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The true severity of Marvel's struggles became evident with the disappointing performance of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The film failed to reach $500 million worldwide—a stark contrast to previous Marvel hits. This was especially alarming given the franchise's previous record-breaking successes. Despite the positive reception and box office performance of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which might help it break even, there is a clear sense that the golden era of Marvel is over. Many industry insiders and fans believe that this film marks the last significant contribution from director James Gunn and the characters he's brought to life.