The 'Avengers: Endgame' co-director throws an apparent jab at the 'Taxi Driver' helmer, who has criticized superhero movies, by touting Marvel films' box office success.
- Oct 31, 2023
AceShowbiz - Joe Russo couldn't help but take a jab at Martin Scorsese after the latter criticized superhero movies galore, but it only backfired. The "Avengers: Endgame" co-director has caught heat after he mocked the Oscar-winning filmmaker over the box office numbers of his latest movie "Killers of the Flower Moon" by touting Marvel films' success.
After Scorsese's daughter Francesca posted a TikTok sketch video in which the "Shutter Island" director pretended to direct his dog named Oscar, Russo responded by sharing a video showing his own dog whom he said he named "Box Office."
In the original clip, the legendary filmmaker was seen asking his dog named Oscar to "show me sadness." Russo then stitched the video with his own footage in which he said, "His [dog's] name is Oscar ... that's really cute ... Alright, come on Box Office," while holding his dog. In the caption, he wrote, "It appears we have the same muse... @martinscorsese_"
Instead of being amused by the video, many have slammed Russo for his tacky jab at Scorsese. "In 50 years no one will know who Joe Russo is," one person clapped back at the "Extraction 2" director. Another similarly said, "Marty living in this guy's head rent free. Few more years nobody will remember end game or eh.. you, me and Dupree."
A third echoed the sentiment as writing, "Don't get me wrong I love Joe Russo, but it helps he also had 10 years of UNREAL hype heading into Endgame." A fourth X (formerly Twitter) user claimed, "Just because Martin's movies do make box office number as Marvel movies doesnt mean Russo's better than Martin. He just got lucky to have directed Marvel movies when they were at their peak."
"He would never reach Martin Scorsese's level," another slammed Russo, while someone remarked, "That Joe Russo video is genuinely one of the most desperately undignified things I've ever seen." One other called Russo's joke "a cheap shot at Martin," as another advised, "If I made somewhat competent popcorn cinema, I'd probably shy away from taking digs at one of the all-time masters of the craft."
"This is a dope flex and I would respect it if it was towards anyone else but a man on the Mount Rushmore of filmmakers," another person weighed in. "If Marty called my films theme park films I'd be like yes sir maybe you’re right."
Scorsese has previously slammed Marvel films. "The danger there is what it's doing to our culture," he said in a recent interview with GQ. "Because there are going to be generations now that think movies are only those - that's what movies are."
"They already think that. Which means that we have to then fight back stronger. And it's got to come from the grassroots level. It's gotta come from the filmmakers themselves. And you'll have, you know, the Safdie brothers, and you'll have Chris Nolan, you know what I mean?" the 80-year-old filmmaker continued. "And hit 'em from all sides. Hit 'em from all sides, and don't give up. Let's see what you got. Go out there and do it. Go reinvent. Don't complain about it. But it's true, because we've got to save cinema."
Russo's "Endgame" is one the highest-grossing movies of all-time earning $2.8 billion worldwide. Meanwhile, Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" has grossed $84.7 million worldwide after getting overshadowed by "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" on its debut weekend.
