DC Movies - To Infinity and Beyond

[DigificWriter]

I just don't understand, personally, why any of this would affect box office potential of the remaining movies?!?

Because, as @M.A.C.O. already pointed out, the things that happen in them will go absolutely nowhere, meaning that it ultimately doesn't matter if people end up enjoying them.

Also, @valkyrie013 is right to point out that people stop watching things if/when they know/find out that there won't be any reward or payoff for them investing their time in the thing they'd been watching.

 

[Dar70]

There all worried that people will get confused if there is say a separate say Flash on Tv that whom is in the movies. Uh, No? People aren't usually dumb, they know whats on TV is whatever TV universe, or there own thing, and Movies are movies.

Comic book fans...yes. But General audience who never read a comic but like comic book movies??? Yeah I can see them getting confused.

 

[EnderAKH]

Sure it does matter if there is a future for a series/movie. These upcoming movies would usually if successful lead to more movies. Shazam 3, Bluebeetle 2, Aquaman 3 etc. Now that we know that that isn't really a possiblity, why go see it in the theatres? Just wait for it to come to Hbo and watch it there whenever.

Its like a streaming series you were interested in and want to watch, but then you hear its been cancelled and theres no season 2, your motivation for watching it probably just went down, and its no big hurry, sometimes you'd just not watch it at all.

Because they are big spectacle movies that are best viewed in a theater. If you would prefer to wait for streaming, that is more about the tension between streaming and theatrical experience going on than what is going on at DC. I mean, I do not know any casual filmgoers (the VAST MAJORITY of the film audience) who say, "What?!? There isn't a guaranteed sequel to this movie?!? Well FUCK THAT then." That's insane. I have never, in my LIFE, not gone and seen a movie because there was no potential for a direct sequel, and most people who aren't obsessed geeks like us, again, don't care. If the movies look good, go see them. If they don't look good, don't go see them. It really is that simple.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Because they are big spectacle movies that are best viewed in a theater. If you would prefer to wait for streaming, that is more about the tension between streaming and theatrical experience going on than what is going on at DC. I mean, I do not know any casual filmgoers (the VAST MAJORITY of the film audience) who say, "What?!? There isn't a guaranteed sequel to this movie?!? Well FUCK THAT then." That's insane. I have never, in my LIFE, not gone and seen a movie because there was no potential for a direct sequel, and most people who aren't obsessed feels like us, again, don't care. If the movies look good, go see them. If they don't look good, don't go see them. It really is that simple.

I was thinking the same thing but I could see where knowing a movie was part of something bigger could generate additional interest in it. Not so much that there's a guaranteed sequel but that it fits within a larger framework. Whether that would translate to not bothering to see it in the theater I'm not sure.

Then again, something like the standalone Joker movie made a billion dollars with no guarantee that there would be a follow-up or that it would be part of anything else. Being part of a dying franchise, that is kind of unique to this situation so I guess we'll see. For all we know though Blue Beetle might be the first part of the new direction and I don't think we've established that Flash is not either( though Ezra Miller doesn't make that any easier if that's how they wanted to go).

 

[fireproof78]

Because they are big spectacle movies that are best viewed in a theater. If you would prefer to wait for streaming, that is more about the tension between streaming and theatrical experience going on than what is going on at DC. I mean, I do not know any casual filmgoers (the VAST MAJORITY of the film audience) who say, "What?!? There isn't a guaranteed sequel to this movie?!? Well FUCK THAT then." That's insane. I have never, in my LIFE, not gone and seen a movie because there was no potential for a direct sequel, and most people who aren't obsessed feels like us, again, don't care. If the movies look good, go see them. If they don't look good, don't go see them. It really is that simple.

Exactly. The big interconnected universe is not the reason I watch movies. Maybe it is for others, but I rather doubt it. A movie, in of itself, is a self-contained thing. Enjoyment of that film is sufficient for me to go watch it...because it interests me, not because of some larger story.

The number of movies I like with no sequels is actually quite long. I know, it sounds crazy to just like a movie for being a movie.

lready pointed out, the things that happen in them will go absolutely nowhere, meaning that it ultimately doesn't matter if people end up enjoying them.

