Meryl Streep has criticized the superhero genre for its lack of character complexity while promoting The Devil Wears Prada 2. The film is set to replace Avengers: Doomsday as the summer movie season opens.
Streep stated, “I think we tend to Marvel-ize the movies now. We got the villains and we got the good guys, and it’s so boring.” This critique comes at a time when superhero films have dominated the box office for over two decades.
In 2025, action and adventure movies accounted for 35% of ticket sales from the top 100 films. In contrast, as recently as 2022, action movies represented 56% of domestic box office dollars. The last Avengers movie, Avengers: Endgame, generated a staggering $2.8 billion in global ticket sales.
Analysts predict that The Devil Wears Prada 2 will bring in at least $70 million in domestic ticket sales this weekend. This follows a steady trend where about 25 action films have been released annually for more than a decade.
Doug Creutz remarked, “It appears audiences are no longer eager to see even good superhero films today as they were pre-pandemic.” Greg Marcus added that there is a lack of new dramas or comedies being made, contributing to changing audience preferences.
The follow-up sees Anne Hathaway reprising her role as Andrea Sachs alongside Streep. Observers are curious whether this sequel can shift audience interest back towards character-driven narratives.
Meryl Streep’s comments highlight a growing sentiment in Hollywood. Many hope that this shift may signal a new normal for moviegoers seeking depth over spectacle.
