‘Logan,’ ‘Deadpool’ and Why the World Is Ready for an R-Rated X-Men Film 

Comic book movies aren’t just for kids.

Logan,” the blood-drenched final chapter in the Wolverine saga, demonstrates that superhero films don’t have to be sanitized to succeed. Like “Deadpool” before it, the blockbuster differentiated itself from the flood of films about costumed heroes by embracing a hard R-rating. It’s no accident that Fox produced both movies. The studio, which licenses the rights to X-Men characters like Wolverine and Deadpool, seems intent on carving out a niche for itself by making grittier, tougher comic book fare that’s in stark contrast to Disney’s sunnier “Avengers” series.

“Fox needs to be bold and continue to blaze this trail,” said Jeff Bock, an analyst with Exhibitor Relations. “I think the world is now ready for an R-rated X-Men film.”

Box Office: ‘Logan’ Roars With Massive $85.3 Million Debut

So far, the strategy is working. “Logan” debuted to a massive $237.8 million globally and “Deadpool” ended its run with nearly $800 million worldwide.

“We have a clear direction and audiences are responding to it,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s domestic distribution chief.

Kristopher Tapley last week, director and co-writer James Mangold said that he made a pact with Hugh Jackman, the franchise’s star, to lean into the character’s dark side. Logan is a former mercenary who has left a trail of blood in his wake. Like William Munny in Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven,” he is haunted by the lives he snuffed out.

“You’re just looking for a way, and I think the studios are too, to just shake things up because everyone feels that there’s a certain amount of exhaustion setting in,” said Mangold, adding, “We can’t keep doing the same movie over and over again.”

Mangold speculated that the world is ready for stories that have more gravity. Unlike “Deadpool,” which plays at time like a parody of the spandex genre, “Logan” is deadly serious. Like “Shane” or “Pale Rider,” it works as both an adventure film and a meditation on guilt and regret. In his talk with Tapley, Mangold argued that after an election that saw Donald Trump upend conventional wisdom by capturing the White House, the entertainment business must find ways to better reflect the chaotic current political climate.

“There was a convulsion on all levels,” Mangold said. Indeed, “Logan,” with its high body count and post-apocalyptic vibe, stands in stark contrast with the cultural moment — as the film was playing to full houses, Trump was at his most rococo, tweeting allegations about wire-tapping and taking swipes at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Apprentice” run.

In the late 1960’s, studios turned away from splashy musicals and biblical epics to concentrate on more character-driven films. Movies like “Bonnie & Clyde” and “The Wild Bunch” spoke to younger audiences who felt politically disenchanted. These ballets of bullets updated the crime film and the western, while speaking to people turned off by the war in Vietnam.

Even with protests sweeping the country, it might be unrealistic to expect that there will be many more films that use populist genres to make larger artistic statements or score political points. “Logan” or “Get Out,” a thriller about race relations, are commercially successful while being creatively bold, but there are financial reasons why they will remain anomalies. Most comic book movies boast budgets that are north of $150 million. They inspire toylines, adorn happy meals, and launch theme park rides. That kind of merchandising is where the real money is made. “Logan’s” violence may delight audiences and may tap into the zeitgeist, but images of Wolverine vivisecting bad guys won’t be appearing on lunch boxes any time soon.

Still, at a time when nearly every major studio is in the superhero game, Fox has made a wise bet by crafting comic book movies for audiences that can legally drink. Box office analysts think that other studios such as Warner Bros. should take note. They believe that “Suicide Squad” or the upcoming Batman standalone film might benefit from more carnage. At the very least, Warner Bros. could try releasing both PG-13 and R-rated versions.

“It’s all about continuing to move the genre forward and be more malleable,” said Bock. “You can’t pitch the same PG-13 movies over and over or they will become stale.”

Ultimately, there’s no surefire formula. Directors can’t just ratchet up the violence and sprinkle in a few choice four-letter words and expect audiences to turn up for the latest comic book movie. Both “Deadpool” and “Logan” also benefited from strong reviews.

“An R-rating is a huge differentiator, but you still have to make a good movie,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with ComScore.

