The coronavirus pandemic practically threw a wrench in the 2020 cinematic plans for most studios. The following year saw a bit of a revival, especially after a year absent of Marvel material, but the pandemic continued to keep most moviegoers from entering larger venues like movies theaters.
However, manyfilms performed relatively welldespite the hesitation, such asSpider-Man: No Way Home, which was the first film to earn $1 billion in box office revenues since 2019. Fandango recently surveyed more than 6,000 moviegoers to find out what they were looking forward to most heading into 2022 within several different categories.Black Panther: Wakanda Forevertopped the list as the most anticipated film of 2022, withSpider-Man: Across the Spiderverse (Part One)following close behind.
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The release ofBlack Pantherin 2018 was transformational, supplanting the iconic hero firmly within the hearts of audiences across generations. The film performed exceptionally well in theaters and earned a Best Picture nomination at the 2019 Academy Awards. While it failed to take home the biggest prize of the night, the film still accomplished victories in the following other categories: Original Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design. The excitement for the hero and the story of T’Challa was robustuntil the tragic passingof the man behind the mask, Chadwick Boseman, in August 2020. While the death of Boseman continues to have a tremendous emotional impact, the confirmation of a sequel by Marvel warmed the hearts of those looking forward to more.
Information behind the sequel’s story is relatively unknown, but audiences have been given some insight into the overarching concept that the film will center around. Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, indicated that the sequelwould focus more on Wakanda, exploring the mythology and history of the unparalleled land. Nate Moore, Marvel Studio VP of Development, also confirmed that Chadwick Boseman would not digitally appear inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, but the late actor’s brother disclosed thatBoseman would want to see the role recast. Boseman understood what the iconic figure represented to the younger generation and knew that the part was more significant than one individual. The hero’s emergence carries the most weight, but the return of Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) has been a desire that audiences have thrown into the cinematic universe as well. The film looks to arrive in theaters in November 2022, butinjuries suffered on setby Letitia Wright halted production to make room for her recovery.
WhileBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverholds the top spot, other prominent films also garner audience excitement. As stated,Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse (Part One)followed close behind, withThe Batman,Thor: Love and Thunder, andJurassic World: Dominionrounding out the top five. Marvel distinctively ended 2021 withSpider-Man: No Way Home, and it looks to continue that momentum with three new films;Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madnesscame in at number six on the list. The exciting content inching closer is spurring enthusiasm, but there are some performances that audiences can’t wait to fully experience. Chris Hemsworth took the top spot for the most anticipated returning performance withThor: Love and Thunder. At the same time, Robert Pattinson took top honors for the most anticipated new performance withThe Batman.
Audiences are still looking forward to a fantastic year in the theater. When asked about their desire to return to the theater, 94% indicated they wanted to go to the theater more often in 2022 than in 2021. The success ofSpider-Man: No Way Homeis a promising sign for Marvel Studios and the rest of the film industry. The release ofBlack Pantherin 2018 ignited a tremendous rush to the theaters, and one can only assume that the lift will be even more significant for the highly anticipated sequel.
