No new Marvel Cinematic Universe film hit the box office for the first time in 11 years, but fans say it was actually a good thing
- Last year marked the first time in 11 years that Marvel didn't release a Marvel Cinematic Universe film.
- Though there was no MCU movie in 2020 because of the pandemic, fans welcomed the break.
- A flurry of announcements about new projects made a year of delays worth it.
I was a few weeks into quarantine when I accepted that "Black Widow" - or any future Marvel Cinematic Universe title - probably wasn't going to be released for some time.
Last March, Marvel Studios pushed back the release of the movie about the ex-KGB assassin, and little did I know that the film would be delayed a full year - and that everything else on Marvel's slate would be upended by the pandemic.
With no new MCU films to satisfy my appetite, I rewatched all 23 of its movies, in chronological order, with my family. And instead of being frustrated that I wouldn't see fresh story lines, I developed a greater appreciation for the work that's been done over the past decade to build a universe that's entertaining and escapist.
I also wondered whether other Marvel superfans felt the same way. After speaking with seven of them, I learned they appreciated the reprieve and were looking forward to shows and films on smaller screens.
2020 marked the first year without a new MCU film in over a decade
The MCU kicked off phase one in 2008 with the godfather of the MCU, Robert Downey Jr., in "Iron Man," which centered on the arrogant billionaire and tech genius Tony Stark. The movie grossed $585 million worldwide.
Since 2010, fans had been treated to a steady stream of new MCU movies - sometimes two or three in the same year - as Marvel gradually brought the Infinity saga from the comics to the big screen.
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They were consistent box-office successes. "Captain Marvel," "Avengers: Endgame," and "Spider-Man: Far From Home" hit theaters within months of each other in 2019. Each grossed $1 billion.
"Endgame," which saw the superheroes from the MCU banding together to defeat Thanos (played by Josh Brolin), dethroned James Cameron's "Avatar" and became the highest-grossing film of all time, earning nearly $2.8 billion.
Fans miss the theater experience after years of seeing Marvel blockbusters on the big screen
With years of story building, the theater experience was essential to MCU's long-awaited films.
The silence after Thanos' snap wiped out half of all life at the end of "Infinity War" was deafening for fans, who went to see the movie in theaters and were speechless after the film's somber conclusion.
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Conversely, the final battle scene of "Endgame" featured exhilarating and applause-inducing moments, like the previously vanished superheroes returning through portals, Captain Marvel single-handedly taking down one of Thanos' ships, and Cap finally wielding Thor's hammer, showing he was worthy all along.
Nick Mear, a Chicago fan who counts "Guardians of the Galaxy" as a favorite, described seeing "Endgame" during its opening week as "probably the coolest theater experience I've ever had watching a movie with a big crowd."
Sasha Kaplan, who lives in Maine and hopes to become a comic-book historian, recalled a similar experience.
"I remember the entire theater just roaring with cheers and applause, and I was right along with them," she said.
Andrea Huswan, a 25-year-old Marvel fan in New York, said she and her friend were clutching each other's hands and cried.
"You felt energized by the reaction of the people," she said. "It's the collective experience, both physically and emotionally."
With theaters shut down and the communal experience gone, they've had to find creative ways to cope.
The hiatus allowed fans to dive deep into the Marvel universe with comics and rewatches
Fans found comfort in comic-book series, old films, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo on social media, and virtual watch parties.
Kaplan told Insider that along with reading "Empyre" - a comic-book series that centers on the "Avengers," the "Fantastic Four," and others in the universe - she rewatched all 23 MCU films, plus the "X-Men" movies, and analyzed them for her podcast, "Nerdy Notions."
"It made it kind of bearable because there was a slow stream of something to watch and something to do," she said. "That's been the biggest thing keeping me going."
Read more: How to watch all of the Marvel films in chronological order for the ultimate movie marathon
Marvel expert Matt Stuart, a senior video producer for Insider in Chicago, said that last year gave him time to attempt to read every "X-Men" comic, beginning with Chris Claremont's work in the 1970s. It's a "minor goal" he started working toward a few years ago. He now spends random mornings reading back issues over coffee.
He also discovered fandom sites like ComicsXF, which started out focusing on "X-Men" but has branched out to other comics.
Edward Berkowitz, in Tennessee, told Insider that another site, Murphy's Multiverse, was his go-to last year. The 40-year-old said he was "able to put phase one, phase two, and phase three in the rearview mirror and really go forward."
