would’ve realized it sooner, I’m glad that people like the user below are now appreciating the movie:

Aside from possessing some creative action sequences and heartwarming moments, the film is also filled with some true comic book goodness. That’s especially the case when it comes to The Marvels’ mid-credits scene. It’s a cool moment that features a major MCU tease, and the fan below seems to have been hyped over it:

There are varying opinions regarding why the movie ultimately wasn’t able to catch on while it was still playing in theaters. Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger believes a lack of creative “supervision” is what doomed it. However, some would argue that the impact of streaming and other factors dissuading audiences from heading to their local movie houses is the cause.

It’s very unfortunate that the movie received backlash in some spaces upon its debut, given the work that Nia DaCosta and her team put in. Yet it still warms my heart that many are giving the flick its flowers (even if they’re a bit late). Whether a third film in this series will be scheduled alongside other upcoming Marvel movies remains to be seen. But I would hope that Disney and Marvel Studios examine the streaming views when evaluating that prospect. 

If you haven’t already, check out The Marvels for yourself on Disney, where you can stream the Marvel movies in order. 

A new week means a new week of streaming material arriving on your TV. While you might have that weekly show that arrives on a schedule like the way we all used to do it, odds are stronger that your next favorite series or movie is going to arrive in a flash without you even realizing it. So how do you figure out what to watch and when to watch it? Well, we try to cut through the mass of content to find the titles worth watching, or at least worth trying. 

Maybe it's because February is a short month, but it seems like the streaming platforms are trying to cram a lot of great content in early. From intriguing true crime documentaries for Paramount+ subscribers to the newest big-screen entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+ to one of the first big Sundance Film Festival hits arriving for Hulu subscribers, there’s a lot of great stuff to watch this week.

What's Coming To Netflix

Dee & Friends In Oz - Feburary 2

With the absolutely massive quantity of content available on many streamers, it can be difficult to decide just what you want to let your younger kids watch. Netflix is bringing a new player to the table in a new series for the toddler set called Dee & Friends in Oz. The show reimagines the classic Wizard of Oz characters as very young children, and D, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion go on numerous adventures in Oz that are sure to be designed to teach kids important lessons.  

The Blacklist Season 10 - February 11

The Blacklist has been a popular show on NBC and, while the 10th and final season completed its run on NBC some time ago, there are certainly a lot of cord-cutters who have yet to see it. The series -- which follows James Spader as Raymond Reddington, a master criminal who decides to go to work with the FBI to capture the worst of his former associates -- will see its final season arrive for Netflix subscribers on February 11. This will make the entire series available on the platform for anybody who wants to check it out for the first time or to start over from the beginning.  

What's Coming To Disney+

The Marvels - February 7

Disney+ is the home of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and now, with the most recent cinematic outing, The Marvels, arriving on the service, the only MCU project not available to view is Sony’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, which we expect will be available at some point. The Marvels struggled at the box office, and many suggested that fans were waiting for streaming. If that’s the case a lot of Disney+ subscribers will be very happy The Marvels is coming. 

Assembled: The Making Of The Marvels - February 7

Whether you saw The Marvels in theaters or are waiting for streaming, once you’ve seen it, then you may want to get a peek behind the scenes. Marvel’s Assembled series of MCU documentaries releases its episode about the Captain Marvel sequel the same day the movie arrives on Disney+.  

What's Coming To Hulu

Suncoast - February 9

Suncoast debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it received strong word of mouth in regard to its lead performances. Nico Parker stars as a teenager trying to navigate her already-complicated life while also dealing with a brother being placed in a facility due to severe disability. There she meets a man, played by Woody Harrelson, and the pair start an unlikely friendship. 

10 Things I Hate About You/Romeo + Juliet

February 8 will be an interesting day on Hulu, as two modern classics that have little in common but are still related will hit the streamer at the same time. If you're interested in putting together a double feature of modern Shakespeare adaptations, then you're in luck. 10 Things I Hate About You (the excellent movie that reimagines The Taming of the Shrew as a teen rom-com) as well as Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, which sets the tragic love story in the modern day but retains the original text, will be available.

