How Marvel’s Huge Budget for ‘Eternals’ Actually Worked Against It

"Eternals," Marvel's latest superhero film, had a significantly larger budget compared to previous MCU entries, but this financial investment ultimately worked against the movie's success. Director Chloé Zhao, known for her intimate and character-driven films, found the scale and scope of the big-budget production challenging to manage. The article highlights Zhao's perspective that the excessive budget and scale of "Eternals" hindered her ability to focus on the emotional depth and character development that are typically her strengths. The article suggests that the pressure to deliver a grand, visually stunning spectacle overshadowed the filmmaker's personal style and vision. While Marvel's substantial financial backing allowed for impressive visual effects and set pieces, it also created logistical and creative challenges that Zhao had to navigate. The experience has taught the director that in some cases, a smaller budget may be more conducive to her preferred storytelling approach, which emphasizes intimacy and character exploration over sheer spectacle.