Why are critics not loving Marvel’s Eternals?
In an earlier article, we covered how critics had vastly different opinions on Marvel’s Eternals. Back then, the film had a 72% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which isn’t bad but it’s not the best either. Unfortunately, things have changed a lot in just a couple of days. Now, the critical opinion on Marvel’s Eternals has only gotten worse. The good news here though, is that there are still several hundred reviews left that could help level the score out. The bad news is that there’s no telling if the upcoming reviews are going to paint a worse or better picture for Marvel’s Eternals. To be fair to Eternals’ ensemble cast, reviews are more of an art than a science. Not to mention, just because a film isn’t positively reviewed by critics, it doesn’t mean that it won’t do well at the box office. Case in point, Sony’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage wasn’t loved by critics, but the film still ended up setting a new overall record for a November release. This isn’t to say that Marvel’s Eternals will pull in as much at the global box office, but you’ll never know. So, why are critics so divided in their opinion on Eternals? For starters, the film is ambitious. It’s an Avengers-level kind of film but without all of the build-up. It’s a big swing for the MCU and, unfortunately, it appears to be more of a miss than a hit.
What’s next for Marvel’s Eternals?
As we’ve already mentioned, critical reviews are far from everything. MCU films might be better reviewed most of the time, but how the general public receives Marvel’s Eternals is what’s most important here. If the movie pulls in far less than expected at the local and global box office, then maybe we can talk about how Marvel’s Eternals was a dud. Until that has happened, it’s better if we just wait and see what audiences think about the latest MCU film. If it’s any consolation, Marvel’s Eternals is shaping up to be the kind of film that the MCU needs. It might be divisive and experimental, but it’s also different. Because of how many films there have been in the MCU, the franchise now risks growing staple and becoming formulaic. Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was a good start, and Marvel’s Eternals is a nice follow-up to that. With the MCU set to go back to releasing sequels to already-established films in 2022 and 2023, Marvel’s Eternals is a breath of fresh air that could end up aging like fine wine.