What's Coming To Paramount+

#Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders - February 6

The deaths of four college students in Idaho in 2022 captured national attention, as did the fact that, for a long time, police didn’t seem to have any leads in the brutal case. This led to one of the first major cases in which amateur detectives used Google searches and social media to solve a crime. While the “cybersleuths” didn’t end up solving the case themselves, it will certainly be interesting to see their point of view in the situation. Ultimately, #Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders is another true crime documentary, but there’s a reason so many of them exist. People love them, and this is sure to draw eyes as well. 

Halo Season 2 - February 8

For years, fans of the Halo video game franchise sat and waited, as numerous attempts to turn the sci-fi shooter into a movie were attempted and failed. The IP finally came to life with Season 1 of the TV series on Paramount+ and now, almost two years later, Season 2 is finally here. The show has used the game as inspiration but has largely told its own story, so it’s anybody’s guess as to where Season 2 will take the fight.  

What's Coming To Peacock

Couple to Throuple - February 8

At some point, we will hit “peak reality show” and no subject will have been left off the table but, until then, the reality TV arms race to push the envelope continues. Peacock will try its hand with Couple to Throuple, which sees four couples test their relationships by adding a third. Polyamory isn’t for everybody, so we can expect lots of relationship drama. It’s probably not a show for everybody either, but it’s probably the perfect series for a number of viewers.

As per usual, this list only scratches the surface of what’s coming to streaming this week. Be sure to check out everything new on Netflix and everything coming to Disney+ for a complete schedule of upcoming shows and movies arriving on said platforms.

The Marvels may not have been a massive box office hit, but it gave Marvel Cinematic Universe fans a huge tease for the future of the franchise. The Marvels mid-credits scene brought back the X-Men, including Kelsey Grammar’s Beast, and introduced us to Binary, as played by Lashana Lynch. While the scene certainly sets up something for the future, don’t ask Lynch because she has no idea. 

Lashana Lynch made a surprising return in The Marvels as the actress, who played Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel and an alternate universe Captain Marvel in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is also a version of the X-Men’s Binary in the parallel universe that Monica Rambeau found herself in at the end of the film. One assumes this will lead to something during the ongoing MCU Multiverse Saga, but Lynch recently told ComicBook she has no idea what’s next, as she only gets her information one movie at a time. Lynch said…

While it may be a bit surprising that an actor who is currently set up as one of the key players in this storyline doesn’t have a clue what’s up, it fits what we know about the Marvel Cinematic Universe pretty well. Actors are very much “need to know” and they’re often only given the information specific to them, often without even knowing what’s going on in the rest of the movie that they’re in.

Just because Lashana Lynch doesn’t know what’s next for her doesn’t mean Marvel Studios doesn’t, but it also doesn’t mean it does. While Marvel gets a lot of credit for the cinematic universe it has crafted, a lot less is actually planned out well in advance than most people would probably guess. There is likely some idea for what will happen next to Monica Rambeau or the universe she’s in, but it may only be in general terms as sometimes these credit scenes don’t get paid off for years.

Of course, in this case, we may see something happen much sooner. The next upcoming Marvel movie, the only one on the 2024 release schedule, is Deadpool 3, which will also include elements of the Fox X-Men universe, most notably Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine. Perhaps we will see Lashana Lynch there. Kelsey Krammar has teased a return as Beast, though certainly we can't say for sure if or when. Lynch certainly implies she hasn’t filmed anything more since The Marvels, but she wouldn’t tell us if she had. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always been home to incredible superhero action, but the franchise is based on something called the "comic" book, after all, so it wouldn't be fair to the medium if the movies weren't also quite funny. Luckily, humor has never been lacking in the MCU.

From Tony Stark's endless quips to Loki's sarcasm to Thor's obliviousness, there have been some absolutely hilarious lines delivered throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Choosing the funniest Marvel lines is a bit like trying to pick the best Marvel movie, but as in all things, we try.

"Tony Stark Was Able To Build This In A Cave, With A Box Of Scraps!"-  Iron Man 

Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is always good for a one-liner but what may be the best line in the original Iron Man comes from Jeff Bridges' Obadiah Stane, when he gets angry that his scientists can't recreate Tony's miniaturized Arc Reactor. When they tell them what he wants can't be done, he screams at them that Tony did it, and under less than optimal conditions.

