--- title: "Blue Beetle: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/blue-beetle/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/blue-beetle" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 16 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Blue Beetle (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 16 reviews: 9 positive, 5 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics agree on what works: the Reyes family. Nearly every review, favourable or not, singles out the warm, funny household around Jaime as the film’s heart, with Xolo Maridueña’s anxious, likeable lead performance close behind. The Latino cultural detail and the modest, old-fashioned scale of the story are counted as virtues by Total Film, Variety and the Los Angeles Times. The reservations cluster just as tightly. Almost everyone calls the origin story formulaic and the villains and action sequences familiar, and several find the effects cheap and the direction flat. The spread is wide. The New York Times and /Film land in the middle, charmed by the family and bored by the plot, while the Telegraph dismisses it as a tiresome effects contest and the Times finds it hackneyed, sparing only Susan Sarandon’s villain and the suits’ neon design. Time Out’s dissent is the most pointed: the cultural warmth is real, but the clichés drown it. ## Total Film — Neil Smith Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2023. By keeping ambitions modest, the film delivers a fresh Latin American spin on a lesser-known DC hero, emphasizing family, heritage and personality over bombast in a genre often lacking them. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/blue-beetle-movie-review/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2023. The critic praises the brisk, cheeky, low-stakes fun and old-school '80s-style VFX in this flagrantly derivative but appealing origin story. The vibrant Latino family and Xolo Maridueña's puppyish performance are highlighted as emotional grounding and star-making elements. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/blue-beetle-review-1235696509/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2023. The critic calls it a refreshing, good old-fashioned origin story that injects the DC universe with Latino richness, family focus, culture, humor, and subtle politics. The charming lead and upbeat tone are praised as an exciting new direction despite some formulaic elements. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-08-16/blue-beetle-review-dc-comics-xolo-mariduena-superhero) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2023. Though formulaic as an origin story with unremarkable action, the film succeeds through its charming, uncynical focus on Jaime's family and strong Hispanic-American cast and cultural details. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/blue-beetle/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2023. The critic highlights how the film benefits from its Latino culture setting, finding heart, soul and serious politics in the story of a migrant family alongside the superhero elements. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/blue-beetle-review/5184915.article) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2023. The film is a likeable but predictable superhero origin story that avoids multiverse gimmicks and offers nostalgic straightforwardness. It stands out for its warm portrayal of the Reyes family's dynamics and Latino cultural specificity. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/blue-beetle-review-dc-b2394037.html) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 2/3/3. 16 August 2023. The critic views the film as a familiar superhero origin story that follows the usual beats but finds value in its brash celebration of Latino culture, nostalgia and family rituals. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/blue-beetle) ## Radio Times — Dave Golder Rating 3/5. The critic praises the funny, endearing and surprising Reyes family as the best part of the film, giving it heart, while noting that the plot, villains and action sequences feel familiar. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-hoquq3/blue-beetle/) ## The New York Times — Maya Phillips Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2023. The critic finds the plot boilerplate and the superhero uncompelling, criticizing the formulaic story, cheap effects, and colorless direction. The lovable Mexican family, especially the rebel grandmother, is singled out as the highlight that enlivens the film. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/16/movies/blue-beetle-review.html) ## Time Out — Kambole Campbell Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2023. The critic notes the rarity of a Latinx-led superhero film with cultural references and family warmth but finds it ultimately drowned out by rote clichés, familiar world-building and trite elements. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/blue-beetle-2023) ## The Telegraph Rating 1/5. The review calls the film a tiresome, cliché-ridden VFX-off that is powerfully boring and fails to deliver anything new or engaging. It singles out the eager Latinx cast as not to blame for the script's faults. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/blue-beetle-review-dc-xolo-mariduena/) ## Financial Times — Jonathan Romney Rating ★★★☆☆. 17 August 2023. The critic sees the film as an unfussy adaptation that introduces some political thrust through its Latinocentric focus and predominantly Hispanic cast. It singles out the candidly likeable teen-idol lead and pleasing visuals with a purple leitmotif for praise. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/9afe3ec3-5ac2-4b76-ab38-2f10de816fc9) ## The Guardian 16 August 2023. The critic finds Blue Beetle a milestone for Latino representation and a solidly entertaining diversion, though it suffers from overplayed beats and formulaic elements typical of the genre. It works best in its warm family dynamics and cultural specifics aimed at a Latino audience. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/aug/16/dc-latino-superhero-film-blue-beetle-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 16 August 2023. The critic praises the film as an entertaining and emotional DC entry with a fresh, retro feel, highlighting Xolo Maridueña's charismatic performance as the reluctant hero. They single out the warm, culturally rich portrayal of the Mexican American family's bonds and struggles for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/blue-beetle-review-xolo-mariduena-dc-1235567771/) ## The Times — Ed Potton Rating ★★☆☆☆. 17 August 2023. The critic deems Blue Beetle a wearily formulaic and hackneyed tale devoid of spark, despite Susan Sarandon’s knowing turn as the villain. It singles out the stylish visual sense of the director for the suits' neon-streaked aesthetic as a saving grace. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-blue-beetle-review-thfz7j28k) ## Vulture 18 August 2023. The critic finds that Blue Beetle succeeds by focusing on the hero's relatable family background and cultural specificity rather than formulaic spectacle, making the origin story charming and engaging. They single out the warmth of the Reyes family depiction and Maridueña's anxious, likable performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-blue-beetle-dcs-latest-superhero-movie.html) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2023. The critic praises the film as highly entertaining with more heart and humor than most superhero movies, crediting its success to the irresistible Latino family dynamic at its center and the appealing performance of lead Xolo Mariduena. He notes that the final third devolves into typical carnage but overall finds it a charming entry that stands out for its family focus. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/08/blue-beetle-review-dc-comic-book-adaptation-latino-family-focus-1235520468/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 4/5. 17 August 2023. The critic finds the film entertaining with real heart, praising its Latino representation, charismatic lead, family elements, and visuals, while noting it follows familiar superhero tropes but succeeds on its own terms. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/blue-beetle-review-dc/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B-. 16 August 2023. The critic praises the film's focus on smaller stakes and family dynamics as a refreshing change for DC, noting its heart and charm from the family team aspect. They single out the influences from other superhero films as a point of familiarity but appreciate the lighter tone and restrained action. [Read the review](https://collider.com/blue-beetle-review/) ## NME — James Mottram Rating 3/5. 16 August 2023. Mildly diverting summer blockbuster with some fun family comedy and political undertones, but clichéd; praised for introducing the first Latino DC superhero and the charming lead performance. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/blue-beetle-review-3483775) ## /Film — Witney Seibold Rating 5.5/10. 16 August 2023. The critic finds it a fun but frustratingly shabby and rushed superhero movie. They praise the Mexican cultural touchpoints and family dynamics while complaining about the lack of awe, rushed exposition, and insubstantial plot. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1367519/blue-beetle-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/blue-beetle.md