It’s been happening for so long now, it’s almost boring, but we still get filmmakers who bash superhero films for being some sort of cancer on the industry. Like them or not, it feels as if superhero films aren’t just some fad, but they’re going to be around for years to come. But the comments have really bothered one of the biggest stars in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Hemsworth.
Speaking to The Times, Chris Hemsworth talked about how he feels when filmmakers take shots at Marvel Studios and superhero films, as a whole. Spoiler warning–he’s hurt by the comments and doesn’t think they’re warranted.
“It felt harsh, and it bothers me, especially from [my] heroes,” said Hemsworth. “It was an eye-roll for me, people bashing the superhero space. Those guys had films that didn’t work too, we all have. When they talked about what was wrong with superheroes, I thought, cool. Tell that to the billions who watch them. Were they all wrong? “
He added, “And cinema-going did not change because of superheroes, but because of smartphones and social media. Superhero films actually kept people in the cinemas during that transition and now people are coming back. So they deserve a little more appreciation.”
The last comment about the way cinema has changed over the years is actually pretty interesting. Hemsworth is echoing comments made by a variety of filmmakers, especially his “Avengers: Endgame” directors, the Russo Brothers. The Russos have said that “superhero fatigue” is more just a change in how young people consume media. With apps like TikTok and Instagram focusing on short-form video right at your fingertips, they believe cinema is going to have to adapt to the shorter attention spans.
Obviously, we have no idea what’s going to happen in the next five to ten years when it comes to cinema-going, but it really does feel like the whole industry is struggling and it’s not just something superhero films are dealing with. Regardless, Hemsworth isn’t really interested in discussing how directors want to place blame on superheroes.