Martin Scorsese on Marvel Films: "That's Not Cinema"

James Gunn has since fired back
Martin Scorsese on Marvel Films: 'That's Not Cinema'
By Allie Gregory
Published Oct 04, 2019
Director Martin Scorsese has come out swinging against a massive movie empire, Marvel Cinematic Universe and the superhero movies it produces. Perhaps MCU's most notable contribution to the world of superhero cinema is 2019's Avengers: Endgame, which was wildly popular and grossed $2.8 billion USD at box offices globally. But that doesn't interest Scorsese. 

In an interview with Empire, the director held nothing back about his disdain for superhero movies.

"I don't see them. I tried, you know? But that's not cinema," Scorsese told Empire [via Screen Rant]. "Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn't the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being."

UPDATE (10/4, 1:50 p.m. EDT): Guardians of the Galaxy and upcoming Suicide Squad sequel filmmaker James Gunn has responded to Scorsese's comments in a series of tweets, saying that he's "saddened" that Scorsese is judging his films and compared his actions to that of "people [who] picketed The Last Temptation of Christ without having seen the film." See the full thread below.

UPDATE (10/8 11:58 a.m. EDT): Robert Downey Jr. has also responded to Scorsese's comments while on air at The Howard Stern Show, saying the director's claims make "no sense." 

This probably means Scorsese won't have any interest in seeing the upcoming Marvel/Sony Spider-Man flick either.

Scorsese is best known for his directorial and production credits on world-renowned films like Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Departed, The Last Waltz and his latest film The Irishman.

Read Exclaim!'s newly published The Irishman review.