Why Are Movies Like Venom So Popular These Days?

The movie Venom has earned $142 million domestic and $378 million worldwide. What’s interesting about these numbers is the fact that the reviews were kind of negative.  Mixed, to say the least.  But audiences seem to be enjoying it, regardless. If the movie continues to delight viewers, it could be looking at a global accumulation of around $575-$600 million worldwide.  Which, again, isn’t too bad considering people have been saying that it’s not any good.  Further, this was a $100 million budgeted superhero movie that was meant to launch a franchise.  So I’d say that it’s doing well, all things considered.

The big question right now is whether Venom will be able to top the $220 million domestic gross of Mission: Impossible – Fallout.  Or will Venom settle for a finish where it falls between A Quiet Place, with $188 million and Ant-Man and the Wasp of $216 million?  What is also interesting is that we are heading into November, and many of the top grossing movies of the year happen to be superhero and/or comic book movies.  Why is this interesting?  While I personally love these kinds of movies, it seems that we are now in a place where they are mainstream.  It wasn’t that long ago that they weren’t.  It feels a bit like a big shift. A good shift.  One that I am personally enjoying, but it’s definitely a bit different from where we were even a few years ago.

What are the top grossing movies of the year?

• Black Panther – $700 million
• Avengers: Infinity War – $678 million
• Incredibles 2 – $607 million
• Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – $417 million
• Deadpool 2 – $318 million
• Mission: Impossible – Fallout – $221 million
• Ant-Man and the Wasp – $216 million
• Solo: A Star Wars Story – $215 million
• Venom – $220 million plus?
• A Quiet Place – $188 million

What does this even mean?  Part of it is the audience, and what people want to watch.  But part of it is the types of movies that are being made these days. What do I mean by that?  The two are intrinsically connected.  One has to exist in order for the other to exist.  But why are more people into superhero or comic book type movies?  I think it has to do with the storylines themselves.  The stories are often based around a hero or someone who is chosen to bring peace to the world.  But what that does is allows the stories to be written in a way that is easy for people to not only enjoy, but it’s also easy for actors to be cast in the movies themselves.

Instead of thinking that these kinds of movies are specific to certain types of people (and applying stereotypes!), audiences have come to love them.  But with a cast including Tom, Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, and Jenny Slate, what’s not to love?  I guess what I’m trying to say is that the superhero genre is no longer “just” for people who read the comic books growing up.  They can be enjoyed and loved by anyone because they have an appeal that anyone can grow to love.  Maybe that’s wrong.  Maybe that’s diluted the genre, but I think it’s good as it opens up people’s eyes to different things that we wouldn’t have given a second look before.