"Their Scripts Are Not Any F**king Good" – Nine Famous Directors Who've Slammed Superhero And Blockbuster Movies

"It’s a false, misleading conception, the superhero."

Blockbusters and superhero movies have somewhat taken over cinema over the last decade or so. And while many adore these movies, certain directors have not been happy about this trend, or have been openly critical of it.

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So, here are nine directors who've slammed superhero and blockbuster movies:

1. Martin Scorsese

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Martin, whose recent 3.5 hour film Killer's of the Flower Moon just hit our screens, has always been outspoken about superhero, and specifically Marvel movies. Back in 2019, he commented on the prevalence of superhero movies, claiming that they're "not cinema" and saying that they're more akin to "theme park rides." 

But the legendary director didn't stop there. He went on to call for filmmakers to buck the trend and fight against the threat of superhero films, saying: “We shouldn’t be invaded by it. We need cinemas to step up and show films that are narrative films.”

Speaking about having to "save cinema" – he warned of the generations of movie-goers who will only know films to be the blockbusters, saying: “The danger there is what it’s doing to our culture because there are going to be generations now that think movies are only those – that’s what movies are,”

2. Francis Ford Coppola

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In relation to Martin Scorsese's comments, fellow award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola came out to agree with him, and he elaborated as to why:

“When Martin Scorsese says that the Marvel pictures are not cinema, he’s right because we expect to learn something from cinema, we expect to gain something, some enlightenment, some knowledge, some inspiration.”

The director went a step further, calling Marvel movies "despicable": 

“I don’t know that anyone gets anything out of seeing the same movie over and over again. Martin was kind when he said it’s not cinema. He didn’t say it’s despicable, which I just say it is.”

3. Terry Gilliam

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One director who certainly didn't mince his words was Terry Gilliam, who went in hard on superhero movies and the whole idea of superheroes in general, suggesting they're for young teens and that's it: 

The Python who has directed movies including Brazil and 12 Monkeys had this to say about superheroes: 

“I hate superheroes. It’s bullshit. Come on, grow up! We’re not going to be teenagers for the rest of our lives. It’s great to dream of great powers. Superheroes are all about power. That’s what I don’t like about superheroes. They’ve gotta beat the other powerful superheroes. Come on, a bit of peace, love, and understanding is what we need.”

4. Roland Emmerich

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Roland, who directed Independence Day, called Marvel movies "formulaic" and admitted to using them to fall asleep on planes, adding, "When I see Marvel movies, my eyes glaze over." 

He went on to detail what in particular he didn't like about them, saying it is to do with the storytelling: 

"I think what's a little bit disconcerting for me is how the stories are told. Because you have to have a knowledge of the characters, they don't even bother to tell you, 'Oh this is this character and he has these kinds of superpowers. What's really happening is the storytelling is going down the drain a little bit."

5. Jodie Foster

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Actor and director Jodie Foster has had less of a clear line on Marvel movies than the previous directors, but she has made some strong comments on them in the past. Back in 2018 she compared them to fracking, and said and said they were  "ruining the viewing habits" of audiences. 

However, since then, she's seemingly had a change of heart. In 2021, Jodie actually said she would like to do a Marvel movie while expressing her appreciation for Iron Man and Black Panther.

6. Ridley Scott

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Another director who certainly didn't hold back when speaking about superhero and Marvel movies is Ridley Scott. When talking about his disdain for the common superhero movies, he said that he himself had made three great superhero movies, and referenced Alien, Gladiator, and Blade Runner. Of modern superhero films he said, "Their scripts are not any fucking good."

He went on to add: "They’re fucking boring as shit... They’re superhero movies. So, why don’t the superhero movies have better stories? Sorry. I got off the rail, but I mean, c’mon. They’re mostly saved by special effects, and that’s becoming boring for everyone who works with special effects, if you’ve got the money."

7. Alejandro González Iñárritu

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The Birdman director has some rather strong opinions on superhero movies, and the term superhero itself for that matter. His primary gripe comes with his interpretation that they're actually really right-wing: 

“The problem is that sometimes they purport to be profound, based on some Greek mythological kind of thing. And they are honestly very right-wing. I always see them as killing people because they do not believe in what you believe, or they are not being who you want them to be. I hate that, and don’t respond to those characters."

He continued to outlay his issue with the term 'hero', "What the fuck does that mean? It’s a false, misleading conception, the superhero."

I think it's safe to say he won't be taking a Marvel movie any time soon. 

8. Oliver Stone

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Director Oliver Stone took umbrage with the over-the-top nature of action movies and referenced both John Wick 4 and Fast and Furious in his outburst. Speaking about the action in John Wick 4, he said: 

“Talk about volume. I think the film is disgusting beyond belief. Disgusting. I don’t know what people are thinking... [Reeves] kills, what, three, four hundred people in the f–king movie. And as a combat veteran, I gotta tell you, not one of them is believable. I realise it’s a movie, but it’s become a video game more than a movie.”

He went on to speak about action movies in general, saying: 

"How many cars can crash? How many stunts can you do? What’s the difference between Fast and Furious and some other film. It’s just one thing after another. Whether it’s a super-human Marvel character or just a human being like John Wick, it doesn’t make any difference. It’s not believable.”

9. Larry Charles

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Larry Charles also slammed blockbuster movies but for more of an ethical reason. He directed his criticism at the gross expenditure certain films demand, and pointed at the trouble in the world, essentially asking how a movie can justify such expenditure: 

“Politically for me, ethically for me, I find it offensive when movies cost $250 million and the world is in the state that it’s in. So I’m also looking to make a statement in the way these things are made.”

Larry outlined that he preferred making smaller-budget films.

What other directors have come out against superhero movies and blockbusters? Let us know in the comments below!