Do Superheroes Need An Origin Movie?

So far most superhero movies have started with an origin story. Batman, Captain America, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Superman, Thor, and Wolverine have all had their origin stories told. Some multiple times. Other major characters have been able to exist without solo movies and origin stories though. Black Widow, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, X-Men, etc. are major characters that we know little about. All have had varying degrees of success at the box office, so my question is; do superhero movies need origin stories?

The answer to this question is not a yes or no. The true answer is somewhere in between. I will explain the different possible answers below.

*Yes – Superhero movies need origin stories:

Despite recent success, comic book fans and superhero fans are still a niche group. Studios are trying to attract casual fans, not hardcore fans. They know hardcore fans will already purchase tickets to their movies. Studios want to bring in new buyers in order to gain repeat customers. They want people seeing their movie multiple times. A great way to do this is to explain to the fans what they are watching. Telling an origin story is a great way to make a fan feel as though they are a part of something from the beginning. These origin stories can explain a lot about a character. It helps fans become invested.

*No – Superhero movies do not need origin stories:

As stated above fans know little about Black Widow, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, X-Men, etc. That has not decreased interest in those characters. Marvel and Fox have had great success without relying on a tired formula of movie making. We know little about most of the villains in these movies too, yet some have become immensely popular. We know nothing about the Joker and he may be the best character from all of these movies. This is proof that movies do not need origin stories in order to gain fan appeal and profits.

*Maybe:

Some comic book characters have transcended comic book fame. They are now firmly entrenched in pop culture lure. I believe most people, not just fans, know about Bruce Wayne seeing his Mother and Father shot in front of him. Most people know about Peter Parker seeing his Uncle Ben die. Most people know Superman is an alien raised in Smallville, Kansas. Most people know Captain America is a super soldier who was frozen for many years. Some origin stories do not need to be retold every time a character is rebooted or remade. It is lazy film making. On the other hand, some characters should have an origin story told. Movie goers know little about lesser known characters. The internet can explain a lot, but that would require fans to do some research. Not many people want to do homework before they see a movie.

*Depends:

There are pros and cons to having an origin story or not having an origin story. I think the best option really depends on how it is done. Some movies stray from the character’s comic book origin. Comic books and movies are different though. They require different types of storytelling. What works in a comic book may not work in a movie and vice versa. Fans will only get mad when a movie is bad or the core characteristics about a character are changed. There are also different ways to give some background information on a character without a full blown origin movie. Flashbacks, character exposition, and reveals can all be used instead of a movie starting from the very beginning of a character’s superhero life.