"The Marvel Age of Movies" (Article)

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Comic book films enjoy new era of box office success


A Telegraph Column By Sandy Bucknam ⇒ More Sandy Bucknam Columns

Published: Thursday, June 1, 2006

After introducing numerous super-characters in the 1960s – the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk and the Avengers among them – Marvel proclaimed it to be “The Marvel Age of Comics.”

It might’ve been hyperbole at the time, but Marvel did rise to No. 1 in the industry, a position it has jockeyed with DC to hold in all the years since.

Hyperbole or otherwise, after the monster debut of “X-Men: The Last Stand” over the Memorial Day weekend, what’s undeniable is that this is “The Marvel Age of Movies.”

Four Marvel movies, all released in the last four years, number among the most popular of all time: “The Last Stand,” the third in a trilogy and also referred to as “X3”; “Spider-Man” (2002); “X2: X-Men United” (2003); and “Spider-Man 2” (2004).

According to figures from one of the top Internet trackers of movies, Box Office Mojo, “X3’s” $103.1 million was the fourth-biggest three-day opening weekend of all time, the standard-bearer for comparing figures. No. 1? “Spider-Man,” at nearly $115 million.

“Spider-Man 2” is No. 10 at $88.2 million; at the time, it was No. 7. “X2” is No. 11 at $85.6; at the time, it was No. 4.

And let’s not forget “X-Men.” Now No. 41, at the time of its release in 2000, the $54.5 million it made during its opening weekend was No. 7 of all time.

Tales of people with superpowers have never been more popular. And what has made “X3” and the other top Marvel movies so well-liked is that the stories aren’t just about people with powers; they’re also about people with problems, and how they deal with those problems.

Among the themes in “Spider-Man” and “Spider-Man 2” were not only how Peter Parker adjusted to his newfound powers, but how he decided to use them to help others and to protect those he loves.

Likewise, the themes in the X-Men movies don’t deal only with people – mutants – born with strange, sometimes wonderful powers. Indeed, the entire idea of the X-Men is that young mutants can seek safety under the wings of the X-Men and not only learn how to use their powers for good, but also learn that despite the prejudicial thoughts of others, it’s OK to be “different” – even if they don’t want to be.

That’s a topic explored in “X3” through the characters of Rogue and Jean Grey.

In “X3,” a “cure” for the mutant gene has been developed. At least, some (non-mutants) consider it a cure; others (most mutants) consider it a threat. How to react to that threat causes mutants to face choosing sides: Professor Xavier’s X-Men or Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants.

And we see just how warped Magneto’s beliefs are through his relationship with faithful minion Mystique.

“X3” is a story filled with topical themes and thrilling action – all of which helped it to one of the top opening weekends of all time:

• At $120.1 million, it was the biggest Memorial Day weekend opening ever, shattering the record set in 2004 by “Shrek 2” by nearly $25 million.

• It had the No. 5 opening four days of all time. “Spider-Man 2” is second and “Spider-Man” is fourth, although both set the record at the time of their release.

• At $45.5 million Friday, it had the second-biggest single day and opening day of all time, the former list including three days of “Spider-Man” and “Spider-Man 2” in the top eight. The $32.1 million it made Saturday is the No. 23 single day of all time – just ahead of “X2: X-Men United.”

• It became the fifth movie to earn $100 million in just three days; “Spider-Man” was the first to do so. “Spider-Man 2” did it in four days. “X2” did it in six, “Fantastic Four” in 10 and “X-Men” in 11.

• All time, “Spider-Man” is No. 6 and “Spider-Man 2” is No. 9. “X2” is No. 57.

In four days, “X3” is already No. 228 of all time.

That’s a number that’s going higher even as you read this.