--- title: "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 25 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." --- # Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 25 reviews: 19 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics like it: nineteen of the twenty-five reviews are positive. The praise gathers in two places. The first is the martial-arts choreography, which several reviews call the best action Marvel has yet put on screen. The second is Tony Leung as Wenwu, the hero’s father, whom nearly every review singles out. Simu Liu and Awkwafina get warm notices for their chemistry and humour, and many credit the film with grounding a familiar origin story in Chinese and Asian American culture and a real family drama. The reservations cluster on the second half, which many say gives way to effects-driven spectacle, exposition and an overbaked climax. A smaller group finds the hero underwritten next to his father: Slant Magazine calls Liu’s performance affectless, and Vulture reckons it is about half a good film. The Times goes furthest, saying it collapses after a rollicking first half. The spread is wide, from two stars to four and a half. ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating B+. 23 August 2021. A fresh MCU origin story boasting the franchise’s best action yet, with Destin Daniel Cretton’s first MCU outing packing a massive punch and new stars Simu Liu and Awkwafina adding heart and humor. The film distinguishes itself with precision martial-arts sequences while grounding its story in Chinese and Asian American culture. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-mcu-1234658211/) ## Empire — Laura Sirikul Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. The first MCU film led by an Asian protagonist succeeds as entertaining family drama with standout martial-arts action. Cretton excels at blending cultural nods and humour with innovative fight choreography. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings/) ## Little White Lies — Weiting Liu Rating 4/4/5. 5 September 2021. The MCU’s first Asian superhero movie combines thrilling spectacle with cultural specificity to correct the comics’ racist past. It anchors its audiovisual bombardments and genre hodgepodges in incisive commentary on legacy, grief and identity. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings) ## Radio Times Rating 4/5. 23 August 2021. It is a wonderfully entertaining, often emotional ride with a great deal of warmth bolstered by its excellent central cast. The family saga at its heart, anchored by Tony Leung, helps it stand out among Marvel peers. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/shang-chi-marvel-review-comment/) ## The Telegraph — Tim Robey Rating 4/5. 2 September 2021. The film is a rare Marvel outing that gets almost everything right, with excellent fight choreography, strong character work and an engaging lead performance. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/shang-chi-legend-ten-rings-review-love-first-fight-new-marvel/) ## Time Out — Olly Richards Rating 4/5. 23 August 2021. Marvel’s first movie with an Asian-American lead is a grabby debut for a cool new MCU character that loses energy in the second half. It delivers thrillingly choreographed fight sequences and believable lead chemistry in its stronger opening section. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-2021) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2021. This down-to-earth trailblazer stands out among Marvel entries thanks to its relatable leads and strong emotional core. Hits outweigh the misses in this Asian-led superhero debut. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/shangchi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-marvel-b953370.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. The movie succeeds as an origin story with strong family drama and action, thanks in large part to Tony Leung's magnetic star turn as the Mandarin. It notes that while not flawless, it rises above typical Marvel fare in key ways. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-08-23/shang-chi-legend-ten-rings-review-marvel-simu-liu-tony-leung) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. An uneven but entertaining mixture of fresh and familiar that works best when its MCU ties are least apparent. It starts strongly with excellent action sequences and delightful comedic banter but succumbs to effects-driven spectacle later. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review/5162473.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. The film is an entertaining romp with spirited martial-arts action and strong supporting performances, though it remains generically familiar as an MCU entry and somewhat formulaic. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/23/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-marvel-simu-liu-awkwafina) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. A flawed but fresh spin on the superhero formula that attempts to remix old tropes with new perspectives through martial-arts action and Asian American culture but doesn't always meld its elements smoothly. The core father-son relationship and Tony Leung's performance ground the film despite its overstuffed plot and Marvel-mandated humor. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-1235000054/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. Marvel delivers an entertaining, visually flashy vehicle that effectively expands representation with strong early action and clever handling of its hero's backstory. It singles out the shift to bombastic CGI spectacle in the finale as a letdown. