Ever since the first Iron Man film came out in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (the MCU) has been a dominant force at the box office. Marvel Studio films, whether it's the fantastic Avengers series or more unique editions such as Doctor Strange, have routinely made mountains of money at the box office and claiming spots on the list of the top-grossing films. DC Movies, its main rival, hasn't had that much luck as Marvel, and while its films do well in the theaters, it hadn't come close to matching the MCU's numbers.

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However, the tide may be turning, and here are reasons why the MCU's dominance may soon come to an end.

Marvel Is Heading Into Unknown Territory

Robert downey jr tony stark iron man avengers endgame infinity war

It is no question that Marvel Studios has dominated DC at the box office, thanks to its recognizable superhero films that have been woven together with a storyline that fans were wrapped up in.

Those glory days may be coming to an end as the next slate of MCU films wade into unknown territory with characters that fans may not instantly recognize and storylines that focus more on character development than superhero slugfest.

Studios Have Suffered

Black Widow movie poster

No one really has to explain how much the COVID-19 pandemic has taken movie studios to the cleaners this year. Almost every studio has suffered and Marvel Studios was no exception.

Films like Black Widow were pushed back to 2021, eating into Marvel Studio's potential profits. If the pandemic never happened, 2020 could have been another banner year for the MCU. Instead, there were no big releases to name.

Not A Clear Transition

The Avengers group shot at the end of the first movie

When the MCU was going strong, it's main focus was on its slate of superheroes who used their powers and gifts to save the world. With superheroes like Iron Man and Captain America fighting evil villains and its world-building and cross-overs at the forefront, the series flourished.

But while the first phases did this exceptionally well, the kind of overlap fans expected to lead into the next part of the universe didn't really arrive. There's no specific direction set up yet for fans to be excited about, this lack of clarity could be damaging.

More Focus On Disney+

MCU Change In Direction

When Disney+ launched in late 2019, it gave Marvel Studios another platform to develop shows and films. While Marvel Studios is due to release six films in the coming year, they're going to release eight television series within the next two years, which could show off which direction Marvel is heading in.

It's not that they don't believe in film releases, but streaming services especially shows made for Disney Plus, could direct the studio's attention elsewhere, which is a gamble on their part. If theaters are due to re-open next year (as expected), then focusing more on Disney+ instead of the movie theaters could be a plan that may backfire on Marvel.

DC Films Is Catching Up

Looking at MCU's movie lineup, one can conclude that, while solid, there are a lot of wildcards in there that may, or may not deliver at the box office. When fans compare it to what DC Films has on the horizon, however, they can't help but think that the MCU may be in trouble.

That isn't to say that the slate of MCU films in Phase 4 won't present a challenge to DC, but with the absence of Iron Man and The Avengers, it's hard to see how the MCU will keep its grip on its box office dominance.

The Shaky State Of Movie Theaters

MCU Shaky State Of Movie Theaters

2020 was a horror show for movie theaters, with coronavirus restrictions closing movie screens worldwide. This certainly put a damper on Marvel Studios, and the future is looking a bit shaky.

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Once the COVID-19 pandemic ends sometime in 2021, it remains to be seen if movie theaters can bounce back from a year full of losses, and if they can't, that could put be a huge dent in the MCU's movie domination plans.

A Need To Establish New Relationships

The Avengers eating Shwarma

In some ways, the MCU's major character bonds have been broken across the map with the heroes dead, divided, or barely knowing one another.

On one hand, it gives the studio the room to introduce new friendships, romances, and more, but without many core relationships, these movies may as well be any new movies being released, and may not carry with them the same weight.

The Joker Effect

MCU The Joker Effect

There is no denying that 2019's Joker was a game-changer for DC Films, and Marvel Studios certainly stood up and took notice. In fact, their foray into deep storylines can be directly attributed to the massive hit Joker became.

It remains to be seen if Marvel can replicate a film like that in Phase 4, and if audiences will buy into it or not. If they don't, and DC Films' upcoming slate of films dominate at the box office, we could see a hastened decline of the MCU.

Marvel Fatigue

For the past 12 years, the MCU has been the grand ruler of the box office, bringing in millions of moviegoers and making serious coin along the way.

With a franchise that has run hot for so long, there is a chance that the next couple of years could bring in fatigue for the MCU, with fans getting tired of the series and searching for something more.

The Batman

MCU The Batman

There are a lot of films being made by DC Films that produces a threat to the MCU's reign, but none more so than The Batman. It's the kind of dark, gritty storytelling mixed with comic book superheroes prowess that DC is known for, and looking at Marvel's Phase 4 lineup, there isn't any film that can compete with the dark world the highly touted-Batman reboot will create.

How strongly The Batman performs in theaters will certainly be a sign as to whether the MCU is truly on a decline.

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