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Avengers:End Game vs. Star Wars, Is Star Wars’ Legacy under Assault?

This isn’t an autograph discussion, per se, but rather a consideration of our pop culture which is what drives our quest for autographs.

But what I’d like to look at is this incredible, worldwide $1.2 billion weekend box office performance by Avengers: End Game that has shattered records...at least in gross dollar terms, not accounting for inflation.

In terms of pure dollar figures, Star Wars - The Force Awakens had been the highest grossing movie of all-time in the United States, second worldwide.

But forget gross dollar figures. What I’m really interested in is TICKET SALES. That’s what really defines in-theater popularity. And what are the two highest-attended movies in American history judged by ticket sales. No. 1 is Gone with the Wind (1939), and No. 2 is Star Wars - A New Hope (1977). Where Avengers:End Game will end up on this list, I don’t know.

But here’s my concern. Could the Avengers series take over Star Wars as the most popular and beloved movie series of all-time? It seems unlikely to me because since the original Star Wars movie was released in 1977, Star Wars has been a true never-seen-before cultural phenomenon. People who weren’t alive in 1977 don’t have a true understanding just how Star Wars took over the world like nothing seen before. It truly was unbelievable.

First, let me say, due to my disability, that I have not seen any of the Avengers movies. I only get to go to two or three movies a year because of my disability and have not seen an Avengers movie, BUT I have seen all of the new Star Wars movies since they started coming out in December 2015. I believe there have been four of them.

But could Avengers, or perhaps I should say Marvel, become an even bigger phenomenon than Star Wars was or is?

I certainly hope not because I’m a HUGE Star Wars fan.

What are your thoughts on this?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on April 30, 2019 at 10:33am

Could the Avengers series take over Star Wars as the most popular and beloved movie series of all-time?

Come back and ask in 40 years, but I doubt it.

(As a caveat I have not yet seen Avengers Endgame, but I will base my comments on the series overall.)

While the Marvel films of the past 10 years have been typically excellent and fun popcorn action films, they do not tend to tap into the universal and human themes you see in Star Wars, i.e., love, betrayal, friendship, sense of higher power and destiny, etc. The Avengers have some of this, but it's on a more superficial level. Star Wars has endured and grown more popular not because of the action sequences and fights, but because viewers connected with the human stories. I just don't see that in the Marvel movies.

That said, Star Wars has ascended to quasi-religious status for some, which I find a bit unsettling.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on April 30, 2019 at 10:38am

As a side note, I would not mind if Avengers maintained massive popularity for decades to come. It would mean the value of my Silver Age Marvel comics would continue to rise. :-)

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Permalink Reply by James on April 30, 2019 at 5:33pm

Ha, ha...good point, Steve!

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on April 30, 2019 at 10:42am

In response, my grandchildren are far more interested in Avengers than Star Wars. Although they seem to care less about autographs or comic books. Evolution. Tastes change. As the world changes.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel S. on April 30, 2019 at 11:00am

Taking my grandkids to Wizard World Chicago and they sure aren’t dressing like yoda! Avengers, for sure, not even close. With the recent success of Aquaman and Wonder Woman, DC Comics is also far ahead of Star Wars in their eyes (and mine).

Don’t dismiss the prospect of them gravitating toward the comics though when they are older and have disposable income.

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Permalink Reply by James on April 30, 2019 at 5:43pm

To Joe and Daniel, it’s true new generations are going to have different idols and defining shows and events.

Avengers is all the rage now. We’ll see what happens in December when Star Wars - #9 comes out.

I will just say that even if Avengers remains more popular, I don’t see any movie becoming the cultural phenomenon that Star Wars was with the original trilogy in the late 70s and early 80s.

I haven’t yet seen Antman yet, but I know I’ll like it. Why? Because I really like Paul Rudd...and he graduated from my high school, Shawnee Mission West, in Overland Park, Kansas, five years after I did! Rudd also attended my alma mater, the University of Kansas. So how can I not like him?! ;0)

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on April 30, 2019 at 5:46pm

Star Wars was groundbreaking and it has withstood the test of time. I dunno... Star Wars is pretty popular with my kids and their friends (grade and middle school age). Avengers is as well.

Time will tell, I guess.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel S. on April 30, 2019 at 6:40pm

I agree, James and I am not selling my “Revenge” of the Jedi poster yet, especially with Disney’s opening of Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios later this year! Disney will soon be breaking ground on a Galaxys Edge Resort which is supposed to be an over the top, experiential Star Wars resort starting at $2000/night with three night minimum.

https://www.tampabay.com/florida/2019/04/05/heres-everything-we-kno...

I liked Antman better than Antman and the Wasp. I also agree with your take on WW and Gal Gadot, as well as Civil War.

I did sell my Hulk 181 (9.4) comic three months ago though, Steve.

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Permalink Reply by James on May 1, 2019 at 10:25pm

Daniel, meant to comment on this yesterday, but WOW that sounds oh so cool! Speaking of quasi-religious, this could become a Mecca of sorts for Star Wars fans. I’m going to have to find a way to go there, although it would have to be a day trip only. I couldn’t afford the the $6000 minimum on hotel bills...unless, of course, I can convince Jeff Bezos that 1) I’m his long lost brother, and 2) family helps family. That my be too big of a challenge though. Lol.

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Permalink Reply by James on April 30, 2019 at 6:15pm

Daniel, I’m hoping I get to see Avengers because it must be pretty good based on all the people going to see it. Plus, I think the reviews have been good too.