Fans at San Diego Comic-Con told Variety that Marvel, DC and “Star Wars” are struggling because recent releases have not always felt distinctive, consistent or satisfying enough for long-term audiences. Their views matter because these franchises have dominated blockbuster culture for years, yet are now finding it harder to translate fan loyalty into major cinema success.

One DC fan criticised “Supergirl” and argued that DC should stop trying to resemble Marvel, while another praised James Gunn’s character-led approach after enjoying “Superman”. The article cites disappointing recent performances for Marvel titles including “Thunderbolts*”, “Fantastic Four” and “Captain America: Brave New World”, DC’s “Supergirl”, and “The Mandalorian and Grogu”, which marked “Star Wars”’ return to cinemas after six years.