'Captain Marvel' could rescue the box office, after the worst February in years

Captain Marvel is many things to different people - an intergalactic protector, a feminist icon and, likely, for the local multiplex, a box office savior.

Walt Disney Co.'s take on the comic book hero, "Captain Marvel," starring Brie Larson in the title role, is expected to have a stellar debut at theaters this weekend, probably giving a big boost to what has been a sluggish box office so far this year. Movies have grossed a lackluster $1.5 billion in the U.S. and Canada in 2019 through March 3, down a steep 26 percent from the same period a year ago, according to measurement firm Comscore.

The sobering slump comes after