The long awaited "Deadpool" premiered last weekend to the pleasure of fans (and Fox’s pockets) everywhere. On a budget of $58 million, it didn’t exactly get the same faith behind it as Fox’s other superhero franchises.
The first X-men film received $75 million in backing, and the failure that was Josh Trank’s reboot of the "Fantastic Four" received $128 million. However, "Deadpool" has already made four times its budget in the box office, enough to be called a resounding success.
So what does "Deadpool" mean for the already abundant superhero film market? R-rated superhero films up until now have been taboo. The superhero market has always played heavily on the teen and family markets for the profitability of toy sales. But "Deadpool’s" success just might be the birth of a new market.
DC’s "Suicide Squad" is on its way to theaters this year and looks aimed to be a roaring success. However, while in development there was a question over what the rating would be. The comic it originates and takes its name from, was known for the many deaths throughout its long run.
A team known for being put together out of villains, the likes of Harley Quinn or Killer Croc, who have basically been assigned to death row and implanted with a kill switch doesn’t exactly feel PG-13. Hiring David Ayer to direct even brought fans to a point where they thought they might get their R version of the "Suicide Squad." However, the studios decided not to take the risk of cutting off a good portion of their target audience. A safe move on their part with the track record of serious R-rated superhero films. "Watchmen" (2009), another DC property, and "The Punisher" (2004) an easily forgotten film, both failed to prove that R-rated superhero movies could be a profitable venture.
At the end of the day that is largely what the film industry comes down to. As several of my film professors have told me it is show “business”. If you can’t make something that will pay off or get awards then most people won’t give you money to make it. That’s why "Suicide Squad" is rated PG-13. Financially they have to be sure that they get a return on their investment.
On the other hand, "Deadpool" is very low budget for a superhero film. In contrast "Spider-Man" (2002), which is known for kicking off the superhero film industry, and "Iron Man" (2008), Marvel’s inception, both had budgets of $140 million. So it was allowed to take the risks that "Suicide Squad," with a much larger budget, couldn’t because it needed to make sure that its investment worked out.
So one of the reasons that I loved "Deadpool," besides the great comedy writing, was honestly because it took risks. Because to me it was the fanfare that signaled a brand new possibility for superhero films. Instead of repeating the same Marvel formula that involved making sure everything stay family friendly. Now we just have to look forward to a R-rated "X-force."