"Don't Make Me Hungry. You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Hungry" -  The Incredible Hulk 

The Incredible Hulk isn't exactly the funniest of the MCU movies, but it has its moments. One of them is both a great line and a fun reference to the original Incredible Hulk TV series. When confronting some thugs making his workplace dangerous Bruce Banner attempts the classic "Don't make me angry..." line, but his Portuguese isn't that great and he gets a word wrong.

"Sir, I'm Gonna Have To Ask You To Exit The Donut." - Iron Man 2

In Iron Man 2 Tony Stark, fearing his own death goes a bit of a bender, which ends with him eating a box of donuts while sitting inside the famous giant donut of Randy's Donuts in southern California. When Nick Fury arrives on the scene, he (mostly) politely, asks him to please come down from there.

"Know This Son Of Coul." - Thor

Many Scandinavian languages still have very traditional naming practices, so it makes sense that Thor, a Norse god, would understand that a man named Agent Phil Coulson, must, obviously, be the son of a man named Coul.

"You Don't Have One Of Those, Do You?" - Captain America: The First Avenger 

Captain America was the first successful attempt to use the super soldier serum, but he wasn't the first one to undergo the procedure. When Steve Rodgers (Chris Evans) and Bucky Barnes first discover what the serum did to Red Skull, Bucky has to ask his friend if also has a bright red monster face under his skin.

"That Man Is Playing Galaga! Thought We Wouldn't Notice, But We Did." - The Avengers

Tony Stark has some great moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but one of the best is when he holds court over the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, and calls out a member of the staff for apparently playing video games on his computer while all of New York is being attacked by aliens.

"You're In A Relationship With Me. Everything Will Never Be Okay." - Iron Man 3

Tony Stark may have been the MCU's first hero, but he was a guy who brought a lot of baggage with him wherever he went. Speaking with his girlfriend Pepper Potts, Tony made it clear that there was never going to be anything like normal when it came to him.

"This Is So Unlike You, Brother. So Clandestine. Are You Sure You Wouldn't Rather Just Punch Your Way Out?" - Thor: The Dark World

Loki and Thor may have grown up as brothers, but they had very different ways of handling any given situation. They were very good at giving each other a hard time, however, as Loki did when Thor was being uncharacteristic in his approach.

"Don't Look At Me. I Do What He Does, Just Slower." -  Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

The opening of Captain America: The Winter Soldier introduced us to Sam Wilson, who Steve Rogers literally ran circles around. Later, when Nick Fury is looking for support, Falcon assures Fury that he and Captain America are on the same page, even if their speed varies.

"Nothing Goes Over My Head. My Reflexes Are Too Fast. I Would Catch It." -  Guardians of the Galaxy  

Drax of the Guardians of the Galaxy is from a race that takes all speech perfectly literally. This leads to a number of great exchanges, but the best being a discussion of exactly this element of Drax, who responds to the idea that a statement might go over his head.

"The City Is Flying. We're Fighting An Army Of Robots. And I have A Bow And Arrow. None Of This Makes Sense." - Avengers: Age of Ultron

Hawkeye is the butt of more than a few jokes in the MCU, being the member of the Avengers with the most unique choice of weapons. In Avengers: Age of Ultron Hawkeye is, at the very least, aware that he is very much in over his head.

"Baskin-Robbins Always Finds Out!" - Ant-Man

When Scott Lang looks for work after leaving prison, he doesn't tell his new bosses he's an ex-con. Unfortunately, as the manager says, and as his friend Luis later confirms, "Baskin Robbins always finds out."

"Anybody On Our Side Hiding Any Shocking And Fantastic Abilities They'd Like To Disclose? I'm Open To Suggestions." - Captain America: Civil War

When all our favorite heroes fight each other in Captain America: Civil War each side tries to find different ways to get the upper hand by enlisting heroes the other side won't be ready for. Ant-Man is a largely unknown factor, and the fact he can also reverse his abilities and grow massive, is a big win for team Cap, leading Tony to ask if his team can do anything to match it.

"Just Wong? Like Adele? Or Aristotle? Drake, Bono, Eminem…" - Doctor Strange

The relationship between Doctor Strange and Wong has certainly come a long way since the two were first introduced. When Strange first met Wong he found it interesting the man only had the one name. Was it a first name or a last name? It didn't seem to matter. 

