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Films like Furiosa—a Mad Max spin-off—and Ballerina, a John Wick universe expansion, exemplify the current trend. Both movies featured talented actresses, received positive reviews, and avoided many of the red carpet pitfalls that have characterized past Hollywood premieres. Despite this, both failed to attract large audiences, mirroring earlier disappointments like Furiosa’s predecessor.

Interestingly, both films were spin-offs centered on male-dominated franchises that historically thrived. Their performance suggests that simply shifting the gender of a protagonist isn’t enough to guarantee box office success. Audience fatigue with the “girl boss” trope, combined with the saturation of female-led narratives, appears to be a significant factor.