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The history of the blockbuster is one of periodic rejuvenation. It began in the 1970s, when Jaws and The Godfather defied convention with their nationwide theatrical roll-outs, drawing sidewalk-thronging crowds by making the movies an event. Then the events returned with sequels, bigger and, if rarely better, at least more expensive.

In the ’90s it was remakes that besieged us, from Godzilla to The Mummy to Father of the Bride; a decade later came reboots, in which a franchise near death could be reconceived, re-cast and thus, restored, quite miraculously, to full commercial health.

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Presently, we’re witnessing the blockbuster’s latest evolutionary leap. It’s the dawn of the Extended Universe: a loose cluster of multi-million-dollar movie franchises that’s transforming the movie-going event into an unremitting siege.

In the realm of the modern blockbuster, the superhero movie reigns supreme. So naturally, superheroes have been instrumental in parlaying the Extended Universe from fad to prevailing trend.