Right...because no one enjoyed standalone movies before...

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

The people who wanted the MoS Shared Continuity Universe tossed out are ultimately getting their wish, but starting over isn't actually going to help Warner Bros. Discovery with their monetary problems because they've already signalled to audiences that supporting more than half of their upcoming DC-related films is going to be pointless, therefore lessening said films' overall box office earnings long before they actually come out.

Also, @valkyrie013 is right to point out that people stop watching things if/when they know/find out that there won't be any reward or payoff for them investing their time in the thing they'd been watching.

All solid points. People do not just turn off their awareness of the fate of a series with more films to release; those who were among the growing fanbase of the MoS continuity were likely set to see the 2023 films, but now that the MoS continuity is apparently an arbitrarily closed chapter, they have little reason to see the rest of films from a film universe that no longer matters.

Then again, something like the standalone Joker movie made a billion dollars with no guarantee that there would be a follow-up or that it would be part of anything else. Being part of a dying franchise, that is kind of unique to this situation so I guess we'll see. For all we know though Blue Beetle might be the first part of the new direction and I don't think we've established that Flash is not either( though Ezra Miller doesn't make that any easier if that's how they wanted to go).

The difference with Joker is that there was never confusion about the production being standalone; like an Elseworlds story, it had no connection to the DCEU other than being a DC property, so it allowed audiences to easily accept Joker as its own "book" / universe from start to finish, needing no references to the other films.

Regarding The Flash--no matter what alternate universe/worlds shenanigans are introduced / unfold in the film, if the current chatter is hammered into stone, all of those plans mean nothing, and its not as though alternate universe Supergirl, or anyone else is going to get a Gunn-era film based on anything created for the MoS continuity--same applies to the other characters with established film stories / "lives", such as Shazam, Aquaman, et al.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

While I wouldn't think it would deter someone who was simply interested in the movie I did have a situation with The Eternals where the only reason I ended up watching it to completion was because it was part of the larger MCU universe. That said, I can't imagine not seeing a movie that otherwise looked interesting though just because it was part of a cancelled or doomed franchise. We're all probably too knowledgeable about box office receipts and franchise plans for our own good.

 

[YLu]

I mean, I do not know any casual filmgoers (the VAST MAJORITY of the film audience) who say, "What?!? There isn't a guaranteed sequel to this movie?!? Well FUCK THAT then." That's insane. I have never, in my LIFE, not gone and seen a movie because there was no potential for a direct sequel, and most people who aren't obsessed feels like us, again, don't care. If the movies look good, go see them. If they don't look good, don't go see them. It really is that simple.

Not only do they not care about this stuff, they have no idea what movies have guaranteed sequels. They're not paying attention to all this insider news about superhero flicks.

Tell the average movie-goer the DCEU is ending and the response is going to be, "What the hell is a DCEU?"

I don't think you can really compare it to prematurely cancelled serialized TV, where it's one giant story told across multiple seasons and you're as likely as not to end a season on a cliffhanger. Endgame/Infinity aside, superhero movies typically work as standalone stories.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Now that we know that that isn't really a possiblity, why go see it in the theatres? Just wait for it to come to Hbo and watch it there whenever.

It can easily be argued that for many, the home viewing experience still can't be beat by the theatre.

I'm still excited for the next Shazam movie, whether it gets a 3rd or not has nothing to do with it.

Its like a streaming series you were interested in and want to watch, but then you hear its been cancelled and theres no season 2, your motivation for watching it probably just went down, and its no big hurry, sometimes you'd just not watch it at all.

If I start a show and I enjoy it, I finish it, period. Another season doesn't mean anything for me. I can't even count how many shows and "final" seasons I adore and still re-watch even if they were cancelled before their time.

Firefly, anyone? (Not that I'm a fan, but it's a perfect example)

 

[YLu]

If you have a movie that's only worth watching because of the sequel it leads into, then you in fact do not have a movie worth watching.

 

[fireproof78]

Yeah, I don't get bitten by the completionist bug at all. Something's cancelled? Too bad so sad I'm going to watch it if I like it.

That's my standard-do I like it? Not is it in a franchise I like. Not is there a sequel. Hell, some things are better without sequels.

