As Phase Five of the MCU approaches, fans already know a bit about how the Marvel Cinematic Universe will play out in the next few years. Marvel Studios has revealed plans for the franchise up to 2026. Some fans are hyped for the next three years of projects, but others are also concerned that the MCU's expiration date is nearing.

RELATED: 10 Best MCU Movies, According to IMDb

Although the MCU has managed to establish itself as one of the biggest cultural phenomena of the century, things can't last forever. Certain things, like the audience's reception to recent projects or the lack of creativity in new films, might be clear signs that the MCU has already peaked.

10 Superhero Movies Are Earning Less Money

Thor saying goodbye to Peter Quill in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Thanks to its enormous fandom, the MCU has broken several box office records. For instance, Avengers: Endgame remained the highest-grossing film of all time from July 2019 until March 2021 with $2,797,501,328, and Avengers: Infinity War was very close behind it with $2,048,359,754.

However, the MCU hasn't been able to reproduce these numbers. During Phase Four, only Spider-Man: No Way Home grossed over a billion. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness reached $955 million, but films like Black Widow and Eternals earned less than $500 million each. This is a very concrete signal that the MCU is losing its fans.

9 Most Franchises Lose Their Audience Within A Few Years

Iron Man is scarred from battle in the MCU

So far, the MCU has managed to top the charts for fifteen years. However, after 30 films, eight series, and two television specials, it feels like the MCU is tempting fate. While the MCU has become the most important franchise of its time, everything eventually comes to an end.

RELATED: The 10 Best Longest-Running Movie Franchises

Even the most successful sagas, like Harry Potter, struggled to stay afloat for longer than a decade. Although Fantastic Beasts was a decent attempt at resurrecting the Wizarding World, things had changed too much. Marvel can't ignore this problem.

8 People Are Feeling Superhero Fatigue

Captain America and Thor in Age of Ultron

Given the MCU’s success, many other companies have attempted to emulate the formula. This, combined with Marvel’s overproduction of movies in the last few years, has led to a market that it’s currently flooded with superhero content. While comic fans are ecstatic, others don’t like the way Marvel has monopolized Hollywood.

For the last decade, it has felt like many good films have been overshadowed by the MCU. Additionally, other cinematic and television superhero universes have appeared. Obviously, people are getting tired of the same type of stories. This could lead to superhero fiction's demise, or at least a steep drop-off in its popularity.

7 Some Fans Jumped Ship After Phase 3 Ended

Thanos standing aroun destruction in an Avengers: Infinity War flashback

It's impossible to deny that the MCU hasn't been the same since Avengers: Endgame. On the internet, fans have been very vocal about their lack of interest in the MCU's future. Since the Infinity Saga gave audiences some closure, many viewers don't want to commit to yet another decade.

There are many reasons for this. Poor writing, a very radical change of cast, and bad adaptations of the comics have caused fans to lose hope in the MCU. As of 2022, many comic characters have changed to appease MCU fans, but this could end soon.

6 People Will Always Compare Sequels

Nick Fury wearing his eye patch and looking left

Even though the MCU already has been through four phases, the first three phases encompassed the Infinity Saga. Phases Four, Five, and Six will become the Multiverse Saga. This makes it feel like a sequel to the first saga. After all, the Multiverse Saga also deals with certain plots and characters from the first three phases.

People love to compare, so they will likely pit the Multiverse Saga against the Infinity Saga. The audience is going to miss some characters, like Iron Man or Black Widow, and even the overall magic of the first phases. This will add to the general disappointment in the MCU and could harm its overall success.

5 Some MCU Series Aren't Connected To The Films

Moon Knight as he appears in his MCU Disney+ series.

One of the most disappointing things about the MCU's Phase 4 is its lack of cohesion. The first phases followed a clear path by introducing characters and plots and giving them a conclusion, but Phase 4 has introduced way too many characters without really explaining their connections.

RELATED: 10 Harsh Realities Of The MCU Not Ending With Phase 3

Fans have loved new projects, like Moon Knight and Werewolf By Night. However, fans don't know where these characters are going or if they will even appear again, which has made the MCU lose a bit of its magic. Marvel Studios needs to hurry and let the audience know how their projects will connect from now on.

4 Marvel Films Always Have The Same Formula

Zemo in Captain America: Civil War
Marvel's Captain America: Civil War..Zemo (Daniel Brühl)..Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal..© Marvel 2016

As an extended universe, the MCU tends to overuse certain tropes. After more than a decade, it can feel a bit repetitive. Even when using modern characters, the MCU fails to give them depth or worthy storylines.

For example, one of the greatest criticisms of the MCU is that its villains rarely commit to the bit. Even the most dangerous characters, like Gorr the God Butcher, were Disneyfied into an attempt at redemption. This significantly lowers the stakes and makes the franchise less interesting.

3 Fans Already Know What's Coming

Drax and Mantis in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2

The MCU opened the door to creating cinematic universes. Between the post-credit scenes, the creative Easter eggs, and the crossovers, the MCU led the audience to an epic conclusion during Avengers: Endgame. This innovative narrative surprised fans.

RELATED: 15 Worst MCU Movies, According To IMDb

However, it can't be done twice. Fans already understand the structure of Marvel's projects, so it's become predictable. The MCU needs to evolve, or it won't survive longer than the Multiverse Saga. So far, it has added series and specials, but fans need novelty and innovation.

2 The Multiverse May Be Too Ambitious Of A Project

The Sacred Timeline dividing in Loki

The MCU introduced the multiverse through Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and The Multiverse of Madness, which has opened the door for a whole new set of possibilities. As Marvel Studios attempts to emulate the Marvel Universe from the comics, there are thousands of Earths and characters that could make their way to a live-action adaptation.

This sounds excellent in theory. If it's done wrong, though, it could lead to massive disappointment. The Multiverse of Madness raised fans' expectations and then didn't live up to the hype. If this keeps happening, the MCU will run out of steam.

1 Endgame's Hype Will Be Difficult To Match

Chris Evans as Captain America leading the Avengers into battle in Avengers: Endgame

Any MCU fan remembers the level of expectation during Avengers: Endgame. People on the internet were dodging spoilers, giving each other advice on which scene was perfect for a bathroom break, and even discussing theories for the future of the MCU. Fans were even clapping in the theater.

The only film that managed this kind of hype during Phase Four was Spider-Man: No Way Home, but mostly due to Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's nostalgic cameos. No other MCU project has done what Endgame did and it's unlikely it will happen again. It's safe to say that Endgame was the peak of the MCU. Now, the only way left is down.

NEXT: 20 Smartest Decisions In The MCU