WONDER WOMAN 1984: Here's What The Critics Are Saying About The Latest DC Extended Universe Movie

WONDER WOMAN 1984: Here's What The Critics Are Saying About The Latest DC Extended Universe Movie

The reviews are finally in for Wonder Woman 1984, but do they live up to the glowing reactions we saw for the DC Comics sequel a couple of weeks ago? Find out what critics are saying after the jump...

By JoshWilding - Dec 15, 2020 10:12 AM EST
Filed Under: Wonder Woman 1984

The first reactions for Wonder Woman 1984 were overwhelmingly positive, but we've been fooled before (remember Fantastic Four?), so it was important to take them with a pinch of salt. 

However, it appears that, for the most part, those lucky enough to see the sequel early weren't exaggerating.

In IGN's 8/10 review, the site says, "Wonder Woman 1984 is a film with a heart full of hope and love; a nostalgic look back to a beloved time that provides escapism from an exceptionally difficult year." They do, however, note that, "The adherence to a more classic superhero template means it is lacking in any genuine surprise or outstanding innovation."

Total Film enjoyed it, awarding Patty Jenkins' DC Comics sequel 4/5 with the summary describing it as, "A much-needed blockbuster full of humour, spectacle and optimism."

So, Wonder Woman 1984 has seemed to hit the right spot for lot of sites, but what do the trades make of it? Variety didn't like it. "As the wishes stack up and the world falls into chaos, 'Wonder Woman 1984' loses its way, and while it’s not bad enough to renounce the satisfaction of what came before, it’s enough to shift our focus back to our own real-world predicament," the review reads. "What we need right now this movie can’t solve, but just maybe, it will inspire someone who can."

The Hollywood Reporter seems to be somewhere in the middle, but points out that "there's still a lot to love" despite clearly not being keen on how the sequel plays out at times. Ultimately, they believe Wonder Woman 1984 "is at its entertaining best in the early sequences."

USA Today awards it 3/4, and summarise their review by explaining that, "the action-packed, heartwarming flick hits more than it misses, especially for fans waiting through a year full of release delays. And fortunately, Jenkins is the resident Santa Claus, gifting us this holiday season – even those stuck at home – with an action-packed, heartwarming flick full of grace, goodness and a tank-flipping, whip-smacking, baddie-bashing Gadot."

Unsurprisingly, The Playlist hated it (it's awarded a D+), but Entertainment Weekly, Polygon, and The Independent all scored it positively. In our review, we said that Wonder Woman 1984 is "A powerful, emotional sequel to 2017's Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984 makes wonder-ful use of its 1980s setting, and sees Pedro Pascal deliver another phenomenal performance as the delightfully maniacal Maxwell Lord."

Are you excited for Wonder Woman 1984 after reading these reviews?

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DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 12/15/2020, 10:07 AM
But the same people who said Joker was bad after the script leak said this was bad after the plot leak....


I'm so confused, are random leaks not representative of the quality of film?
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 12/15/2020, 10:08 AM
/s
SnideCut
SnideCut - 12/15/2020, 10:51 AM
@DannRamm113 - Joker was average.
Chewtoy
Chewtoy - 12/15/2020, 10:59 AM
@DannRamm113 - It sounds pretty much in line with my opinions after reading the scene-by-scene plot breakdown. I said at the time that the story seemed really clunky and that if it was going to work, the cast’s charm and direction would need to elevate the material.

It’s quite possible that the problem isn’t that people were wrong about the plot description, the problem is with people underestimating all of the other things that make a movie enjoyable outside of the bare plot.
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 12/15/2020, 11:29 AM
@Chewtoy - I tend to agree. A lot of people don't fully comprehend how good directing, acting, cinematography, sound/music etc can elevate what's on paper. I read the breakdown, i can tell it's real, but I didn't think it was a bad story necessarily.