It feels to me like ridiculous contortions to say "I'm not interested." I'm not interested in Avatar. We all have our things.

If you have a movie that's only worth watching because of the sequel it leads into, then you in fact do not have a movie worth watching.

Damn straight.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

As someone who loves interconnectivity of the MCU and other franchises, that's always been secondary to whether or not the film I'm watching is good on its own merits.

I agree with others that the lack of future franchising doesn't inherently mean the remaining films won't do good, either at the box office, with the critics, or with the general audience. The mid- and post-credits scenes will lose their impact but that's it.

 

[Set Harth]

Given how quiet they've been for the last few months I think Ezra Miller is either locked up in a bunker somewhere with no access to the internet or has finally wised up to the consequences of their actions.

Probably in Arkham.

 

[Christopher]

As someone who loves interconnectivity of the MCU and other franchises, that's always been secondary to whether or not the film I'm watching is good on its own merits.

I recently had an exchange on another BBS with a poster who was hesitant to get into the MCU's Phase 4 because there was just so much of it and he feared not being able to keep up with all the connections. In thinking about it, I realized that the interesting thing about Phase 4 is that most of its connections are in series, not parallel -- many of its shows follow up on things established earlier or set up things that will pay off in Phase 5 or 6, but only a very few things in Phase 4 connect to other things in Phase 4. WandaVision (and to a lesser extent No Way Home) feeds into Multiverse of Madness, Black Widow's tag scene feeds into Hawkeye, and Shang-Chi's Wong/Abomination cameo pays off in She-Hulk. Okay, and Loki pretty much sets up What If...? and the multiverse stuff. But mostly the series and films don't connect to each other, existing in their own very distinct situational and stylistic worlds. And a few things are almost or entirely self-contained -- Eternals (aside from the odd passing reference to the Blip), Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night.

 

[Set Harth]

Loki sets up Quantumania ( and ultimately Avengers 5, presumably ).

 

[Samurai8472]

Because, as @M.A.C.O. already pointed out, the things that happen in them will go absolutely nowhere, meaning that it ultimately doesn't matter if people end up enjoying them.

Also, @valkyrie013 is right to point out that people stop watching things if/when they know/find out that there won't be any reward or payoff for them investing their time in the thing they'd been watching.

I kind of agree and also not agree with this

General Audience- They'll see it when they have time or have mild interest. They might enjoy it or not. The day after at work there might be some small talk but they won't go into deep conversations with another coworker

"I went to see the new Aquaman movie. It was good. It had some good special effects"

*Goes back to work*


Key point is that at least they had a good time.

If "Aquaman 2" had a plot point which alludes to a Green Lantern movie they might have some interest but at the end of the day they don't really focus on it much.

They're mildly interested but they're not invested in it like a comic book nerd would be

 

[Nombrecomun]

I feel bad for Cavill. I'm not a fan of these movies or much of his take on Supes but I think that's more on Snyder and others. Not Cavill himself. I do wish he would have gotten one more chance to get it right. He would have done a great job I think.

I figure they're recasting to get a younger Superman; someone they can build their next 10 years of movies. As is, whoever they get will probably be sitting around for a couple of years until a script gets written, re-written, approved, casting, filming, etc....By then Cavill would be in his mid-40's.

It's too bad. I like the guy. Seems like 'one of us'.

 

[Set Harth]

Yeah, the average "person on the street" doesn't tend to keep up with news about comic book movies. This was evident when some people walked into Infinity War assuming it was going to end like any other superhero movie they'd seen and were suitably shocked at the ending.

 

[fireproof78]

Key point is that at least they had a good time.

This is the key point for entertainment. At least I'd like to think so.

 

[Samurai8472]

Yeah, the average "person on the street" doesn't tend to keep up with news about comic book movies. This was evident when some people walked into Infinity War assuming it was going to end like any other superhero movie they'd seen and were suitably shocked at the ending.

Exactly. The general audience members don't keep up with the movies

"Who's Thano's? It is that guy?(Cull Obsidian) The one who swung his axe at Iron Man?"

"I can't keep up with 18 movies!"

There are people confused about the order of Star Wars movies too.