Now — despite taking the number one spot with a $71 million box office intake on opening weekend — experts are noting that Marvel fans simply aren’t connecting to Eternals the way they have to other Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
David A. Gross, who runs the movie consultancy Franchise Entertainment Research, estimates the negative reception to “Eternals” cost it a modest 10% in box office. He still sees superhero films as driving the recovery of theaters. Marvel movies account for the the top four openings of the pandemic.
“‘Eternals’ is by no means a problem,” Gross said in an email. “The film isn’t connecting the way every other Marvel film has, but the box office performance is solid and it maintains October’s level of business.”
Marvel Studios’ Eternals features an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
The movie features an all-star cast including Brian Tyree Henry, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Brian Tyree Henry, and Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie.
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(L-R): Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Sersi (Gemma Chan) in Marvel Studios' ETERNALS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2021 Marvel Studios. All Rights Reserved.
