The Marvels might be the lowest-performing Marvel Cinematic Universe movie ever, but it feels increasingly like the most vital as the Multiverse Saga crescendos. The Marvels was one of the most talked-about entries in the MCU timeline – not necessarily for its plot, but for its surprising underperformance. Labeled a box office bomb, it fell short of the MCU’s usual financial standards. Yet in the wake of newer revelations about the Multiverse Saga’s direction, The Marvels is gaining retroactive significance. More than just a misunderstood sequel to Captain Marvel, the film quietly planted the seeds for major developments in the MCU’s future.
When The Marvels premiered in November 2023, expectations were modest but optimistic. Following the billion-dollar success of Captain Marvel (2019), there was hope that audiences would return to see the continuing adventures of Carol Danvers, especially with fan-favorite Kamala Khan and WandaVision’s Monica Rambeau joining the cast. Instead, the film had the lowest opening weekend in MCU history and barely crossed $200 million globally – a sharp decline from past entries. Several factors contributed: superhero fatigue, lackluster marketing, the 2023 actors’ strike preventing the cast from promoting the film, and general confusion about the film’s place in the broader saga.
9
Kamala Khan Is One Of The MCU’s Greatest New Characters
Kamala Khan Is The MCU’s Ms Marvel
If there’s one universally praised aspect of The Marvels, it’s Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan. First introduced in Disney+’s Ms. Marvel, Kamala brings a refreshing blend of teenage energy, earnestness, and geeky enthusiasm that had long been missing from the MCU. In The Marvels, she’s a standout presence – not only as comic relief but also as a character with genuine heart and an evolving heroic idenтιтy. Her fangirling over Captain Marvel is played with authenticity, making her interactions feel layered rather than gimmicky.
Kamala also serves as the film’s emotional core, bridging the gap between cosmic-level stakes and street-level relatability. Vellani’s performance is charming without being over-the-top, making Kamala a key figure for the MCU’s future. The Marvels showcases why Kamala could become one of the next-generation Avengers’ central figures, while also serving as a conduit for the audience as a superhero fan herself.
8
The Marvels Proffers The MCU’s Connection To The X-Men Universe
The Marvels Introduced The X-Men’s Beast
One of The Marvels’ biggest twists came in its post-credits scene – and it’s a game-changer for the MCU. Monica Rambeau, after closing an interdimensional rift, awakens in what appears to be an alternate reality, greeted by a variant of her mother Maria Rambeau and none other than Beast from the X-Men, played by Kelsey Grammer reprising his role from Fox’s X-Men franchise.
This remains the only remaining connection between the X-Men’s universe and the MCU continuity, setting the stage for the mutants’ long-anticipated arrival. With numerous X-Men characters confirmed in the Avengers: Doomsday cast, this connection will be vital. While as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness included a Charles Xavier variant, he was promptly killed with no other X-Men confirmed. As such, Beast and the implied X-Men in The Marvels is likely the team who will appear in Doomsday.
7
The Marvels Had The Last Appearance Of Nick Fury
Nick Fury Was Central To Forming The First Avengers
Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury has been one of the MCU’s most iconic characters since the post-credits scene of Iron Man in 2008. But as the MCU moves forward into multiversal chaos and younger heroes take the stage, Fury’s presence is slowly being phased out. The Marvels marks his last appearance in the franchise, but he will presumably return at some point in the future.
Fury was integral in forming the MCU’s original Avengers, it would be fitting for him to return at some point while Sam Wilson is creating the new team. In The Marvels, Fury returns to a leadership role aboard SABER, acting as a strategic overseer of cosmic threats. Though his role is smaller than in previous outings, his interactions with Carol, Kamala, and Monica reflect the culmination of years of interstellar planning.
6
The First Three-Way Marvels Fight Is Captivating
The Marvels Boasts Great Fight Choreography
One of the most inventive action sequences in recent MCU history unfolds in The Marvels when Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan find themselves swapping places mid-battle across different locations. Unlike other team fights, this one’s core mechanic is teleportation, triggered by the simultaneous use of their powers – creating a dynamic and high-energy sequence that’s as fun as it is chaotic. It’s a landmark for Marvel choreography, pushing the limits of spatial continuity and coordination, especially as they start to anticipate the switches and use them tactically.
In a franchise that sometimes leans too heavily on CGI-laden spectacle, this fight sequence stands out for its clever concept and character-driven tension. Not only does it showcase each Marvel’s unique abilities, but it also serves as a metaphor for their slowly forming bond. It’s the first time the MCU has introduced this kind of dynamic power-sharing in a fight – and it’s visually thrilling to watch.
