They said superhero fatigue would kill the MCU. That the multiverse was a bridge too far. That audiences were tired of capes, quips, and CGI battles that look like they were rendered on a toaster.
And yet… Ironheart still sits at number one. Captain America: Brave New World is right behind it.
Three weeks. Five weeks since release. No sign of slowing down.
Critics? Divided. Audiences? Loyal. Twitter? Screaming into the void.
But Disney+ doesn't care about your hot take. It only cares what people are watching.
And people are watching Marvel.
There's something almost mythic about it.
Like watching a phoenix rise—not from ashes, but from the smoldering wreckage of Phase 5.
Let's be real: this wasn't a banner year for the MCU. The Multiverse Saga sputtered toward its finale with more missteps than momentum. Thunderbolts*, Ironheart, and Brave New World—all landed differently. Some critics loved Ironheart (82% RT), hated Brave New World (47%). Others flipped the script. Online discourse turned venomous in places, especially around Ironheart , where Sacha Baron Cohen's Mephisto couldn't even charm the trolls into silence.
But none of it stuck.
Not really.
Because while critics and fans bickered over tone, pacing, and whether or not Riri Williams needed trauma to justify her hero status, viewers kept streaming.
And streaming.
And streaming.
What does that say?
That maybe “superhero fatigue” isn't a thing. Or at least, not the kind of thing that kills franchises.
Maybe it's just noise.
The kind studios learn to tune out.
Because here's the truth: when you've built a universe as sprawling as the MCU, you don't need everyone to love every project. You just need enough people to keep showing up.
And enough people did.
Enough to beat out Snow White . Enough to outrun Independence Day . Enough to remind us all that nostalgia, brand loyalty, and good old-fashioned fandom are forces more powerful than any algorithm.
Now let's talk about Ironheart .
It's got soul.
A story about legacy, invention, and identity wrapped in tech and tempered by grief. Riri Williams isn't Tony Stark 2.0. She's her own damn engineer. Her own damn hero.
Critics saw promise. Depth. A new voice in the MCU chorus.
Audiences? Split. Maybe they wanted more Wakanda. Maybe they missed Shuri. Maybe they just don't trust MIT geniuses who wear their pain like armor.
Still, it's number one.
And that matters.
Then there's Brave New World .
Anthony Mackie's first full flight as Captain America. No Falcon wings, no sidekick status—just Sam Wilson, carrying the shield and the weight of legacy.
It had moments.
Big ones.
A speech that echoed across the political spectrum. A villain with real-world teeth. And yes, some CGI so-so.
Critics panned it. Fans shrugged. Box office was soft.
But then came Disney+. And suddenly, it didn't matter what Deadline said or how many tweets called it “woke.” People watched. Re-watched. Debated.
And somewhere between week one and week five, it became part of the canon.
So what's next?
Phase 6. Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). Then Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Invasion , both set to drop in 2025.
No word yet if they'll hit Disney+ immediately. But based on current trends, it won't matter when they do.
Because fans will watch. Even if they complain. Even if they tweet.
Even if they have to make a deal with the devil.
Or at least with Mephisto.
Final thought:
Is the MCU cooked?
Maybe.
Has it cooked?
Definitely.
But somehow, it's still simmering. Still feeding the beast. Still topping the charts.
And until the numbers say otherwise—we're not done tasting.
Confirmed Dates:
- Ironheart – Streaming on Disney+
- Captain America: Brave New World – Streaming on Disney+
- Fantastic Four: First Steps – July 25, 2025
- Avengers: The Kang Dynasty – 2025
- Avengers: Secret Invasion – 2025
