A series of strikingly complex characters and inherently wild plotlines can undoubtedly detail the Marvel Universe. The assumption that nearly every living person – with adequate access to technology – has heard of Marvel may be bold, but very likely true.
As a non-Marvel fanatic, the buzz surrounding the Marvel Universe has always caught my attention. Friends, cousins, classmates and even strangers have expressed a flood of emotions from puzzled to shocked upon hearing about my lack of knowledge of the Marvel series. I’ve viewed just 5 of the 35 Marvel movies released since 2008, so I wouldn’t necessarily classify myself a die-hard fan, but definitely an enjoyer of the action incorporated into the films.
So, the question lies. What makes the pull of Marvel so strong?
“I think it has something to do with the marketing,” local citizen Nat Carlinhos said. “These movies are high-budget, there are trailers and posters everywhere you turn your head, and they follow an archetype that’s specifically designed to please moviegoers.”
As of January 2025, the highly lucrative Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has revenued over $31 billion, as indicated by Statistica. Each movie ranges from $140 to $380 million dollars in production costs.
The first ever Marvel comic came out in 1939. Martin Goodman, a publisher for Pulp magazine, created the illustrations for what was to become an entire universe of interconnected superheroes and multiverses. The comics have been continuing to progress since then and today dozens of storylines exist.
Morning Consult Pro has found that 53% of Marvel enjoyers are male and 47% are female, in a 2021 survey. That same survey also discovered that 40% of fans are millennials, 25% are gen-X, 26% are baby boomers and just 9% are gen-Z. With this knowledge, it can be concluded that Marvel’s main viewers are between the ages of 29 and 44 years of age, and predominantly male.
An explanation for the success of Marvel could lie in the fact that almost every character in the MCU is connected in some way, either by their mutual history, circumstances or environment. Some of the most popular marvel characters are Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and Deadpool.
The Avengers, a group of 6 original superheroes, (Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye), are one of the main “clans” of the Marvel Universe. This is just one of many MCU dynamics, yet unraveling the entirety of plotlines would only prove both extensive and challenging.
Another important aspect of the MCU is its “phases”. As of right now, there are six of them total, each taking place over different time periods. The phases are unique to Marvel and allow viewers to better follow a timeline, keeping them hooked.
“There are two main things [Marvel movies] want to bring to its audience: entertainment and morals,” local citizen Logan Lee said. “While the best movies can give you both of these things, most only succeed in giving you one of those.”
All in all, Marvel’s storylines seem to be engaging and rarely repetitive. Characters also appear to be relatable and lovable. This could explain the MCU’s attractiveness to its hundreds of millions of viewers, but whether or not you are entertained by Marvel is up to you.