I mean, if it was 2012 and I said to you "That Avengers starts with Hawkeye automatically being brainwashed by some new staff that Loki has, followed by a car chase, and then the heros spend like an hour on a ship yelling at each other" then that's not necessarily doing the story justice, although it is accurate
Chewtoy
Chewtoy - 12/15/2020, 11:37 AM
@DannRamm113 - My go-to example is Abrams’ Star Trek reboot... even after watching it, I thought it had a really dumb story that held together by begging “please don’t think about it”, but the cast was so enjoyable and the pacing and direction kept things lively and engaging and so I was not at all surprised at how much people liked it.
bigdannymac
bigdannymac - 12/15/2020, 10:09 AM
Really looking forward to seeing this 👍👍

Unfortunately won't be watching in the theater but will watch with the family at home

Stay safe everyone ♥️
MUTO123
MUTO123 - 12/15/2020, 10:09 AM
Looks like it’s gonna be a nice Christmas.
tmp3
tmp3 - 12/15/2020, 10:10 AM
I liked the first movie but the trailers didn't really do anything for me, and I'm not that big on Donner's films. I'm flying back home during the break and cinemas are open there, so maybe I'll see it on the big screen - COVID over there's pretty under control unlike some other countries lol.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 12/15/2020, 10:10 AM
Pretty much what I expected.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 12/15/2020, 10:10 AM
No mention of Cheetah. Hm. I wonder how she came out.
Better than Cats I hope. 😐.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 12/15/2020, 10:13 AM
@HulkisHorny - I'm guessing she was as unmemorable as Anne Hathaway's Catwoman.
GothamSon
GothamSon - 12/15/2020, 10:15 AM
@soberchimera - This. Nolan's Catwoman was thinly written and painfully acted by Hathaway.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 12/15/2020, 10:24 AM
@soberchimera

"I'm guessing she was as unmemorable as Anne Hathaway's Catwoman."

soberchimera
soberchimera - 12/15/2020, 10:28 AM
@regularmovieguy - She was horribly miscast, Emily Blunt or Eva Green would've been so much better, but to be fair Nolan sort of shoehorned the character into the script.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 12/15/2020, 10:36 AM
@Waddles - She was trying WAAAAAAY too hard to be seductive, her strengths lie more in quirky, comedic characters like in Princess Diaries, Devil Wears Prada, and Get Smart. And yes, I know she's done more dramatic flair like Les Miserables, but she can't really play an authentic femme fatale. I also think WB will automatically go with an Oscar nom rather than the right actor for the role. That's why we got Eisenberg as Luthor and Leto as Joker.
tmp3
tmp3 - 12/15/2020, 10:37 AM
@soberchimera - I thought she was pretty seductive/hot in the role. But to each their own.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 12/15/2020, 10:39 AM
@soberchimera -

I agree with your comments regarding Eisenberg and even Leto (though he could have done it well with the right director and script).

But I disagree with Hathaway. I think she surprisingly worked well in Nolan’s universe.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 12/15/2020, 10:41 AM
@tmp3 - She's attractive for sure, but in a cute, quirky sort of way. I just don't buy her as a lethal seductress which is what Catwoman is supposed to be. But seriously, where was all this Hathaway praise when this movie actually came out?

soberchimera
soberchimera - 12/15/2020, 10:45 AM
@Waddles -

regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 12/15/2020, 10:48 AM
@soberchimera

"But seriously, where was all this Hathaway praise when this movie actually came out?"

Haha she was praised in 2012 when the movie came out for the most part...probably one of the central talking points in the reviews given the Catwoman character debuting in Nolan's Batman finale.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dark_knight_rises

Take a look. I'd be surprised if any review left out any mention of Hathaway and her performance.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 12/15/2020, 10:53 AM
@regularmovieguy - I think most of the film's praise went towards Tom Hardy's Bane from what I remember in 2012. I sincerely don't remember anyone saying Hathaway was outstanding in the role. Of course WAY more effort was put into the critiquing of the film's plot holes than anything else by the internet.
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 12/15/2020, 10:12 AM
You're putting me together, Lis-errr Patty!
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 12/15/2020, 10:15 AM
I have no doubt I'll enjoy the movie, and I would wager it's probably pretty good, to boot. And these are only a few reactions, but I feel the critical response would have been more harsh either way under the original release had this pandemic not happened.
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