Vegas was the place to be this week as the film industry gathered for CinemaCon, but the real fireworks happened on social media. As studios showcased their upcoming slates, a clear divide emerged: Marvel came to play, while DC seemed to be playing hide-and-seek.
The buzz reached a fever pitch when Marvel Studios took the stage. After a period of “superhero fatigue” headlines, the studio decided to remind everyone why they own the box office. They didn’t just bring news; they brought the “Firehose of Spandex.”
Marvel’s Power Move: The Return of RDJ
The absolute viral highlight of the week was the first legitimate trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday.” The reaction inside the room—and subsequently across X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok—was described as overwhelming. In a move brimming with confidence, Disney actually played the trailer twice.
The big talking point? Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Doom. According to those in attendance, RDJ was “unrecognizable” behind the mask, using a heavily accented voice that has fans speculating wildly. “It must be nice for Disney to have a film where the question isn’t whether it makes a billion, but exactly how many billions,” one attendee noted.
Marvel also introduced “Infinity Vision,” a new certification for premium theaters. While some critics called it “marketing bullshit” to compete with IMAX, fans are already clamoring for those premium tickets.
DC’s Quiet Night Sparks “Bat-Who?” Jokes
On the flip side, DC Studios’ presentation felt a bit like a “Zoom meeting” that could have been an email. Despite the massive momentum from last year, news on “The Batman Part Two” was non-existent.
Instead of a blockbuster trailer, fans got a video message from “Superman” stars David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult essentially saying they would tell us more “someday.” While influencers praised a “Guardians of the Galaxy”-esque clip from “Supergirl,” the general sentiment online was one of confusion. The “Holy Trinity” of DC—Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman—felt largely absent, leading to jokes that the studio’s current messaging is “No comment.”
Star Wars Nostalgia vs. “Zoom Meeting” Vibes
Disney also treated the crowd to the first minutes of “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” the first Star Wars flick to hit theaters in seven years. While the trailer used iconic John Williams themes to hit the nostalgia button, some critics were skeptical.
One reviewer pointed out that despite director Jon Favreau’s push for practical sets, some scenes still had characters speaking to the camera against blurry backgrounds, recreating the “feeling of a Zoom meeting.” However, the consensus remains: “If you like The Mandalorian, you will like the movie.”
Holograms, Gray Hair, and A-List Awkwardness
The “Winners” circle was crowded with prestige moments. Attendees were stunned by the “Saving Private Ryan with lasers” vibe of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three.” Meanwhile, Tom Cruise turned heads by… looking like Tom Cruise. Fans were shocked to see the actor sport gray hair and wrinkles for Alejandro Inarritu’s “Digger,” looking his actual age for perhaps the first time on screen.
The award for “Most Awkward Absence” went to the Spider-Man presentation. Tom Holland appeared via a bizarre hologram, while Zendaya—who skipped the Spidey chat—showed up on stage for “Dune” instead. It was the Hollywood equivalent of telling a friend you are too busy to hang out, then getting tagged in a photo at a different party.
The “Clavicular” Meltdown
Outside of the movie trailers, the internet was united in mocking the “looksmaxx” influencer known as Clavicular. After an interview walk-off and a subsequent hospitalization, the influencer has seen his notoriety skyrocket. “I’d never even heard of Clavicular and suddenly he’s everywhere,” one insider remarked.
Whether it was Marvel’s dominance or influencers having meltdowns, CinemaCon proved that the “ad crack” of Hollywood news is as addictive as ever. As we look toward the summer, one thing is certain: the race for the box office crown is officially on.
