Summary
Megamind’s sequel being released straight to Peacock disappoints fans who hoped for a theatrical release after over a decade of waiting. The original Megamind deserved better in 2010 with its star-studded cast, hilarious jokes, and solid story, but faced tough competition at the box office. While streaming releases can reach a wider audience, it may delegitimize animation and give the false impression that Megamind is just for kids.
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DreamWorks’ 2010 comedy Megamind is finally getting a sequel, but the continuation of the movie could actually make the original worse. Megamind followed the story of a supervillain (Will Ferrell) trying to become a hero after defeating his nemesis. The movie had more than a few good jokes, but it centered around a heartfelt theme: that people can change if given a chance and be better. Megamind’s humor and message proved it was one of DreamWorks’ most underrated movies and helped make it one of the best movies on Peacock, even though it didn’t perform well at its release.
According to Box Office Mojo, Megamind had a solid performance in theaters, making over $321 million worldwide against a budget of $130 million. That profit wasn’t enough to inspire a sequel, though, as the movie Megamind is often compared to, Despicable Me, made significantly more with a smaller budget. Megamind seemed doomed to be a standalone movie for over a decade, but a new announcement is reviving the franchise. While more of the villain turned hero’s story is being told, the sequels might make Megamind’s disappointing reception even worse.
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Megamind 2 Should Get A Theatrical Release After The First Movie’s Cult Following
Recently, Peacock announced it will release a new Megamind movie and show: Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate and Megamind Rules! The movie will be set directly after the events of the original Megamind and lead directly into the show. The new entries will be released directly onto Peacock, with no theatrical release planned. Megamind deserved a sequel after becoming so beloved, but it should have been a theatrical release, and a straight to streaming release is disappointing to many of the franchise’s dedicated fans.
Both Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate and Megamind Rules! will be available to stream on Peacock on March 1.
Why The Original Megamind Deserved Better In 2010
Megamind featured great voice work from a star-studded cast that included Will Ferrell and Tina Fey, who helped make it a hilarious movie with many clever jokes that still hold up years later. Megamind’s jokes can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, which helped it remain relevant for years after its release. It also offered a solid story that provided a great parody of the superhero genre and delivered a wholesome message. Megamind had a great formula and gained a cult following, and it deserved success, but success never came, mostly due to uncontrollable circumstances.
While it had a lot of positives, Megamind also suffered from some problems that were beyond its control that caused it to have an underwhelming performance at the box office. Despicable Me was released three months before Megamind, and their villainous main characters and redemption stories were too similar for Megamind to stand out. It also had other huge releases to contend with that year, such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Tangled. Carving out space at the box office among such a deep list of hit movies proved to be too difficult for Megamind.
Is Megamind’s Switch To Streaming A Good Thing For Animation?
Streaming services can be a mixed bag for animation, and Megamind releasing exclusively on Peacock may not be the best decision for the medium. The new movie and television show could introduce a new generation to the Megamind franchise, and streaming would make it available to an even wider audience, which would be a good thing. However, streaming-only releases can delegitimize animation and make it seem less important than theatrical releases. Releasing Megamind directly to Peacock could give the impression that the franchise is just for kids, which is far from the truth.
Despite the problems with Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate, there is still a way for the franchise to do right by the original. Bringing the original cast back together for a theatrical release would deliver the sequel Megamind deserved. Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate might actually help the chances of that happening, as it could renew interest in the series and help bridge the 14-year gap since the first movie was released. While Peacock’s new movie and show might not be the sequel Megamind fans expected, it also doesn’t extinguish hope for a theatrical release.
Megamind
Release Date November 11, 2010
Budget $130 million