“I’m Mary Poppins, Y’all!” - Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has a number of great lines that will make you laugh, but none are quite as good as Yondu's tough guy reaction to be compared to Mary Poppins, which was a last-minute addition to the script. He probably wouldn't be that thrilled if he knew who she really was, but to be fair, Mary Poppins is cool.

"So…You Got Detention." -  Spider-Man: Homecoming 

One of the funniest bits of the first MCU Spider-Man movie was the ways that Captain America had been incorporated into many parts of high school. There seemed to be a Cap-hosted educational video for everything, including detention.

"He's A Friend From Work!" -  Thor: Ragnarok  

Thor: Ragnarok may have had the Asgardian's name in the title, but it was as much a Hulk movie as it was a Thor movie, and the big green guy had an amazing entrance into the Grandmaster's battle area that was only made by better by Thor calling him "A friend from work," which I guess is accurate, but a weird way to refer to the Avengers.

"You Cannot Talk One More Word, And I Will Feed You To My Children! I'm Kidding. We're Vegetarians." - Black Panther

M'Baku follows in a long line of secondary characters who steal every scene of the Marvel movie they are in. We don't really get to know him or his people until the end of the movie, so when he threatens to eat somebody, you tend to believe him, until he drops the punchline.

"Dude, You're Embarrassing Me In Front Of The Wizards." - Avengers: Infinity War

Is there anything worse than meeting wizards for the first time and then having your friend not look impressive in front of them? I didn't think so.

"You Want A Juice Box And Some String Cheese?" - Ant-Man and the Wasp 

In Ant-Man and the Wasp Scott Lang gets stuck with a malfunctioning suit, making it difficult for him to control his size. He grows and shrinks to random sizes at random times. This leads to a fantastic moment where Michael Douglas' Hank Pym asks a diminutive Scott, about the size of a grade-schooler, if he'd like a snack.

"If Toast Is Cut Diagonally, I Can't Eat It." - Captain Marvel

Nick Fury is one of the toughest people in the entire MCU, which makes the admission in Captain Marvel that he won't eat toast if it's cut diagonally incredibly bizarre. I guess we all have our quirks. 

"Honestly, Until This Exact Second I Thought You Were A Build-A Bear" - Avengers: Endgame

While Avengers: Infinity War is when most of the MCU's heroes meet, there are some that don't actually cross paths until Avengers: Endgame. You might not even realize that Iron Man and Rocket have never met until Tony reacts to the first thing the Guardian of the Galaxy says to him. 

 "I Thought That You Could Sense That With Your Peter-Tingle." - Spider-Man: Far From Home 

The first MCU Spider-Man movie doesn't even deal with the traditional power of Spidey Sense, so they never give it a name. By the sequel we learn that he does have the ability, but has never given it an official designation, leaving his Aunt May to come up with her own ideas.

 “This Will Be A Cool Way To Die.” - Black Widow 

Yelena from Black Widow has a very different way of looking at things than most people. When most of us see a massive avalanche that's about to bury us in snow, we run away, Yelena immediately realizes how cool it will be to die this way, because she's probably going to die this way.

"That's When I Knew. If They Can Teach Those Monkeys To Act That Brilliantly, Just Imagine What I Could Bring To The World." - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 

Trevor Slattery first appeared in Iron Man 3 as the fake Mandarin. He returns in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and immediately becomes one of the best parts of it. Almost everything he says is funny, mostly because he's an idiot. Including this gem which makes it clear he doesn't even know how movies work.

" Fall Collection, IKEA. Ass." - Eternals 

Eternals may be the least quipy of the MCU, but that doesn't mean it's entirely without funny lines. When the team tracks down Phastos, who is living happily among humans, Ikaris can't believe it and assumes he's built a safe house for himself. He accidentally destroys a table, which it turns out wasn't made of vibranium after all. 

"The Avengers?!? That’s Great!… What Is That?!" - Spider-Man: No Way Home 

Spider-Man: No Way Home brings together three different actors who all played Spider-Man in three different franchises. While they all have a lot in common, only one of them has the Avengers. During the Spider-Man: No Way Home ending, one of the Peter Parkers thinks that being an Avengers sounds cool, even if he's not really sure what that means.

