Why do we still watch superheroes?

By Zander Kelly

You see them on television.

In movies.

On Netflix.

Superheroes are a genre that have saturated the market. From DC’s Arrow and The Flash to Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and Inhumans to Netflix’s Daredevil, Defenders and Punisher, there are always new heroes landing on screens large and small.

Beyond the television medium, there have been dozens of films featuring superheroes in the last 20 years, even before the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe. With so many of these shows and movies filling every aspect of the entertainment industry, why are people not sick of it yet?

John Marcarian has been one of the managers of Cineplex Odeon at Devonshire Mall since the theatre opened in 2000. He has seen many superhero films come out in the last decade.

“They probably want to see their favourite hero on screen, see how it translates to real life,” said Marcarian. “The studios are making improvements, especially with technology. People still come regardless of who or what it is. They have their favourite heroes they want to see.”

Steve Paniccia is the director of finance and production at White Pine Pictures and has been keeping up with the genre.

“It’s an escape. It’s a release. People are looking for that adventure. As long as people keep coming, the studios will keep spending hundreds of millions of dollars on new movies,” said Paniccia. “We’re on our third version of Spider-Man in 20 years.”

Paniccia said he remembers when superhero movies started to become popular.

“Batman started in the 90s with Tim Burton. That was one of the first big superhero franchises, even between different actors and directors,” said Paniccia.

Both Paniccia and Marcarian said they believe the trend is nowhere close to being over.

“The way it’s going now, the way they cycle through movies, I’m sure that Marvel and DC have at least planned out the last ten years,” said Paniccia. “It’s cyclical.”

“Superheroes are somewhat timeless,” said Marcarian. “They’re doing a great job, the machine keeps going and they keep fixing it as it goes. There may be some point where the bubble pops but I don’t see that.”

The next superhero movie on the way is Black Panther, which debuts Feb. 16, 2018.