Sam Raimi Thinks the Real Problem with Modern Superhero Movies Is That He's Not Offered More of Them
Superhero movies have ruled pop culture for more than 25 years, but their place at the top doesn’t feel as secure as it once did. In the early 2000s, comic book adaptations were still figuring themselves out.
That trial-and-error period eventually led to the massive boom of the 2010s, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe turned into the most dominant franchise Hollywood has ever seen. Lately, though, the momentum has shifted.
By 2025, it felt like the bubble finally popped. Fans and critics alike have been asking what went wrong, and now one of the genre’s most important architects has weighed in with a response that’s funny, honest, and very on-brand.
While promoting his upcoming horror film Send Help, Sam Raimi jumped onto Reddit for an AMA. When someone asked him about his biggest issue with modern superhero movies, Raimi didn’t go in the direction most people expected. Instead, he answered, “That they don’t offer me more of them!”
It’s a joke, sure, but it also says a lot. Raimi isn’t just another director commenting from the sidelines. He helped define what superhero movies could be in the 21st century with Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3, starring Tobey Maguire.
Those films still hold up because they came from a place of genuine love for the comics. At a time when superhero movies were hesitant to fully embrace their roots, Raimi leaned into the heightened reality, the humor, and even the camp, while never losing sight of Peter Parker as a deeply human character.
That balance is why Spider-Man 2 is still often mentioned as one of the best Marvel movies ever made. Raimi understood that the spectacle didn’t matter unless the audience cared about Peter’s struggles.
The movie works because it treats responsibility, sacrifice, and self-doubt with sincerity. Even Spider-Man 3, widely viewed as the weakest entry in the trilogy, still gives Peter a meaningful arc as he confronts his ego and learns the cost of his mistakes.
Raimi later brought that sensibility into the MCU with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film didn’t land universally with critics, but it absolutely feels different from most Multiverse Saga entries. Raimi’s fingerprints are all over it, especially when he taps into his horror background.
The Scarlet Witch tearing through the Illuminati is a genuinely shocking sequence, and the mix of dark imagery and kinetic action gives the movie a personality that many Marvel films have struggled to maintain. It’s a reminder of what happens when a studio lets a director’s voice come through.
Right now, Raimi’s future in the superhero space is uncertain. Doctor Strange 3 is in development with no release date and no director officially attached. Marvel Studios is reportedly working closely with Benedict Cumberbatch to find the right creative partner, which could mean a new filmmaker stepping in.
Meanwhile, screenwriter Mattson Tomlin has expressed interest in getting a Spider-Man 4 with Maguire off the ground, though that project faces plenty of logistical and creative challenges.
Still, Raimi’s comment hits on something real. Superhero movies need filmmakers with a clear point of view and a willingness to take risks. Raimi’s blend of heart, humor, and darkness helped shape an entire era of comic book films.
If the genre is going to find its footing again, giving voices like his another shot might be exactly what it needs.