For Nick Compitello, 30, a fan in New York, keeping up with fan theories on Reddit, viewing Disney and Marvel's livestreams, perusing the comics, and playing the "Marvel's Avengers" game provided alternative ways to pass the time before the release of new MCU projects.
This year fans say they're willing to go to theaters to see Marvel movies. Some wouldn't mind streaming them, too.
Because the COVID-19 vaccine has already begun rolling out, some fans say they're hopeful that Marvel will maintain its theatrical plan for "Black Widow," the first film in the MCU's phase four.
"I think they'll be able to at that point," longtime Marvel fan Andrew Gottlieb said, adding that the world probably won't be back to normal by May, but "at least with the vaccine it'll be easier."
It's unclear whether Marvel will postpone "Black Widow" and "Eternals," which were originally set for release in 2020, or if the studio will follow Warner Bros. lead in making "Wonder Woman 1984" available to stream on HBO Max the same day it hit select theaters.
Marvel could add the MCU films to Disney Plus and charge an additional cost as part of premier access, which is how Disney, owned by Marvel, handled the live-action adaption of "Mulan" in 2020.
"I'd like to see all of them in a theater," Gottlieb said. "Even outside of Marvel movies, I've found that I don't enjoy it as much unless I'm in the theater, because I don't have to worry about being on my phone or having other distractions."
But Mear, who shared a desire to see "Black Widow" in a theater, said he'd be willing to pay for it on Disney Plus if it were made available.
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"I just want to watch it at this point," he said. "As much as I would like to see it in a big theater, I don't know when the next time I'll have a theater by me open. And the thought of sitting inside with a mask on for two and a half hours with other people around just seems weird. I'd rather just watch it at home."
Still, other fans say that some Marvel films - such as "Eternals," starring Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek, and Kit Harington - need the big-screen treatment.
"'Eternals' is going to galactic in scheme and concept, so if there are ship battles or powers or explorations of new worlds, it'll look a lot different on a big screen than your 50- or 80-inch plasma TV," Kaplan said.
Kaplan said that because Marvel meticulously plans its stories, pushing off movie releases isn't sustainable because delays could cause a domino effect.
Additionally, Marvel risks losing momentum and fan interest, similar to what happened with "X-Men" spin-off "New Mutants," which was released in 2020 after years of delays and failed to perform at the box office.
MCU will entertain fans with new TV shows and movies
While fans continue to talk about whether they'll risk going to a movie theatre, they say they're relieved that they can indulge in story lines safely thanks to new TV shows.
Many series will allow supporting characters from the MCU to finally shine while others mark the debut of characters. "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "Loki," "Ms. Marvel," and "Hawkeye" are among the shows headed to the small screen.
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It's all starting with the Disney Plus series "WandaVision," which debuted this month and stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany as Vision.
The nine-episode season will draw from the comics and take inspiration from iconic sitcoms through the decades - from classics like "Bewitched" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" to more recent favorites like "Modern Family" and "The Office."
"It's a really good way to tell more in-depth stories with characters that we haven't seen much of or we haven't really gotten a chance to explore," Kaplan said. "It will be interesting to see how the journey of the characters progress now that they have more wiggle room."
While some fans are looking forward to seeing how Marvel brings characters like Ironheart, She-Hulk, and Moon Knight to life, others are thrilled to see how Marvel tackles classic comic-book characters, such as Billy and Tommy (the twin sons of Wanda and Vision) on "WandaVision."
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TV series also give Marvel the potential to stay relevant and garner new fans for an extended time because they won't be released all at once for immediate bingeing. With shows that are likely going to have six or more episodes dropping weekly, it'll give fans like Mear - who's looking forward to the "Loki" series, out in May - "a whole week to digest" every installment.
"I feel like especially after watching 'The Mandalorian,' this stuff works," Compitello said of the Disney Plus series. "I don't need just a two-hour movie. Give me six episodes over six weeks. I'm good with that."
As Marvel continues building phase four of the MCU, fans are excited for Chris Hemsworth's reprisal as the titular character for "Thor 4: Love and Thunder," eager to watch Tom Holland's return in the third "Spider-Man" film, and curious to see how "Black Panther 2" moves forward without Chadwick Boseman.
Fans have speculated that Marvel is assembling the Young Avengers or Champions from the comics since some Marvel projects will also introduce young superheroes like Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop and Kathryn Newton's Cassie Lang/Stature.
"I've got to give Marvel credit," Kaplan said. "They definitely lit a fire under us again. If the fire had ever been extinguished, it is definitely burning now."
This story is part of Insider's State of Hollywood digital series, which details how the $100 billion entertainment industry shifted in 2020. Click here to read more.