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-simu-liu-1235046718/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 September 2021. Approximately half a good movie that treats Tony Leung’s Wenwu as more compelling than its hero, with Leung’s conflicted presence pulling focus as a mesmerizing tragic anti-hero. The film is at its fleetest in the first act but struggles as an origin story that feels racked with inadequacy about its main character. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-movie-review.html) ## The i Paper — Geoffrey Macnab Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 September 2021. A lot of fun with fast-moving, witty action and engaging leads, but the relentless jokiness hinders emotional depth. The film struggles to balance its cheery tone with attempts at pathos. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-an-exhaustingly-cheery-marvel-adventure-1179982) ## The New York Times — Maya Phillips Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 1 September 2021. The film is unsteady and fails to fully develop its hero or use its supporting characters effectively, with action sequences that are often poorly executed. It singles out Tony Leung's charismatic performance as the father for praise amid the flaws. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/movies/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review.html) ## Slant Magazine Rating 1.5/4. 23 August 2021. Save for Tony Leung, the film is a bust, with Simu Liu’s affectless performance failing to convey Shang-Chi’s misgivings and the script rotely defining him through impostor syndrome. Leung brings resilience and vulnerability as the power-mad father, but the film’s laughable moral calculus and inability to hold a candle to its supporting performance undermine it. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-marvel/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★☆☆☆. 23 August 2021. The first half is a rollicking, witty action flick anchored by strong performances, but it collapses into tedious exposition and synthetic spectacle in the second half. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-an-ineffective-slab-of-branded-meta-myth-ls26tq7ns) ## Den of Geek — Bernard Boo Rating 4.5/5. 23 August 2021. The critic praises it as a thrilling top-tier MCU installment and cultural milestone for Asian representation, with strong performances and elegant themes of family and identity. They single out the blistering, beautifully staged action sequences and visual storytelling in the fight scenes. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. The critic calls it a fun, engaging MCU addition with a strong ensemble cast, clever action, and cultural weight as a new franchise direction post-Endgame. He singles out the father-son story, Simu Liu's relatable lead performance, and the gravitas from Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/video/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-simu-liu-awkwafina-marvel-disney/) ## Consequence Rating B+. 23 August 2021. The critic calls it one of the MCU's strongest introductory films, highlighting the compelling family drama, standout performances especially from Tony Leung, and visual spectacle while noting some issues with supporting villains. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2021/08/shang-chi-review-marvel-movie/) ## NME — Nick Levine Rating 4/5. 24 August 2021. It overcomes a tricky origin story with ease as a fresh and infectious martial arts blockbuster that boosts representation. The critic singles out the eye-popping wuxia-inspired fight scenes and strong supporting turns, while noting the climax is slightly overbaked. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-3026960) ## The Wrap — Todd Gilchrist Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 2 September 2021. The critic praises the film's fusion of Hong Kong martial-arts cinema with MCU origins, strong character work, and dazzling fight choreography. He singles out Tony Leung's best-in-genre performance as the conflicted villain Wenwu for its depth and subtlety. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/shang-chi-film-review-simu-liu-tony-leung-mcu/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B-. 23 August 2021. The critic praises the film's kung-fu action sequences as among the best in the MCU but criticizes the story for failing to make the protagonist a compelling individual beyond his general affability. [Read the review](https://collider.com/shang-chi-review-mcu-movie/) ## Polygon — Joshua Rivera Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. The critic finds the first half a strong action film and family drama but the second half falters with fantasy elements and a clichéd third act; praises the personal story, Tony Leung's performance, and the retcon of MCU history. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22633102/shang-chi-review/) ## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui Rating 6.5/10. 23 August 2021. The critic finds it a mostly decent Marvel movie with strong action but one that falls short of its ambitions. They single out the kinetic fight scenes and Tony Leung's performance as the standout elements. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/583701/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-review-tony-leungs-villain-eclipses-the-mcus-first-asian-superhero/) --- © 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/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings.md