All too often, it’s that last ingredient that’s left out.

Want to read more articles like this one? SUBSCRIBE TO VARIETY TODAY.

Playback: James Mangold on a Hard-R ‘Logan’ and Wolverine’s Western DNA

Lessons From ‘La La Land’ as the Curtain Falls on Another Oscar Season

Damien Chazelle and Barry Jenkins on That Oscars Shocker: The Morning-After Interview

Oscars: With Historic ‘Moonlight’ Win, the Academy Embraces Empathy Over Escapism

Associate Director, YouTuber & Gamer Partnerships

No, no, no, no, no. I get tired of seeing this argument everywhere. Don’t make a bloody movie and expect the money to come flooding in. Seeing Wolverine cut people in half isn’t what is making this movie worth watching. Make a GOOD movie. Give writer’s, directors and the rest of production the freedom to make the movie they want to make, and you’ll get a better product. Let the rating be what it will, don’t pressure cuts to make it PG, don’t add blood to make it R. Just make the movie the way it should be made.

Fox can release an R rated X-Men exactly because they are not beholden to a toy line like the MCU. That’s where Disney makes the bulk of their profits. But Fox does not get a cut of any X-Men toys. If they sell them, Disney gets the cash. So Fox has to make all of their profits from the movies themselves, and they’ve stumbled upon a formula that can differentiate themselves from all other superhero movies.

Just came from seeing “Logan”. Very much worth my hard-to-come-by money. Saw the “Deadpool” trailer too. Yep, going to be worth it also, I think. Rate either/both “R”? Why? the “children” are seeing the same in RL & the current news medias (all of them). The “children” are going to become brain deadened via current schooling methods. Will the “children” become uncaring? Not if the parenting is done right. So, leave the ratings as they are.

I doubt WARNER BROS will make their DC Film Universe movies R rated.

PG-13 to allow Zack Snyder and others to continue using those stunt squibs when the caped-and-cowled spandex ones fight each other… but WONDER WOMAN will be about stopping war carnage, JUSTICE LEAGUE about Batman drawing superhero™ friends to fight deadly (alien?) threats, and Superman all about a Randian übermench giving “hope” to non-superpowered humans.

If WB didn’t give SUICIDE SQUAD— a movie about criminals and bad guys— an R rating to make it more “adult”, they sure won’t give these DC Films entries that DEADPOOL/LOGAN treatment. The Box Office returns are… sufficient… for them to continue mining DC movie fans in the same way. Their Return On Investments are seen as fine— nevermind whatever CRITICAL receptions there are.

No. There is 0 need for an R-Rated X-men film. An X-force film with Deadpool & Wolverine could have made sense. But no for the “X-Men”. Even the senile Charles isn’t a fan of violence.

Ah, another who sees 4 – 8 films a year (out of hundreds and 52 weekends) is a “flood”. Lord knows what that makes the numerous genres tat have far more films released, like the 6+ horror films we’e already this year by the end of February.

As for R rated comic book movies I still think Watchmen is still the best .

Are you listening Stallone? This is how you reinvigorate the quickly faded, “The Expendables” franchise. Yes, there is still an audience and what you started with the 1st film quickly succumbed to a hokey, cartoonish mockery of itself. Raise the stakes and still keep bringing in faded action stars and give them juicy parts. Make the action real. A hard R is warranted by the fact that the flick is about mercenaries, not a lampoon on cartoon soldiers. Take the audience on a rollercoaster ride that’ll have them talking after they’ve left the theater. And a huge note: leave the writing and directing to others, perhaps up-and-coming talent. ….On the note at hand: Congrats to Jackman and Stewart on their hit, “Logan”. Fantastic flick.

While this is great, it’s also nothing new. Audiences have been ready for R-rated comic book movies since 1998 when Blade first came out…a comic book movie that consistently gets overlooked.

While we are at it, how about a rated R James Bond? That would be awesome.

Enough with the PG 13, it seems to be a huge problem in the US. Europe, sometimes the UK and Australia, and certain parts of Asia, not so much.