With a summer saturated in superhero movies, it might be hard for modern audiences to believe that there was once a time when superheroes were only seen in the pages of comic books or low-budget television shows. In truth, film studios have always been hesitant to produce films based on these colorful characters for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being that comic books are traditionally viewed as entertainment designed for children. Considering the nature of the genre, studios knew that these films would also be expensive to produce and have almost no guaranteed return on the investment. It would take an iconic hero to change Hollywood’s ban on superheroes. His name was Superman.
Modern Roots
The original “Superman” was released in 1978 and was an instant critical and commercial success. Despite the success, the demand for other comic book films was minimal. The “Superman” franchise quickly went from dramatic family entertainment to silly and cartoonish, thus turning Hollywood’s worst fear about the genre into a reality: Superhero movies were destined to be for kids. It took another decade, but the genre got another jolt when Tim Burton directed the dark and bizarre “Batman,” which gave audiences a glimpse of what a truly adult superhero film could look like. The early ’90s saw a mini superhero explosion that featured smaller films like “The Rocketeer,” “The Phantom,” and “Steel” getting the silver screen treatment. Most of these smaller films were box office disappointments and Burton’s “Batman” ultimately succumbed to the “Superman” formula – two good films, followed by two films that veered too far into camp. The last of this series, 1997’s “Batman & Robin,” was so universally panned that it ruined not only the franchise, but also the film industry’s infatuation with superheroes as a whole.
Marvel Takes Over
After the disastrous “Batman & Robin,” the production of comic book-based movies stalled considerably. Marvel’s R-rated “Blade” did well at the box office and even spawned two sequels, but it took three full years for Marvel to officially take over the genre with 2000’s “X-Men.” The film was not only successful, but also reintroduced audiences to the “serious superhero film.” It also reinvigorated studios that had been made gun-shy by the genre’s mid-90s decline. The overwhelming ticket sales of “Spider-Man” in 2002 ignited a surge in superhero content that has yet to slow down. In fact, the production and release of these films has spiked in unforeseen ways; this year, five superhero films have been released with four more already booked for theaters over the next 12 months. In the meantime, the success of the genre has spawned numerous imitations across all genres. There have been animated superheroes (“The Incredibles”), teenage superheroes (“Sky High” and “Kick-Ass”), and the occasional random remake or sequel (“The Green Hornet,” “Superman Returns”). “The Dark Knight,” the most recent Batman film, set a new high-water mark for complexity, while Marvel’s formula for staying relevant has been simple: Keep the major films like “Iron Man” and “Thor” decent and it won’t matter if a few of the minor ones like “Ghost Rider” and “Punisher: War Zone” are duds.
The Future
In addition to the four films already in production for 2012 release, countless other superhero films are currently in the planning stages. When will this latest flood of superhero cinema cede? It’s hard to say for sure, but one thing history has proven is that the decline usually happens suddenly and can be spurred on by just one significant flop. You’ve been warned, “Amazing Spider-Man.” Don’t let us down.
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