Soul-sucking corporate-branded product. That’s how I’d describe —almost— every single one of the ten highest grossing movies of 2022.
Notice how they are all sequels and reboots; existing IPs, book adaptations and franchises. Forget about original content, that’s not what makes money these days. Mainstream audiences want, as Scorsese put it, rollercoaster rides. Moviegoers want be transported away to another multiverse, or Pandora.
I’ve counted nine sequels here, the other one is a reboot of a very popular franchise — Matt Reeves’ “The Batman.”
1) Top Gun: Maverick — $1.4 billion
2) Avatar: The Way of Water — $1.1 billion
3) Jurassic World: Dominion — $1 billion
4) Doctor Strange in the Multiverse — $955 million
5) Minions: The Rise of Gru — $939 million
6) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — $805 million
7) The Batman — $770 million
8) Thor: Love and Thunder — $760 million
9) Fantastic Beasts 3 — $405 million
10) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — $402 million
Excludes existing IP, book adaptations and franchises:
1. Elvis – $286m 2. The Lost City – $275m 3. Bullet Train –$239 million 4. Smile – $216m 5. Nope – $171.2m 6. Ticket to Paradise – $167m 7. The Menu – $135 million 8. The Northman – $135m 9. EEAAO – $103m 10. The Woman King – $92m
Just for sheer comparison. A little less than thirty years ago, these were the ten highest grossing films:
“Jurassic Park”, “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Fugitive”, “The Firm”, “Sleepless in Seattle”, “Indecent Proposal”, “In the Line of Firm,” “The Pelican Brief”, “Schindler’s List” and “Cliffhanger”.
As expected, Snyder's latest is being torn apart by TIFF attendees. No mercy given. The film, which had its world premiere this evening, is being called by some one of the worst movies to ever premiere at the festival.