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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches“Flop” is an editorial label here for theatrical underperformance, not proof that a film lost money. The Marvels is the clearest recent example in the available figures: The Numbers reports a $206.1 million worldwide gross against a $270 million production budget. That comparison is striking, but it is not a profit calculation.
How to tell whether a Marvel movie flopped
There is no single public box-office figure that proves a movie was profitable or unprofitable. Theatrical gross is not the same as the studio’s revenue: exhibitors retain a portion, and the production budget does not include every cost or later source of income. Marketing, distribution terms, tax incentives, ancillary sales and licensing are not established by the figures below.
![The Hulk [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qacpu02DL._SL160_.jpg)
A more careful use of “flop” identifies the measure behind the label: a gross compared with a reported production budget, a sharp decline from a predecessor, a low total relative to franchise releases, or a steep drop after opening. These are useful signs of theatrical underperformance, not audited statements of net loss.
The Marvel movies most often described as box-office disappointments
The figures below come from The Numbers and Box Office Mojo, as identified in the relevant rows; totals can differ between databases and may change after re-releases. Worldwide grosses are theatrical grosses, not studio take-home revenue.
#1 Best Overall
| Film | Worldwide gross | Other useful measure | What the figures support |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Marvels (2023) | $206,136,825 (The Numbers; figures checked October 2026) | $270,000,000 reported production budget; $84,500,223 domestic gross; $46,110,859 opening weekend (The Numbers; figures checked October 2026) | The worldwide gross was about 0.8 times the listed production budget, a screening comparison rather than a break-even calculation. It is the strongest example here of a gross below reported production cost. |
| Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) | $476,071,180 (Box Office Mojo MCU franchise table) | 70% second-weekend drop (Associated Press, 2023) | The total and sharp decline indicate a comparatively weak theatrical run; the sources cited here do not establish a comparable complete cost picture. |
| Eternals (2021) | $402,064,899 (Box Office Mojo MCU franchise table) | Not stated in the cited source for this comparison. | A relatively low total among MCU releases, but gross alone does not show whether the film lost money. |
| Captain America: Brave New World (2025) | $415,101,577 (Box Office Mojo MCU franchise table) | 68% second-weekend drop (Associated Press, 2025) | A recent underperformance debate example, not a confirmed financial bomb: the cited evidence does not provide a budget or final profitability assessment. |
Why The Marvels stands out
The Numbers lists The Marvels at $206,136,825 worldwide against a $270,000,000 production budget, with a domestic gross of $84,500,223 and an opening weekend of $46,110,859. Comparing worldwide gross with the reported production budget gives roughly 0.8 to 1. That ratio does not account for marketing, distribution costs or exhibitor shares, and it cannot establish the studio’s final profit or loss.
The sequel comparison makes the theatrical decline especially visible. The Numbers’ Captain Marvel franchise table lists the 2019 Captain Marvel at $1,129,576,094 worldwide on a reported $175,000,000 production budget. The difference in grosses is evidence of a much smaller theatrical result for the 2023 follow-up; it does not, by itself, explain audience behavior or settle either film’s profitability.
Rank #2
- Set against the backdrop of a ?60s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel?s First Family faces a daunting challenge. Forced to balance being heroes with their family bond, they must defend Earth from a space god and his enigmatic herald.
Associated Press reported that The Marvels fell 78% in its second weekend. That steep drop is a measure of weak theatrical staying power, not an explanation of why viewers did or did not return.
What the sequel and franchise comparisons can—and cannot—say
Quantumania and Eternals are useful comparisons because their worldwide totals are lower than many MCU releases. The box-office tables support describing them as relatively low performers within the franchise; without comparable complete cost accounting, they do not support a definitive net-loss label.
Rank #3
- When Captain America is awakened from an icey prison, the Avengers go into action. Captain America, Iron-Man, Hulk, Wasp, Ant-Man and Thor.
Brave New World adds a more recent example of a steep second-weekend fall. Associated Press contrasted its 68% drop with the 78% drop for The Marvels and 70% for Quantumania. A second-weekend decline helps assess how quickly a film’s theatrical business weakened, but it should be read alongside the total gross and release context rather than treated as a standalone verdict.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Marvel’s box-office record is not defined by its weaker releases
Individual disappointments sit alongside substantial franchise-wide success. In July 2024, Disney said Marvel Studios’ films had collectively grossed more than $30 billion worldwide, with 10 films above $1 billion and two above $2 billion at that time. This is a company-reported, dated benchmark—not a current total or an independently audited profitability figure.
Rank #4
![Avengers: Complete 4 Movie Marvel Film Collection (The Avengers/Age of Ultron/Infinity War/Endgame) [4K UHD + Blu-Ray, Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wKp3ozh5L._SL160_.jpg)
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In its 2023 box-office review, the Associated Press described Marvel as faltering and reported Disney CEO Bob Iger’s view that too many films and series had led to “diluted quality.” That is Iger’s assessment of a broader studio challenge, not independently established evidence explaining the performance of any one film.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Set against the backdrop of a ?60s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel?s First Family faces a daunting challenge. Forced to balance being heroes with their family bond, they must defend Earth from a space god and his enigmatic herald.
Sources and viewing context
- The Numbers: The Marvels financial summary — worldwide and domestic grosses, opening weekend, production budget and video-release listing.
- The Numbers: Captain Marvel franchise table — predecessor gross and reported production budget.
- Box Office Mojo: MCU franchise box-office table — worldwide totals used for the franchise comparisons.
- Associated Press: 2023 box-office review — Marvel context and Iger’s attributed assessment.
- Associated Press: 2025 box-office report — second-weekend declines and comparison.
- Disney: Marvel Studios’ 15-year box-office context — company-stated cumulative figures as of July 2024.
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