We Have Too Much Of The Marvel Cinematic Universe, And It's Getting Ridiculous
One of the best aspects of movies is how accessible they are, relatively speaking. Sure, there are a ton of movies that are difficult to legally watch, and many areas around the world don't have movie theaters on every corner like some major cities do, and not everyone has the means to afford them. That being said, if you're looking to watch a movie, the chances that you can either find it playing at your nearest theater or available to buy or stream online are high. You can just walk into almost any movie with little context and understand exactly what's going on.
However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe does not make these types of movies, at least not anymore. With over 30 films and a growing roster of TV shows, it's a miracle that Disney's superhero juggernaut has been able to maintain a somewhat-consistent storyline over the years. It's a commendable act of storytelling that continues with the recently-released "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania." That being said, if you've missed out on some key entries in the franchise, you might be scratching your head over what in the world Kang the Conquerer (Jonathan Majors) is talking about throughout the film. Unfortunately, "Quantumania" is far from the only MCU entry to have this problem, and it's proof that the franchise has oversaturated itself to an unsustainable degree.
Too much of a decent thing
While this piece will not dive into major spoilers for "Quantumania," it will acknowledge one thing: Before you watch it, you need to familiarize yourself with the MCU Disney+ show "Loki." Even though the multiverse has been referenced and seen consistently in the franchise since "Avengers: Endgame," it was "Loki" that established the multiverse's rules and history, establishing He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors) as its ultimate overseer. It also introduces the concept of variants, other versions of characters from different timelines, and the menacing Kang (Majors) happens to be a variant of He Who Remains. Kang references everything revealed and elaborated on regarding timelines in "Loki," but without that critical context, his motivations will barely make sense.
It doesn't seem fair for either audience members or the creative team behind these movies that they are so reliant on following a very specific storyline. This isn't to say that the MCU doesn't have any self-contained entries, as the Disney+ shows "Moon Knight" and "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" have proven. That being said, they still rely on the viewers' understanding of the entries that came before it, expecting you to understand and accept the landscape they're being thrust into.
"Quantumania" and other big MCU releases are the same way, but in order for any enjoyment to be taken out of it, knowing everything else that has transpired is a requirement. Gone are the days when you can watch a Marvel movie, with no knowledge of a character or prior storyline, and still follow through on its plot threads from beginning to end.
It's the end of the multiverse as we know it
It is unrealistic for the MCU to expect their fans to have complete and total loyalty to your brand. There is so much media being released on a daily basis that it's going to be natural to miss a movie or show, and viewers shouldn't be essentially punished for this. By overloading fans with what they consider "content," they are actually losing them in the process. The MCU isn't as enjoyable anymore because there is too much of it, and "Quantumania" is proof of that.
At the very least, it seems as if the folks at Marvel Studios are starting to understand this. The studio is planning on significantly slowing down its television output, delaying much of its upcoming slate of Disney+ originals in the process. There's a good chance that this could improve both the quality of their output and the goodwill among fans, especially those who may have decided that following the franchise is no longer worth it. That being said, this isn't a guarantee and likely won't magically solve the other issues the MCU has created for itself as its scope and popularity widen. We just hope that the lukewarm reception to "Quantumania" sends a clear message to Marvel, that they need to prioritize quality over quantity and not make everything so interconnected anymore.