As DC movies hit and Marvel films miss, the DCU is beating MCU at its own game
'The Batman' is surely one of the best films from the DC universe in recent times. Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson's grim and gritty super-noir showed there was hope for a franchise that suffered under the weight of expectations, especially with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) churning out one blockbuster after another. Note that this argument focuses solely on the movies and not the TV shows of the two respective franchises. And with 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' declared as a dud by critics, there's that question to see if DC has fared any better when it comes to producing films.
Here's a quick look at critic ratings according to Rotten Tomatoes of the last four MCU movies: 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' (91%), 'Eternals' (47%), 'Black Widow' (79%), and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (93%). The last few DC movies, 'Wonder Woman 1984' (58%), 'Zack Snyder's Justice League' (71%), 'The Suicide Squad' (90%), and 'The Batman' (85%) are pretty much on the same level as their reboot and rebuild approach finally seems to have been paying off.
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The question though is rather tricky to answer considering both franchises, save for a flick or two, didn't necessarily dish out any great content. However, with the success of 'The Batman', and 'Joker', they seem to have had a clear direction. DC movies have become significantly darker, gritty, and solid in terms of storytelling. Much of the credit goes to Snyder for his 'Man of Steel' that first gave the somber and gloomy vibes with hope as the key storyline. Reeves took it further when he got Pattinson's Bruce Wayne to believe there was hope for him and humanity.
The failure of 'Eternals', the mediocrity of 'Black Widow', and the surprisingly below-par 'Doctor Strange sequel can be attributed to the sheer pressure to stay on top. The MCU has always punched well above its weight, while DC went into rebuild mode in an attempt to figure out what really works for them and how different they can be from their competitor franchise. Marvel, in its bid to usher the new breed of superheroes, seems to have lost the plot a bit.
'Eternals' were the latest heroes foraying into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and they were just like the Avengers — flawed and relatable. What sets the film apart is the classic Zhao touch of making things larger than life, a raw display of emotions, and a grand setting that just mesmerizes throughout the film. In the attempt to make the film and the characters more grandiose, the plot took a backseat, and the villains were nothing more than monsters — a far cry from where Thanos was.
To make the call whether DC has actually improved and that 'The Batman' was not a one-off, all eyes will be on 'Black Adam' and 'The Flash', while the MCU will look to regain lost footing with 'Thor: Love and Thunder'. For now, DC's recent content does edge out Marvel's flicks.
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' releases May 6 in the US.