Superheroes Smash the Box Office: A Cinema History from the Serials to 21st Century Blockbusters

The superhero movie genre experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, despite a previous decline in the 1990s. This history of the genre explores its origins, controversies, and creators, and explains how it became so dominant in the entertainment universe.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2023
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

In 1997, the superhero movie industry was in a state of crisis. The last Superman film had been released a decade earlier and had received disastrous reviews and poor ticket sales. The most recent Batman film was a commercial failure, and the long-awaited Spider-Man feature had been grounded. However, just five years later, the superhero movie genre would experience a resurgence and become a dominant force at the box office and gain critical respectability. This remarkable transformation has been extensively researched and is presented in this comprehensive history of the superhero movie. Spanning eight decades, the book chronicles the ups and downs, controversies, and creative forces that have shaped the superhero movie genre. It explores the origins of the genre, from the early black-and-white serials to the modern-day multiverse blockbusters, and examines the impact of these characters on popular culture. The book also delves into the creative process behind the movies, the challenges faced by filmmakers, and the cultural significance of the superhero genre. With its engaging narrative and extensive research, this book offers a unique perspective on the superhero movie phenomenon and its enduring appeal.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476676661