As someone who has been following the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since its inception, I must say that my feelings towards Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania are a bit schizophrenic. On one hand, I was disappointed by its weak script, poor CGI, and lackluster action sequences. But on the other, I can’t deny the fact that it managed to turn a profit despite these shortcomings, which is nothing short of miraculous.
Quantumania,” the third installment of the Ant-Man series and the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, faced criticism when it was released in 2023. The movie received a mediocre rating of 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the lowest-rated films in the entire MCU, only slightly better than “Eternals.” Despite its poor CGI, weak script, lackluster action sequences, and seemingly insignificant stakes, it managed to make a profit.
As a die-hard Marvel fan, I might say: Despite some fans’ disappointment with recent releases, it seems Marvel Studios is still striking it rich. For instance, Quantumania may not have reached the astronomical earnings of Avengers: Endgame ($1.7 billion), but it certainly made a profit. With a global box office haul of $476 million and a substantial UK tax credit, Quantumania ended up padding their coffers with an impressive $88,236.
Despite the profit from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania being relatively small compared to other MCU films, it’s astonishing that the movie still made money at all. The film’s success may be due to Kang, the main antagonist played by Jonathan Majors in his first appearance. With Kang’s character having been introduced in Loki Season 1, his role in Quantumania was designed to lay the groundwork for Avengers: Kang Dynasty, where Kang is expected to be as formidable a threat as Thanos.
Marvel Studios Was Right to Drop Kang From the MCU
When character Kang was introduced in the series Loki, fans went into a frenzy about the potential new main antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). After the events of Avengers: Endgame, viewers had been debating which comic book villain would take over as the next universe-threatening menace for the MCU. However, the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania not only left the franchise in a precarious position but also dampened much of the excitement surrounding Kang’s power.
Kang is considered one of Marvel Comics’ most formidable villains, standing alongside Galactus, Thanos, and Dr. Doom. However, many fans feel that the MCU didn’t fully capitalize on this potential. The primary issue seems to be a lack of persistence. Thanos was hinted at in the end of The Avengers back in 2012. It wasn’t until six years later, after numerous films, that Marvel Studios truly showcased his immense threat level in Avengers: Infinity War, where he overpowered the Avengers. Loki was a challenging adversary for the Avengers in their initial encounter. However, when it was revealed that he was merely a pawn, with Thanos orchestrating events behind the scenes, it underscored Thanos’ immense power as a villain.
In the finale of Loki’s first season, Marvel Studios hastily thrust Kang into the limelight. Although he had a minor role, the storyline for him mirrored that of Thanos. However, positioning him as the main antagonist in Quantumania raised concerns since one of the Avengers’ more humorous characters might easily defeat him. If Kang could be vanquished by colossal ants, how could he possibly present a challenge to the entire Avengers roster? Additionally, the light-hearted and witty tone of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania diminished Kang’s intimidating presence—it’s safe to say that a villain who converses with alternate versions of himself like Sylvester Stallone in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over is less scary than most.
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2024-10-30 19:03