Part 8/10:
The industry response has been cautious, with outlets like Deadline openly criticizing the film's performance and questioning Disney's overall strategy. Many believe Disney is now trying to mask Eternals’ shortcomings by deflecting blame onto factors like the pandemic, audience fatigue, or preferences for female directors and diversity.
The disappointing debut underscores a broader issue for Marvel and Disney: their once-reliable formula is no longer resonating as powerfully. The approach of overloading films with too many characters, straying from established storytelling formulas, and hiring directors unfamiliar with blockbuster filmmaking may threaten the longevity of Marvel’s cinematic dominance.