After Rewatching Marvel’s $206 Million Flop, I Know It’s A Game-Changer For Avengers 5 & 6

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen some of its releases not perform as well as expected, and that was the case with The Marvels, but even though the film turned into a box office bomb, a rewatch makes it clear that it is key to the next Avengers films. Marvel’s 2025 movies have faced issues with their box office performance.

That is a symptom of a problem that has been plaguing the MCU since the start of the Multiverse Saga. While Marvel has recognized that the franchise’s overall quality dipped as the studio churned out many projects quickly, the road to recovery is a long one for the MCU’s slate of projects. That said, even movies that backfire can still be important.

The Marvels Ended Up As The MCU’s Lowest-Grossing Movie

Kamala Khan, Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau in costume in The Marvels

When thinking about the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, I believe The Marvels is easily the biggest disappointment. The film was the sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel, which ended its box office run north of $1 billion. Sadly, the sequel not only did not match that, but it fell incredibly short. The Marvels made only $206 million worldwide, becoming the MCU’s lowest-grossing movie.

Reportedly, The Marvels‘ budget was around $270 million. Based on how a movie’s breakeven point is normally 2x-2.5x its budget, the Captain Marvel sequel needed to have at least finished its global run in the $540-$675 million range. Given its poor box office performance, The Marvels lost the studio hundreds of millions. That said, it can still help the MCU.

The Marvels Set Up Avengers: Doomsday & Secret Wars In Three Major Ways

Beast in a lab coat in The Marvels' post-credits scene

While The Marvels‘ box office was disappointing, the movie itself was enjoyable, and upon a rewatch, it is easy to see how important it is for the future of the franchise. The Marvels‘ biggest setup for the MCU’s Avengers movies comes with the debut of the X-Men. Monica Rambeau is stuck in a universe that has Kelsey Grammer’s Beast and more.

Years after The Marvels‘ release, that reveal was made more exciting. That is due to how several Fox X-Men stars, including Grammer, have joined the cast of Avengers: Doomsday. Based on The Marvels‘ post-credits scene, the X-Men that appear in the Avengers movie should be the ones from the universe Monica is trapped in.

Another direct post-credits setup in The Marvels came in the form of a possible new Avengers team. With Sam Wilson’s Avengers and the Thunderbolts — now the New Avengers — rising in 2025, they could join forces with Ms. Marvel’s young team of heroes — rumored to be the Young Avengers. In The Marvels, Kamala Khan recruited Kate Bishop, with Cᴀssie Lang next on her list.

A third setup in The Marvels for the upcoming Avengers movies is Captain Marvel’s mission. She feels responsible for what happened to Monica Rambeau and will not rest until she is found. As such, while Brie Larson was not announced for Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast, it is unlikely that the X-Men plot would be followed up without The Marvels‘ main hero.