I also honestly doubt we will see another superhero movie in the 90s for a long time unless it is a TDK level gamechanger. Critics are fatigued of superhero movies and you will see more naysayers even with the genre's best examples going forward.
With all love, you are not living in reality, dude.
Batman Begins is at 85% fresh and is considered a critical darling. The Batman is at the same freshness score as well. You are making a mountain out of a molehill.
We have a well-received Superman movie for the first time in 40 years, that is fact.
Yeah, last year's billion dollar CBM phenomenon Deadpool & Wolverine is sitting there at 78% and no one's gonna try to tell you it wasn't well-received (even if it wasn't well-received by ME lol).
The debut is pretty much ALWAYS unnaturally high. As a general rule, never, ever let an RT debut score with maybe 40-50 reviews set your expectations. It always goes down. Only movies that stay in the 90's typically debuted at 100%, or at least 98-ish.
It applies at all times, yes.
Yes, rarely is the first entry the best. Usually with these sort of movies in recent history, the creative teams really soar once they get the initial worldbuilding out of the way and find their groove. See TDK, The Winter Soldier, Thor Ragnarok, etc.
Screen X is horrible. Saw one movie in it out of last resort. It sucked.
...It was shot on IMAX digital.
Nope, it was mostly just shot on standard RED digital cameras. There are some sequences that used IMAX digital, but they are far from equal to real IMAX and if you can't get a good seat in an IMAX showing, it's probably a better experience to just see the film normally rather than being stuck in some weird, junk premium format.
How in the heck is Returns that high?
Low expectations? No Superman for a long time? Singer was well-regarded by critics at the time and given a bit of a pass?
You have to remember this was pre-MCU, so for every Batman Begins or Spider-Man 2 there was a parade of immediate shlock like Catwoman, Daredevil, Fantastic Four or Elektra, while simultaneously, the formerly good franchise that was X-Men tanked itself with The Last Stand. I think critics back then were just grateful whenever they got a CBM made with some - any - care lol.
Extremely normal. That's how it happens just about every time. Take a look at The Batman's early status:
Yup, and the opposite situation now is why we are going to see critics be a lot less forgiving with superhero movies. They aren't just going to rubber stamp every MCU-type movie made with a base level of competence anymore. They want to see superhero movies that rise above the generic and have something to say or do something differently.
I understand the fear/doubt. I think it's just really hard having to wait to watch while others have had the ability to see it. I feel like my mood has gone down significantly and I have no idea what to make of anything. Trying to just stay hyped, but this purgatory is messing with my head.
Extremely normal. That's how it happens just about every time. Take a look at The Batman's early status:
...and that's with more reviews in than Superman had in when it was at 91. Regardless, dropped down to mid 80's by the weekend. It's literally just how Rotten Tomatoes works. Which is why if your film debuts on RT at 65-70%, you ain't staying fresh for long* lol.
*as people who were here for MoS may recall.
Theoretically, it could end up in the 70s, but it is very unlikely.
And all that matters to launching a new franchise is that the movie is A.) financially successful, and B.) well-received. Which as we've demonstrated, it clearly is the latter. Sorry to say the former is more important in that goal. But being well-received certainly helps it to get there.
