Thunderbolts* is a big enough critical and commercial hit for some superhero fans to exclaim that “Marvel is back!” and better than ever.
But while the Disney-owned superhero factory has produced its fair share of stinkers in the past several years (sorry, Captain America: Brave New World), there’s one post-Endgame movie that’s never gotten its due.
When it was released in November 2023, The Marvels was a misunderstood box office bomb that should have gotten a lot more love and support than it did. Now that it’s 2025, it’s time to reconsider its status as one of the MCU’s biggest disappointments. Here’s why I love it now more than ever, and why you should watch it right now.
It’s a Worthy Follow-Up to 3 of the MCU’s Best Projects
One of the biggest complaints about the MCU these days is that it requires too much homework. With so many interconnected movies and shows, it can be overwhelming to keep up. That’s a fair point — but for comic book fans, that complexity is part of the fun. (It’s hard to read any comic without seeing a note to reference another issue or series.)
Some viewers felt that the MCU’s Disney+ series didn’t do enough to connect to the films — or worse, that the films ignored the shows entirely. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, for example, repeated Wanda Maximoff’s emotional arc from WandaVision without adding any new insights.
The Marvels, on the other hand, is a rare exception. It builds directly on WandaVision, Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel — three of the MCU’s most creatively successful projects. If you loved WandaVision and were disappointed by how Doctor Strange handled Wanda’s story, The Marvels is a much stronger follow-up. It features Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), whose grief at losing her mother in WandaVision helped her empathize with Wanda’s pain.
Ms. Marvel, the YA series that debuted after WandaVision, is one of the MCU’s most fun, energetic and emotionally intelligent entries thanks to newcomer Iman Vellani. And Captain Marvel introduced us to Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers, a key player in the battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.
The Marvels feels like a treat for fans who’ve followed the whole story. These three projects — WandaVision, Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel — delivered some of the MCU’s best performances and stories. If you’re the kind of fan who enjoys the interconnected nature of the MCU, don’t let the poor box office numbers stop you from giving this one a shot.
The Cast Is Electric — Especially Iman Vellani
Vellani, who plays Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, is a huge comic book nerd herself — she famously dressed up as Ms. Marvel for Halloween long before being cast in the role herself. Since joining the MCU, she’s also become a comic book writer, penning issues of the Ms. Marvel comics when she’s not acting. In other words, she’s a fan, and that breathless enthusiasm is just delightful to watch on screen. She infuses so much fun and energy into the movie that it’s practically impossible not to have fun with her.
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Michael Loccisano/WireImage Madame Web, Marvel’s latest superhero movie and a Spider-Man spinoff, debuted in February 2024 to overwhelmingly negative reviews. Its 13 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 26/100 Metacritic score were bad enough, but the film’s star Dakota Johnson’s own comments on the movie’s press tour didn’t exactly help matters. Asked if […]
The Marvels rests on the chemistry that Vellani has with Larson’s character, Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, and Parris’ Dr. Monica Rambeau. (Rambeau’s lack of a superhero name is a fun running bit throughout the film.) The three women bring that chemistry by the barrelful, and it’s amped up by the unique premise of their characters’ relationships and powers.
The Premise Provides Great Opportunities for Action and Humor
Due to a series of complicated events, Carol, Monica and Kamala’s superpowers all become entangled, causing them to physically swap places when they use their abilities at the same time. The Marvels uses this premise to great effect.
When they initially start switching places, it provides great comic relief, with each female ending up confused and startled by each switch. But as they get to know each other better, they’re able to use this newfound connection to power their attacks, leading to some pretty great and surprising action sequences.
‘The Marvels’ Allows Itself to be Silly
A woman dances with a man in ‘The Marvels.’ Marvel Studios
MCU movies have always had a great sense of humor about them, which is what often separates them from their more dour DC counterparts. But as the studio started churning out more and more movies, the quippy dialogue from square-jawed heroes started to feel formulaic, taking some of the “oomph” out of the jokes.
This week, Marvel Studios is back in theaters with Thunderbolts*, a new film very loosely based on the comic book characters who share the same team name. The Thunderbolts* movie doesn’t require any foreknowledge about the comics, because the main characters are almost entirely selected from previous MCU projects. Florence Pugh leads the cast as […]
The Marvels takes that comedic sensibility and ups the ante, embracing the chaotic and campy origins of Marvel’s “cosmic” characters and allowing silliness into the story. There’s a planet that only communicates via song and a sequence in which a ship’s crew is devoured by ravenous kittens. It’s outrageous, but the characters know it’s outrageous. That’s what makes it fun!
The Marvels isn’t weighed down by self-importance like other superhero movies, but the emotional stakes still feel very real because of the performances of the three leads. It’s fun to watch, but it also provides some surprisingly deep characterization for its heroines that isn’t really present in other movies in the genre.
Don’t Listen to the Haters — ‘The Marvels’ Is Actually Tons of Fun
Like so many female-led properties to come out of the MCU, The Marvels was review-bombed by people criticizing it as “woke” before it even hit theaters. Unfortunately, there are toxic corners of the Marvel fan base that are determined to tear down movies led by women, especially women of color, at every turn. But now that it’s available on Disney+, why not decide for yourself?
I’m not saying that The Marvels is the best movie in the MCU. The film is flawed, with a mediocre villain and a rushed narrative that keep it from being great. But if you saw it when it first came out and had super high expectations of how it would connect to the future of the MCU, give it a second look and try to appreciate it for what it is. The Marvels is a fun, campy movie with a great cast that tells an epic, out-of-this-world story. I had a great time watching it then and now, and I hope you do, too.
Watch The Marvels on Disney+.
