by Marvel’s Phase 5 Continues The Weirdest MCU Trend You Probably Missed
Written by a 26-year-old movie blogger who grew up on superheroes and treasure hunters
There’s something strange happening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and chances are, you didn’t even notice. From museum battles to historical artifacts, the MCU has quietly developed a weird obsession with museums. And as someone who also just watched Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, I couldn’t help but notice how these two cinematic worlds — one fictional and futuristic, the other nostalgic and archaeological — weirdly overlap in one place: museums.
But here’s the twist. While Marvel is thriving with its weird museum trend in Phase 5, Indiana Jones — the original museum adventurer — just suffered one of the worst box office failures in recent memory. In fact, Dial of Destiny is set to lose at least $100 million.
As a movie geek who grew up idolizing Indiana Jones and now lives in the Marvel generation, I found this fascinating. So let’s dive into the museum trend in Marvel’s Phase 5, why Indiana Jones 5 flopped so hard, and what this strange contrast says about the future of blockbuster cinema.
Marvel’s Hidden Obsession with Museums in Phase 5
If you’ve been watching Marvel movies and shows closely, you might’ve noticed something strange: museums keep showing up. A lot. From emotional confrontations to historical Easter eggs, the MCU has been using museum settings to stage some major moments — and it’s not just a coincidence.
- Notable Museum Scenes in the MCU
- Let’s take a quick tour through the MCU’s museum obsession:
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier – The Smithsonian exhibit pays tribute to Steve Rogers, giving us emotional flashbacks and a heartfelt post-war atmosphere.
- Black Panther – Killmonger steals a vibranium artifact from a British museum, challenging Western ownership of African history.
- Spider-Man: Far From Home – Peter Parker’s school trip visits Venice and the Da Vinci Museum, disrupted by Mysterio’s illusions.
- Eternals – Sersi and Dane Whitman work at London’s Natural History Museum, revealing character depth and historical knowledge.
- Moon Knight – Steven Grant works in the museum gift shop, while Moon Knight’s lore is intertwined with Egyptian mythology on display.
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – The alternate universe version of Doctor Strange is honored in a “Strange Museum” on Earth-838.
- Secret Invasion – Gravik and Talos argue in the National Portrait Gallery — right before Talos stabs Gravik in the arm.
- There’s a strange poetry to all this. Marvel, a franchise built on science-fiction and superpowers, keeps returning to museums — the very places that celebrate real-world history, art, and legacy. But why?
Why Does the MCU Love Museums So Much?
Museums in the MCU are more than just pretty backdrops — they serve real narrative purposes.
1. They Reveal Character Intelligence & Culture
Characters like Sersi, Moon Knight, and Black Knight aren’t just heroes — they’re scholars. By placing them in museums, Marvel subtly shows us that these people are thoughtful, curious, and rooted in history.
2. They Create High-Stakes Conflict
Let’s face it: a fight in a museum is way more intense than a fight in an open field. There’s art, ancient artifacts, and symbolism at stake — and that tension makes action scenes more meaningful.
3. They Tie Past to Present
The Multiverse Saga is all about connections — between timelines, dimensions, and realities. Museums act as bridges between the past and the future, mirroring the MCU’s deeper themes.
So in a way, museums are perfect metaphors for the MCU’s current direction. But while Marvel uses museums to build momentum, another franchise has stumbled badly — even though its main character is literally a museum archaeologist.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: A Nostalgic Flop
As a fan of both the MCU and classic adventure films, I had high hopes for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Harrison Ford was back. Time travel was on the table. The nostalgia was real.
But despite all that, the movie fell flat — both critically and financially.
The Box Office Numbers
According to Variety, the film had:
- Production Budget: $300 million
- Marketing Budget: Estimated $100 million
- Total Global Gross: $375 million
- Estimated Losses: Over $100 million
In Hollywood terms, that’s brutal. A movie with a $400 million total cost needs to earn at least $600–700 million to turn a profit. Instead, Dial of Destiny barely made its money back.
So what happened?
Why Indiana Jones 5 Failed at the Box Office
1. It Was Too Expensive
The film had a ballooned budget that didn’t match modern audience interest. Spending $300 million on a franchise that peaked in the ’80s was always risky.
2. Mixed Reviews
Audiences and critics were divided. While some appreciated the nostalgic farewell, many found it too long, too convoluted, and lacking the spark of the original trilogy.
3. Poor Timing & Competition
Released in summer 2023, it had to compete with Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. It simply got overshadowed.
4. Age of the Hero
Let’s be real — Harrison Ford is 80. While he did his best, audiences had a hard time buying him as an action hero anymore.
The Irony: Indiana Jones Inspired the MCU's Museum Trend
Here’s what really blows my mind. Indiana Jones is the original movie archaeologist. The whole idea of mixing action with ancient relics and museums? That’s his legacy.
And yet, as Marvel continues to build momentum using museum themes, Indy himself couldn’t even save his own franchise.
That’s cinematic irony at its finest.
What This Means for the Future of Blockbusters
The contrasting trajectories of Marvel and Indiana Jones highlight a bigger shift in Hollywood:
- Nostalgia Alone Isn’t Enough: You can’t rely solely on bringing back old characters. You need to evolve the story and appeal to modern viewers.
- Subtle Themes Matter: Marvel’s use of museums is quiet but consistent. It shows that even small details can enrich storytelling and world-building.
- Storytelling Must Adapt: Marvel characters adapt to modern culture. Indiana Jones stayed stuck in the past — literally and figuratively.
Final Thoughts: From a 26-Year-Old Movie Blogger
I’m part of the generation that grew up with both Indiana Jones DVDs and Iron Man in theaters. Watching Dial of Destiny flop while Marvel casually flexes its creativity with museum symbolism is a weird feeling.
As fans, we want our favorite stories to succeed. But we also need to accept when the torch has been passed.
Marvel is using museums to move forward. Indiana Jones tried to use them to cling to the past — and the box office punished it.
