Before 2023, it would have been unthinkable for a Marvel Studios film to flop at the box office. Regardless, The Marvels failed to, well, marvel audiences, earning a bleak $206.1 million worldwide, while Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania disappointed the studio with only $476.

The screenplay of the latest movie in the MCU tries to be too many things to too many prior adventures, but at its core is a resonant story about Black heroism.

The reality of “Brave New World” is that it’s a setup film, which is a thankless task. It’s meant to build to the reassembly of the Avengers and the subsequent release of “Avengers: Doomsday” in 2026. In the interim, Marvel Studios will release films and series setting up their return.