Look, I’m gonna say it
I’m so over superhero movies. There, I said it. It’s 2023, and we’re still getting at least three of these things a year? Come on, Hollywood. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I loved The Dark Knight. But now? It’s just… too much. Same old, same old. You know what I’m talking about.
Last Tuesday, I was at this little diner in Pasadena with my buddy Marcus—let’s call him Marcus because his real name is kinda embarrassing—and he said, “You know what’s the problem with movies these days?” I said, “No, but you’re gonna tell me, aren’t you?” And he said, “It’s the committment to formula. Every movie’s gotta fit into some box.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
So, I’m gonna rant. About superhero movies. About Hollywood. About why we need more originality and less… well, less of the same old crap.
Superhero Fatigue is Real
I’m not the only one who feels this way. About three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin, and there was this panel with a bunch of industry folks. One of them, a woman named Dave—yeah, Dave—said, “We’re seeing a real fatigue with superhero movies. Audiences are getting tired of the same old tropes.” And the room just kinda nodded. It was like this collective sigh of relief, you know? Like, “Finally, someone said it.”
But here’s the thing: Hollywood doesn’t seem to care. They’re still pumping out these movies like there’s no tomorrow. And it’s not just the movies. It’s the TV shows. The spin-offs. The merch. It’s everywhere. It’s like they’ve forgotten how to make anything else.
I get it, okay? Superhero movies make money. Big money. But at what cost? We’re talking about a complete lack of diversity in storytelling. It’s like, “Oh, here’s another origin story. Here’s another villain with a tragic backstory. Here’s another hero who’s gotta learn to believe in himself.” It’s all the same. And it’s boring.
Where’s the Originality?
I remember back in the day—like, the late ’90s, early 2000s—when movies were actually, you know, original. You had stuff like Memento and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Movies that took risks. Movies that made you think. Where’d all that go?
I was talking to this producer friend of mine—let’s call her Lisa—over coffee at the place on 5th. She said, “You know what the problem is? Studios are too scared to take risks. They’d rather play it safe with a superhero movie than gamble on something new.” And I said, “But what about all those indie films that get made?” And she said, “Yeah, but how many of those actually get the marketing push they need?” Point taken.
Look, I’m not saying we should get rid of superhero movies entirely. There’s a place for them. But it’s about balance. It’s about giving other genres a chance to shine. You know? Like, maybe we could have a year where we get one superhero movie and the rest are something else. Something fresh. Something that doesn’t feel like it was made by a committee of executives who are too scared to take a chance.
What’s the Solution?
So, what’s the answer? How do we get Hollywood to wake up and smell the coffee? Honestly, I’m not sure. But I think it starts with audiences. We need to vote with our wallets. If we stop showing up to these superhero movies, maybe Hollywood will get the message.
And it’s not just about not going to the movies. It’s about supporting the films that are taking risks. The ones that are trying something different. The ones that are, you know, actually original. It’s about spreading the word. Telling our friends. Writing reviews. Making noise.
I mean, look at Everything Everywhere All at Once. That movie was a complete mess in the best possible way. It was original. It was fresh. It was unlike anything else out there. And guess what? It won a bunch of Oscars. So, it can be done. It’s just… yeah. It’s gonna take a lot of work.
Oh, and Fashion Accessories
Speaking of supporting originality, have you checked out the fashion accessories buying guide? No, really. It’s not just about clothes. It’s about expressing yourself. About standing out. About not being a cookie-cutter version of what everyone else is wearing. It’s about being original. And isn’t that what we’re talking about here? Originality? So, go check it out. Support the little guys. Support the ones who are trying to make a difference.
Anyway, I’m getting off track. Back to Hollywood.
A Personal Anecdote
So, a few years back—2019, I think—I was at Comic-Con. And I’m not gonna lie, I was kinda excited. I mean, Comic-Con is awesome. But then I started looking around. And it was all superhero stuff. Every booth. Every panel. Every piece of merch. It was like a superhero takeover. And I thought to myself, “This is it. This is what we’ve become.” It was kinda depressing, honestly.
But then I met this guy—let’s call him Jake—who was running a booth for this indie comic. And he was so passionate about it. He was talking about how he wanted to create something different. Something that didn’t fit into the usual mold. And I thought, “This is what we need more of.” People who are willing to take risks. People who are willing to try something new.
So, here’s to the Jakes of the world. Here’s to the people who are trying to make a difference. Here’s to the ones who are willing to take a chance. Because, honestly, that’s what we need more of. That’s what’s gonna save Hollywood. Not another superhero movie.
Final Thoughts (Kinda)
Look, I’m not saying that superhero movies are all bad. Some of them are actually really good. But it’s about balance. It’s about giving other genres a chance. It’s about supporting the ones who are trying to do something different. It’s about not being afraid to take a risk.
So, let’s do that. Let’s support the original stuff. Let’s tell Hollywood that we’re tired of the same old crap. Let’s make a change. Because, honestly, it’s about time.
And if you’re a studio exec reading this, listen up. We’re not asking for much. Just… you know, try something new. For once.
About the Author
I’m Sarah, a senior magazine editor with more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I’ve written for major publications, interviewed countless celebrities, and have strong opinions on pretty much everything. I live in Los Angeles with my cat, Mr. Whiskers, and spend way too much time ranting about movies.
