Audience Research

Successful Superhero Films

The Dark Knight – the warner bro’s adaption of Batman is one of the highest grossing superhero films to date. Its made a lifetime gross of $533,345,358 according to http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=superhero.htm .
The Dark Knight has many reasons as to why it is a successful film. The Dark Knight had star appeal with Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman and Heath Ledger playing main parts in the film. Top performance in the film immersed audiences into the city of Gotham and watching the action scenes such as the hospital blowing up and props used from the comic such as the Batmobile. It breaks typical conventions and is a lot darker and sinister than most superhero films which is why it stands out from the rest.

Films like Spider-man, Iron Man and X-Men all have the same conventions as to why they are successful. All superhero films require star appeal, Iron man featured Robert Downey JR. who has since been in many films such as Due Date and even the Iron Man sequel. Comical films attract the attention of older comic lovers who were born in the age of comics and also younger kids who are attracted to films who contain superheroes and villains. Media institutions which distribute the films are major institutions who have the money to distribute merchandise to attract kids and teenagers. Sony are the media institutions for Spiderman and Paramount are the media institutions for Iron Man which are big blockbuster films.

Example of merchandise for Spider-man.