Adam Devine says superhero movies have killed comedies

Adam Devine has a bone to pick with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Pitch Perfect star appeared on Theo Von's This Past Weekend podcast this week and shared his theory that Marvel and other superhero movies have killed the traditional Hollywood comedy.

"Comedy's gotten kinda bad, hey?' Von asked the Workaholics star.

Devine replied: “You watch comedies nowadays and you’re like, this is not a f**king comedy. Where are the jokes? Where are the bits? There’s still good [comedy] shows, but movie comedy…it’s hard."

Devine then said he believes one thing is to blame: the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"My theory: I think Marvel ruined it. I feel like superhero movies ruined comedies because you go to the theatre and you expect to watch something that cost $200 million to make, and comedy movies aren’t that," he explained.

He continued: "So you’re like, ‘Why would I spend the same amount of money to go watch a little comedy in the theatre if I can spend that and watch something that is worth $200 million?’

"And they still make those movies kind of funny, like, ‘Oh my god, is that raccoon talking? This is hilarious!’ Which it is, but it’s not a real comedy.”

Devine explained that every studio used to release several comedies a year and every week or so there was a new comedy in theatres.

"But these days there's only 'like six or seven' a year.

His theory received mixed reactions online.

"Well he is right. Marvel ruined the movie industry," one person commented on Twitter.

Another added: "I 100 per cent agree with this even though I enjoyed the golden age of them."

While others presented some other theories.

"It’s not big blockbuster hits that killed comedy; it was a pandemic and streaming. He’s right in the sense that if we have to scrape up our last few dollars, we will spend it on a film we fill is 'worth' the big screen experience and wait for everything else to release on digital," one person commented on Twitter.

A different user said: "This is such a lazy and overused argument. Do not blame other films for the fall of lesser or not very successful films. They didn't kill comedy, bad comedies killed comedy. I like Adam a lot but he's been a part of more than a few stinkers."

The 39-year-old actor was appearing on the podcast to promote his recently released Netflix comedy, The Out-Laws.

In the movie, Devine plays straight-laced bank manager Owen Browning, who is about to marry the love of his life Parker (Nina Dobrev).

When his bank is held up by the Ghost Bandits during his wedding week, he believes his future in-laws, Billy and Lilly (Ellen Barkin and Pierce Brosnan) who just arrived in town are the infamous outlaws.