Today marks the release of the 26th instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – Eternals! Directed by Oscar-winner Chloe Zhao, the film is getting an unusually harsh reaction from critics, who tend to love the MCU. As of right now, it’s got a pretty bad 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is shockingly bad for a Marvel film. That said, it doesn’t seem to have impacted business yet, with the film scoring a muscular opening night gross on Thursday.
Here at JoBlo, our own JimmyO was cool on the film, giving it a 6/10, with him praising the visuals but not too much else. Our other critic, Matt Rooney, liked it more, telling me he would give it somewhere in the neighbourhood of an 8/10. I saw it myself today, and I gotta say – I didn’t care for it at all. Running a punishing 2.5 hours, it’s long and dull, with characters who didn’t move the needle much for me, despite the A-list roster of talent. The exception, I’d say, is Kumail Nanjiani, who shows a lot of charm here as the Eternal Kingo, who moonlights as a Bollywood star. Nanjiani also shows some decent action chops ( I also liked Bollywood actor Harish Patel as his valet/sidekick). Otherwise, I found it pretty dull for a Marvel movie and nowhere near as good as the recent (kick-ass) Shang-Chi.
But, in the end, what we think doesn’t matter. What we want to know, dear readers, is what you think! So now’s your chance to let us know – have we been too harsh on Eternals? Is it better than critics say? Or is it a rare Marvel misfire? Let us know in the comments below! Also check out our interviews with Chloe Zhao and Kit Harington below!
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed