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Superman and Fantastic Four Couldn’t Save the Superhero Genre

August 25, 2025  ·
  Marvin Montanaro
Fantastic Four Superman

Photos of Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps and David Corenswet as Superman in Superman - YouTube, Marvel Entertainment, DC

For years, Hollywood insisted the superhero genre was too big to fail. Marvel and DC might stumble here or there, but whenever the chips were down, a tentpole reboot would swoop in and restore audience faith. That was the expectation for 2025, when James Gunn’s new Superman and Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrived to great industry fanfare.

These were the movies that were supposed to stop the bleeding, unite audiences, and reignite box office firepower.

Instead, they proved the exact opposite: even the biggest names in comic book history can’t save a genre audiences are walking away from.

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Author: Marvin Montanaro
Marvin Montanaro is the Editor-in-Chief of That Park Place and a seasoned entertainment journalist with nearly two decades of experience across multiple digital media outlets and print publications. He joined That Park Place in 2024, bringing with him a passion for theme parks, pop culture, and film commentary. Based in Orlando, Florida, Marvin regularly visits Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offering firsthand reporting and analysis from the parks. He’s also the creative force behind The M4 Empire YouTube channel, bringing a critical eye toward the world of pop culture. Montanaro’s insights are rooted in years of real-world reporting and editorial leadership. He can be reached via email at mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com SOCIAL MEDIA: X: http://x.com/marvinmontanaro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinmontanaro Facebook: https://facebook.com/marvinmontanaro YouTube: http://YouTube.com/TheM4Empire Email: mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com
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devilman013

As long as idiots like Feige and Gunn are in charge, the superhero genre can’t be saved.

11
James Eadon

Well, all Disney is a girl brand, woke studio, so you can say, as long as Disney exists, they will be terrible.

3
CleatusDefeatus

I’ve never cared about Superman. Too out of reach for me. However, I grew up with the FF. Well after their inception, almost 20 years. I went through a great run in the mid-late 80’s and was able to pick up some older books and reprints along the way, so I’m well versed in the first family. I’m more mad at how they dirty dicked all three guys and destroyed the ethos. I’m more mad at this movie more than anything else.
Until some chick has to stick her pecker into making the X-Men. That will be the new low. My kids and I are never coming back iger. Never.

2
James Eadon

The Christopher Reeves movies were nice escapist fun. But after that it was boring, because the charm had gone. And Gunn’s is even worse, it’s just man-hating.

1
James Eadon

Pathetic movies make men into wimps are failing. Good!

0