Since the moment that first teaser was revealed at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, there's been a lot of excitement for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Coming out in the wake of that movie and Loki, Sam Raimi's sequel had all the makings of a crazy trip through the Multiverse.
Does it deliver on that front? As we explained in our review, while you might want to temper expectations to some extent, it's a wild ride that should leave fans of the MCU very happy indeed.
However, it's not quite perfect, and we're now taking a closer look at the key things that did and didn't work in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. From certain creative decisions to those surprise cameos and an undeniably odd mid-credits scene, we're taking a deep dive into the blockbuster here.
So, to take a look through this breakdown, simply click on the "Next" button down below!
Did Work: Scarlet Witch Unleashed
At the end of WandaVision, we were told that the Scarlet Witch is more powerful than even the Sorcerer Supreme. While Wanda Maximoff certainly impressed during her clash with Agatha Harkness, she flew off to parts unknown before we could see what the former Avenger is truly capable of.
Well, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness firmly establishes that Wanda is now one of the MCU's most powerful beings. Not even the combined might of Stephen Strange and Wong slows her down, and given what she ultimately does to the likes of Professor X and Captain Marvel, well, there's no one we can think of in the MCU who would stand a chance against the Scarlet Witch.
That's a scary thought, but regardless of how you feel about the villainous route Wanda is taken down, we've no doubt you'll love seeing her unleash some truly awe-inspiring displays of power.
Didn't Work: Not Enough Madness In The Multiverse
Look, it was always pretty obvious that most of those rumours surrounding Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were probably bogus. Ghost Rider? Eric Bana's Hulk? Tom Cruise as the Superior Iron Man? They sound good on paper, but having seen the movie, throwing in a bunch of familiar faces from crappy movies or random new characters and Variants wouldn't have worked.
Despite that, we do wish this trip through the Multiverse had been a little madder. The Illuminati's world, for example, is home to The Avengers, X-Men, Inhumans, and Fantastic Four, but aside from some futuristic technology and a lot of greenery on New York's skyscrapers, it's oddly bland.
Something as simple as a news report in the background of a scene talking about "President Stark" would have really driven home how bizarre these alternate realities can be. Yes, Strange passes through a world made of paint and another inhabited by dinosaurs, but there's really nothing here for fans to sink their teeth into beyond the undeniably awesome moment we meet The Illuminati.
Did Work: A Bold New Superhero
Xochitl Gomez makes her feature debut as America Chavez in the Doctor Strange sequel, and boy, she does not disappoint. Immediately likeable, the actress makes it effortless to root for a teenager who could have quite easily become little more than an annoying sidekick or human MacGuffin.
Her powers are badass and when America does finally gain control over them, she's a delight to watch in action. Perhaps most exciting is thinking about what the future holds in store for the hero; a Disney+ series would be welcomed, especially if it better explores the character's LGBTQ+ status. Something tells us we'll definitely be seeing more of America's hunt for her two moms, anyway.
Overall, this is a definite breakout performance and one that makes us wish the movie had come out before Spider-Man: No Way Home so she could have had a role there as originally planned.
Did Work: This Isn't Your Typical MCU Movie
We understand that some fans take issue with Marvel Studios' way of making comic book movies, but you need only look back over the past fourteen years to see how their approach has paid off. The Disney+ TV shows have admittedly driven home a somewhat annoying habit of action-packed, CG-heavy finales, but if you're looking for a unique MCU movie, then the Doctor Strange sequel is it.
Michael Waldron's screenplay makes this far from a formulaic blockbuster, while Sam Raimi's direction ensures it has a tone every bit as unique as Thor: Ragnarok and Guardians of the Galaxy.
We liked what Scott Derrickson did back in 2016, but aside from some trippy visuals, that origin story was a little bland. With Raimi's unique flair and style, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness feels like a fresh start for this character, something the unexpected horror vibe also helps deliver. This is a scary movie at times, and there are a lot of violent scenes that push the PG-13 rating.
Didn't Work: A Weirdly Out Of Place Mid-Credits Scene
In the closing few moments of the movie, Doctor Strange is taking a stroll around New York, but suddenly falls to the ground and screams as a third eye opens on his forehead. After using the Darkhold to defeat the Scarlet Witch, the insinuation here is that he might be heading down the same dark and corrupt route many of his Variants have done, and it's one hell of a cliffhanger to end things on.
Then, we get a mid-credits scene with Strange taking yet another walk, only to be confronted by Clea and implored to head into the Dark Dimension to fix the incursion he played a role in creating.
As far as we're aware, that never happened, but Strange happily jumps into the unknown with that third eye now proudly on display. It's clearly teasing a future adventure, but feels borderline nonsensical and significantly lessens the impact of what we saw on screen just a few moments prior.
Did Work: John Krasinski As Mister Fantastic
In terms of casting, we can't fault The Illuminati. Anson Mount finds redemption as Black Bolt, while Patrick Stewart gets one final chance to play a truly comic accurate Professor X.
However, as great as everyone is in this scene, it's John Krasinski's Reed Richards who most impressed us. The actor has long been a fan-favourite choice to play the Fantastic Four leader, and in just a few short scenes, he proves that we were on the right track all along. Reed is taken out in brutal fashion by the Scarlet Witch before showing too much of his powers, but he's great from start to finish.
We don't know what the plan is for Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four reboot, but casting anyone else as Mister Fantastic would just be a disappointment at this stage. Hopefully, this isn't just a one-off piece of fan-service because we're confident Krasinski could put the hero on the map in a big way.
Didn't Work: A Rushed Ending
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a movie that feels like it could have been a good 15 or 20 minutes longer, something that's evident from how quickly the story wraps up.
The Scarlet Witch sees the error of her ways, destroying every Darkhold across the Multiverse and burying herself alive in the process. We're assuming she survives, but it's one of those frustratingly ambiguous endings that gives Marvel Studios the option of doing something more with the character (or not), while in some ways robbing us of a fully satisfying wrap-up to Wanda's story arc.
Everyone's arc wraps up a little too quickly, to be honest, something that should be evident from what we've said above about that mid-credits scene. It's far from the end of the world and didn't necessarily dampen our enjoyment, but the sequel arguably deserved a slightly better conclusion.
Did Work: Doctor Strange Powers Up
If you watched Spider-Man: No Way Home and thought, "Man, can Doctor Strange do anything more than just make use of the Mirror Dimension?" then you weren't alone. While we've seen the former Sorcerer Supreme unleash a variety of impressive powers over the years, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness lets loose in a way that does the hero's comic book adventures proud.
Whether it's turning music notes into weapons, utilising various mystical creatures, or just possessing his Variant's dead body, Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange feels like a true magical force to be reckoned with.
It helps, of course, that Benedict Cumberbatch gets to play more than just the MCU's Doctor Strange. While it's a shame that villainous Strange isn't the one from What If...?, it's a blast getting to see the actor take on a version of Stephen in live-action who is so close to that animated Variant.