5
The Marvels Deals With The Fallout Of A Hero’s Actions
The Marvels Explored The Consequences Of Captain Marvel
The Marvels continues a growing MCU trend: examining how the decisions of heroes ripple outward in disastrous or unexpected ways. Just like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced Incursions caused by reckless multiversal tampering, The Marvels explores the consequences of Captain Marvel’s actions on the Kree homeworld and other affected planets. The fall of Hala isn’t just a footnote – it becomes the emotional and thematic core of the story, showing that even well-intentioned heroism can destabilize entire civilizations.
This sets up a key thematic thread heading toward Avengers: Doomsday, where reality itself will presumably be at risk of multiversal collapse. Strange’s meddling in the multiverse still hasn’t been addressed, with an incursion still pending. There are also parallels with Iron Man’s legacy – particularly in how his tech and ego continue to haunt the MCU. With Robert Downey Jr. playing the MCU’s Doctor Doom, Iron Man’s death and legacy will presumably play a role, potentially continuing this trend by creating inadvertent consequences.
4
The Marvels Demonstrated How The Barriers Between Realities Could Be Broken
The Quantum Bands Rip A Hole Between Universes
Unlike Loki or Doctor Strange, which rely on magic or TVA tech to breach dimensions, The Marvels proves that multiversal travel can be achieved through raw energy manipulation. Dar-Benn uses the Quantum Bands a the end of the movie, killing herself and ripping a hole between realities. Monica Rambeau sacrifices herself, using pH๏τonic energy to stabilizes it through sheer willpower and knowledge of cosmic mechanics. This is an incredibly important precedent: multiversal hopping is no longer just for sorcerers or gods – it’s accessible to high-level science heroes too.
That has enormous implications for Avengers: Doomsday, especially with a scientific tyrant like Doctor Doom entering the fray. If a multiversal incursion can be triggered and stabilized by someone like Monica, Doom could feasibly do the same, but with malevolent intent. The Marvels quietly lays the groundwork for how fragile the boundaries between realities really are – and who might exploit that in the near future.
3
The Marvels Set-Up The MCU’s Young Avengers
Kamala Khan Is Recruiting Young Heroes
At the end of The Marvels, Kamala Khan takes a major step forward not just as a solo hero, but as a recruiter. The final scene mirrors the iconic Nick Fury moment from Iron Man (2008), with Kamala playfully channeling that same vibe as she approaches Kate Bishop to talk about forming a team. It’s subtle, but it’s the clearest setup yet for the Young Avengers – a team the MCU has been slowly building toward since WandaVision, Hawkeye, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Kamala is the perfect character to spearhead this youthful movement: earnest, hopeful, and a total fangirl of the Avengers legacy. Her charm, combined with her newfound leadership initiative, sets the stage for a new generation of heroes stepping into the void left by the original Avengers. The Marvels isn’t just another cosmic adventure – it’s a pᴀssing of the torch, making it essential for what comes next.
2
The Marvels Introduced The X-Men As Allies Of Multiversal Avengers
The X-Men’s Introduction Will Be Key For Avengers: Doomsday
The monumental moment in The Marvels where Monica wakes up in a universe containing the X-Men has even further ramifications. Monica meets a variant of her mother who has become the superhero Binary. Binary is based on Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau from the comics, both of which are affiliated with the Avengers. This suggests that in some universes, the X-Men are already working with the Avengers and cosmic-level heroes.
This will be pivotal heading into Avengers: Doomsday, which is rumored to feature a team-up between the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, and X-Men against Doctor Doom. As the cinematic X-Men have previously not been seen working with other heroes, The Marvels breaks this precedent, establishing them as collaborators in advance of Avengers: Doomsday. The introduction of Binary as an X-Men affiliate was not only a surprise for audiences but sets the tone for a united multiversal front.
1
The Marvels Is Way Better Than The Box Office Suggests
The Marvels Was Plagued With Issues Upon Release
The Marvels may be the MCU’s lowest-grossing film to date, but its quality, stakes, and importance are far greater than ticket sales suggest. From its whip-smart character dynamics to its inventive fight choreography and emotional weight, the film offers a lot more than it was given credit for. Blame poor marketing, superhero fatigue, or timing – but not the content itself.
The chemistry between the leads, particularly Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan, brings a much-needed freshness and heart to the MCU. Its concise runtime avoids the bloat of other recent entries, while still delivering huge multiversal implications. For a film that’s become unfairly ᴀssociated with the phrase “box office bomb,” The Marvels quietly accomplishes more for the future of the franchise than most recent blockbusters. Rewatching The Marvels with the knowledge of what’s coming – Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: Secret Wars, and the full X-Men integration – reveals just how foundational this underdog movie truly is.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- Release Date
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July 31, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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