"Yeah, But Given The Choice Between The Archer With The Mohawk And Several Bug-Themed Crime Fighters, Or One Of The Most Powerful Magic Wielders On The Planet, It's An Easy Call." - Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness 

When Doctor Strange needs magical help in Multiverse of Madness, he goes to Wanda Maximoff. While she suggests he could have looked for assistance elsewhere, he points out that most of the rest of the available heroes don't have the particular skill set he's looking for.

"I Love Being King And I Love My People, But It's All Meetings And Ravenmail And Meetings That Could Have Been Ravenmail" - Thor: Love And Thunder  

At the end of Avengers: Endgame Thor hands the throne of New Asgard to Valkyrie. Overall, she seems to have adapted to the job quite well by the time of Thor: Love and Thunder, but she has the same problems with her day job that so many of us have.

"A Colonizer In Chains. Now I Have Seen Everything." - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 

In the first Black Panther, Shuri refers to Everett Ross as "Colonizer" and the nickname apparently sticks. In the sequel he's been upgraded to her "favorite colonizer," but during the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending, Okoye has a laugh at his expense when Ross has been arrested and she sees the handcuffs.

“Dad. A Guy Dressed Like A Bee Tried To Kill Me In My Room When I Was Six. I’ve Never Had A Normal Life..” - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 

Cassie Lang has had an interesting life throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She's all grown up by the time of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but she clearly remembers where it all started for her. It's honestly surprising she's as well-adjusted as she is.

“Kill One Guy Who No One Loves.” - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 

Drax is very willing to do violence to get his way. This even though Peter Quill tries to talk him down. Initially, Drax wants to kill everybody who gets in their way, then he tries to bargain down to killing one person that nobody likes. 

“STOP RUNNING AND LET THE KITTENS EAT YOU. YOU WILL BE FINE.” - The Marvels 

 When Nick Fury's SA.B.E.R. headquarters needs to abandon ship quickly, during The Marvels ending, the fastest way to feed his entire staff to fuzzy little flerkins. Of course, the actual staff has a bit of a problem with this, leading to this hilarious announcement over the PA system. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going for years and it's not stopping anytime soon. There are plenty of upcoming Marvel movies that will continue to provide us with great lines for years to come.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly growing and expanding, thanks to both big screen movies and shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. The most recent movie to hit theaters is Nia DaCosta's The Marvels, which unfortunately struggled at the box office. While we wait for the next upcoming Marvel movies,  deleted scenes from The Marvels are being released, including an additional sequence with Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie. 

The cast of The Marvels featured a trio of heroes, but the movie also had a few surprises including a brief appearance by Thompson. While some fans have wanted Valkyrie and Carol to become a couple, right now it seems like they're just friends. A new post on IGN's Twitter shows that Val could have also gotten some screen time with Ms. Marvel. Check it out below:

How fun is that? While not necessarily key to the plot of The Marvels, it's always fun to see Iman Vellani's endlessly charismatic Kamala Khan interacting with new MCU characters. And of course, Kamala is also a fan of Valkyrie. Who wouldn't be?

The above video offers some of the footage filmed and edited for the most recent MCU blockbuster that ultimately didn't make it into the theatrical cut. The Marvels had a refreshingly short runtime, presumably because it trimmed the fat. Still, it seems like we missed out on some fun content. Hopefully we get more deleted scenes once its streaming and on Blu-ray. 

Despite how The Marvels was connected to so many previous MCU shows and movies, it failed to perform at the box office. There are a number of reasons why folks might not have seen it in theaters, perhaps the biggest being superhero fatigue. There's also seemingly a contingent of the Marvel fandom that is simply not interested in Brie Larson's Captain Marvel. 

Personally, I thought The Marvels was a blast-- even without this addition scene with Valkyrie. The short runtime and quirky comedy helped the movie fly by, and I thought the three heroes had killer chemistry. Plus, The Marvel's credits scene was truly wild and opened the door for the X-Men to finally join the main timeline of the MCU. 

It should be interesting to see how Tessa Thompson's Marvel hero factors into the shared universe moving forward. It's unclear if another Thor movie is happening, which would presumably allow her to have another major role. Maybe The Marvels was hinting that she and Captain Marvel do have a relationship that's more than friends, which could open the door for more appearances by Val (who is also still ruling New Asgard).

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Deadpool 3 on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.