The MCU is far from perfect, but it’s still a miracle
The Hindu
Grounded and relatable, there are many reasons why the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most successful franchise in history
“Tony Stark was able to build this in a cave, with a box of scraps!”
Little did anyone know at the time, but when Jeff Bridges’ Obadiah Stane uttered this throwaway line back in the summer of 2008, he may well have been using a colourful metaphor to describe the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The numbers — unfathomable as they are — speak for themselves. Since May 2, 2008 when a typically self-assured Robert Downey Jr. announced to the world that he was, in fact, Iron Man, the MCU has put out 28 feature films and six television series, with several more in the wings.
Collectively, the films have grossed a staggering $27 billion, making them, by some distance, the most successful franchise in history. Perhaps more impressively, 27 of these 28 films have been rated “fresh” by critics on Rotten Tomatoes. In simple terms, these are immensely successful films, both critically as well as commercially.
Since the moment Tony Stark rolled up in a Humvee in Afghanistan to the tune of “Back in Black”, the MCU has only expanded and grown from strength to strength. As fans, we’ve been introduced to super soldiers, wizards and Norse gods. To genocidal aliens, angry green monsters, and talking raccoons. We’ve been transported from earth to space. From Wakanda to Asgard. We’ve travelled across the galaxy, gone back in time, and now, even ventured into the multiverse to reunite with some old, familiar faces. And somehow, through it all, the MCU has remained (mostly) grounded, humanising these larger-than-life heroes with personal stakes and relatable problems.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe should not be possible. Or at the very least, it should have collapsed a long time ago under its own weight and ambition. And yet, against all odds, it continues to thrive. At any given point in the last 14 years, the MCU could have well fallen out of the public consciousness. And yet, it remains a global phenomenon, as seen by the hype and anticipation for its latest entry, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
What is it that makes the MCU as successful as it is, that other studios and franchises have not been able to replicate?
South African naturalist Steve Boyes speaks on ghost elephants, ancestral tracking, and Werner Herzog’s documentary exploring Angola’s elusive highland giants
Actor-director Amol Palekar will receive META's Lifetime Achievement award for 2026 on March 25 in New Delhi.
India's artists unite against rising censorship, advocating for creative freedom and support for marginalized voices in the arts.
Written and directed by Kunal, the film also stars Sparsh Shrivastava and Vanshika Dhir
This year, Bharatnatyam artistes will present the Tyagaraja Aradhane as a dance performance
This year, Bharatnatyam artistes will present the Tyagaraja Aradhane as a dance performance
The actor, along with director Sushant Shah, speak about their upcoming series ‘Chiraiya’, Divya’s process of working on the dialect, Sushant’s approach to telling a story about women, and more
An independent video, ‘Feel the Spark’ by Raleigh Rajan with vocals by Ciera Dumas that celebrates Tamil literary giants, garnered 1.4 million views in less than 36 hours.
In ‘Jack Ryan: Ghost War’, John Krasinski is back as the savvy CIA analyst, diving headfirst into a high-stakes mission that unravels a deadly conspiracy and pits him against a rogue black-ops unit
Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra’s Shankarlal festival showcased rare ragas, radiant artistry, and inclusive performances, from Pt Madhup Mudgal’s serene morning ragas to Ramana Balachandran’s Saraswati veena.
Explore "Threads that Bind: The Kantha Project," an exhibition in Delhi reimagining kantha as a medium of repair and renewal.
Sean Penn skips the Oscars to meet Ukraine's Zelenskyy, who praises him as a "true friend" amid the war.
The teaser of Tamil star Suriya’s much-awaited film with director Venky Atluri, titled Vishwanath and Sons, was unveiled by the makers on Monday