Brie Larson flying in space with cosmic colors surrounding her in 'The Marvels'
Photo by MarvelStudios

‘The Marvels’ Disney Plus domination hides a disappointing truth Kevin Feige doesn’t want you to know

Well, it was fun to live in a lie for a moment there.

Take a bow, The Marvels! The Brie Larson sequel was routinely riled last November when it earned the dishonor of being the lowest-grossing MCU movie of all time at the box office. Miraculously, however, it managed a full 180-degree turn once it hit streaming.

Recommended Videos

Now that folks could catch it from the comfort of their own homes, Disney Plus users gave the movie a try and, surprise surprise, realized that they thought it was a totally fun slice of superhero cinema and they were sorry for being so dismissive of it when it was in theaters — causing those who were singing its praises all along to face palm like Captain Picard. Not only did The Marvels manage to knock the immortally popular Moana from the Mouse House platform’s top spot, it’s also been confirmed as the most popular movie on streaming period over the week of its release.

This is an impressive shift of fortunes for the Nia Da Costa movie, turning it into the little Marvel film that could and maybe even dispelling the notion that the MCU is done for. Unfortunately, when you put The Marvels‘ streaming success in a larger context, it suddenly seems much less impressive.

The Marvels‘ chart-topping figures pale in comparison to Guardians 3

Images via Marvel Studios

As per data covering Feb. 5-11, The Marvels was the world’s most-watched movie on all of streaming that week, earning 558 minutes watched in its first seven days on Disney Plus. A resounding success, no? Well, yes, in microcosm. However, once you compare it to how the previous Marvel production to hit streaming did, the power of its achievement is suddenly decimated by a full two thirds.

Prior to The Marvels landing in November 2023, the last MCU film to release was May’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It’s no surprise that, when that film eventually debuted on Disney Plus in September, it likewise topped the streaming charts worldwide as well. In its case, though, Guardians 3 had a much grander figure to show for it. The cosmic threequel is known to have accrued a whopping 1.6 billion minutes viewed across its first seven days.

The Marvels may have topped the streaming charts too, but clearly the week of its release was far less competitive overall. For instance, in the runner-up positions for movies streamed the week of Feb. 5 were 2017 thriller American Assassin (515 minutes), animated film Orion and the Dark (389 minutes), and perennial family favorite The Super Mario Bros. Movie (356 million minutes), all available on Netflix.

As for whether its streaming win will really affect its reputation, it’s worth pointing out that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania also topped the charts last year and yet it just doomed the MCU to its first ever Razzie nominations (although it thankfully didn’t win any). The Marvels certainly doesn’t deserve all the hate it received, but sadly we can’t start calling it a redeemed success or claim that the Marvel curse is over just yet.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article ‘Should have done this 4 years ago’: Marvel finally takes drastic measures to save the MCU, but is it too little too late?
Deadpool overlaid on the Battle of Earth from Avengers: Endgame
Read Article If Pedro Pascal’s Fantastic Four won’t be in ‘Avengers 5,’ here’s who we need instead
Alternate Fantastic Four casting
Read Article ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ just took a swing towards bringing Tobey Maguire back to the MCU
Tobey Maguire as Peter 2 in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Read Article Is the Ant-Man skull in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Scott Lang’s or Hank Pym’s?
X-Men cameos near a giant Ant-Man head in Deadpool & Wolverine
Read Article Can Deadpool die?
Deadpool & Wolverine
Related Content
Read Article ‘Should have done this 4 years ago’: Marvel finally takes drastic measures to save the MCU, but is it too little too late?
Deadpool overlaid on the Battle of Earth from Avengers: Endgame
Read Article If Pedro Pascal’s Fantastic Four won’t be in ‘Avengers 5,’ here’s who we need instead
Alternate Fantastic Four casting
Read Article ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ just took a swing towards bringing Tobey Maguire back to the MCU
Tobey Maguire as Peter 2 in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Read Article Is the Ant-Man skull in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Scott Lang’s or Hank Pym’s?
X-Men cameos near a giant Ant-Man head in Deadpool & Wolverine
Read Article Can Deadpool die?
Deadpool & Wolverine
Author
Christian Bone
Christian Bone is a Staff Writer/Editor at We Got This Covered and has been cluttering up the internet with his thoughts on movies and TV for over a decade, ever since graduating with a Creative Writing degree from the University of Winchester. As Marvel Beat Leader, he can usually be found writing about the MCU and yet, if you asked him, he'd probably say his favorite superhero film is 'The Incredibles.'