--- title: "The Marvels: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-marvels/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-marvels" critics_score: 61 critics_reviews: 19 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." --- # The Marvels (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 61 from 19 reviews: 9 positive, 8 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews split fairly widely, and the middle is crowded. Most critics agree on one thing: Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan is the main reason to watch, with the easy chemistry among the three leads close behind. Nia DaCosta’s brisk pacing, the short runtime and a handful of odd flourishes, chiefly a visit to a singing planet, draw repeated praise. The reservations cluster around the plot, which several reviews call scattershot, baffling or over-familiar, and around a villain nobody seems to remember. Even the warmer notices tend to describe the film as slight; the cooler ones call it a mechanical, made-by-committee product that squanders a likeable cast. The outliers sit at both ends. The Times dismisses it as a mess that looks like cheap television, while Deadline hails it as a cosmic triumph. Nobody in between is quite that certain. ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. The critic praises Nia DaCosta for delivering the zippiest and paciest MCU film in some time, focusing on character dynamics and fun adventure rather than excessive lore. She singles out the energetic team-up elements, the standout performance of Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, and bold creative swings like a singing planet for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-marvels/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. The Marvels is quite entertaining overall, a freewheeling and feminine MCU entry focused on female friendship and fun that the series needs. It singles out Iman Vellani’s energetic performance as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel for stealing the show with brightness and levity. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-11-08/marvels-review-mcu-nia-dacosta-iman-vellani-brie-larson-teyonah-parris) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Lovia Gyarkye Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. The critic finds it a grounding contribution to the MCU, praising the sincere bond between the three protagonists as the film's strength. The lead performances, especially the chemistry among Larson, Parris, and Vellani, freshen up typical Marvel fare. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-marvels-review-brie-larson-nia-dacosta-1235637956/) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. The review highlights how the film ends far stronger than it starts, praising the warmth, camaraderie, and character depth in the final act that offers promising signposts for the MCU. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-marvels-review-brie-larson-nia-dacosta/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. The critic finds the film a lightweight sci-fi superhero action-comedy that pops sweetly and insubstantially like bubblegum, with likable humour and brio from the three leads, especially their visit to a singing planet. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/08/the-marvels-review-captain-marvel-brie-larson) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Rating 3/5. 9 November 2023. The film is described as one that won’t live long in the memory, with fun elements but ultimately slight and not memorable despite cool cameos. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/the-marvels-review/) ## Time Out — Olly Richards Rating 3/5. 8 November 2023. The review notes the brisk fun and charming trio but criticizes the baffling plot and poor plotting, saying it's hard to relax into due to unclear goals, though the core trio works well. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-marvels-2023) ## The AV Club — Leigh Monson Rating C. 8 November 2023. The critic praises the dream-team chemistry of the leads and some fun, breezy moments but criticizes the hyper-edited first act and confused plotting that makes it feel at odds with being a Marvel movie. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-marvels-film-review-mcu-brie-larson-1851001733) ## Variety — Laura Radford Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. The scattershot sequel diminishes the power of the first film with skittery plotting and utilitarian tone, though it is short and features some efficient action. It singles out Zawe Ashton’s go-for-broke performance as the villain Dar-Benn for injecting lyrical anger. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/the-marvels-review-brie-larson-tayonah-paris-iman-vellani-1235782585/) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. The review notes moments of originality and charm in the superhero sequel but concludes that scattered elements and the need for an MCU reset make it feel like a baffling waste overall. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-marvels-movie-review-1234923772/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2023. The film delivers exactly what is expected but nothing more, resulting in a bland and familiar MCU entry despite the appealing cast and director's talent. It singles out a lightly gonzo scene as a highlight of what the rest of the movie could have been. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/09/movies/the-marvels-review-brie-larson.html) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2023. The critic calls the adventure disappointingly dinky in scope and stakes despite its budget, faulting underdeveloped characters, lack of momentum, and its feel as a crossover episode rather than a must-see event. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-marvels-review-a-disappointingly-dinky-adventure.html) ## Screen Daily 8 November 2023. It has an appealing modesty and playful moments but feels insubstantial, with likeable performances but lacking fresh ideas, a mediocre villain and listless supporting turns. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-marvels-review/5187680.article) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman 13 November 2023. The critic praises Nia DaCosta for blending action and farce in a good-natured fantasy adventure, highlighting the fun, verve, and emotion brought by the director and cast, using the viewpoint of the teenager Kamala for grounded comedy and idealism. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/marvels-nia-dacosta-blends-action-farce-this-good-natured-fantasy-adventure) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★☆☆☆☆. 8 November 2023. The critic calls the film a mess and a deadening hotchpotch of pre-existing Marvel styles that looks like cheap TV, with bad dialogue and the dead hand of television all over it. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-marvels-review-hollywoods-superhero-factory-reaches-its-nadir-fdvnh50d7) ## Polygon — Joshua Rivera Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. The critic calls the film a fun, confident action-comedy that overcomes heavy MCU baggage through inventive set pieces and strong cast chemistry, especially Iman Vellani's delightful Kamala Khan. They single out the brisk pacing and imaginative moments like the cat-filled space station for making it a highlight amid the franchise's weaker year. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23952209/the-marvels-review-kamala-khan-captain-marvel/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B. 8 November 2023. The critic praises the fun, playful tone Nia DaCosta brings to the MCU and the joyful chemistry among the three leads, noting how the film refreshes dense backstory without overwhelming viewers. They single out the short runtime and energetic performances for making it one of the most enjoyable recent Marvel entries. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-marvels-review/) ## Consequence Rating B. 8 November 2023. The critic highlights the film's effervescent silliness, transcendent comedic moments, and Iman Vellani's charming energy as Kamala Khan as major strengths. They single out confusing plot holes, dropped narratives, and an unsatisfying ending as key weaknesses that undermine the fun. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2023/11/the-marvels-review-mcu/) ## The Playlist — Jeff Ewing Rating B. 8 November 2023. The critic finds the film a largely successful and entertaining MCU entry that explores revenge and forgiveness through Captain Marvel's arc, with strong performances especially from Iman Vellani as the scene-stealing Kamala Khan. It is let down by a nagging sense of over-familiarity, a forgettable villain, and a narrative that echoes previous installments too closely. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-marvels-review-nia-dacostas-superhero-adventure-explores-revenge-in-a-successful-but-naggingly-familiar-lark-20231108/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 2.5/5. 8 November 2023. The film has moments that work, especially Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel and an inventive musical sequence on an alien planet, but overall it feels like a mechanical, formulaic MCU product that fails to commit fully to its ideas or characters. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-marvels-review-no-cure-superhero-fatigue/) ## /Film — Jeremy Mathai Rating 5/10. 8 November 2023. The critic praises Iman Vellani's standout performance as the element that makes the film worth watching but deems the overall effort a disjointed and rushed cosmic disappointment that feels like a made-by-committee product. Director Nia DaCosta's intentions are visible but little of the intended vision remains on screen. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1441678/the-marvels-review/) ## NME — James Mottram Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2023. Nia DaCosta’s Marvel debut is one of the quirkier MCU entries with charming moments from Iman Vellani and some fun cosmic elements, but it lacks engagement and punch overall, feeling more meh than marvellous despite good lines and willing performers. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-marvels-review-brie-larson-3532201) ## Deadline — Valerie Complex 8 November 2023. The critic hails the film as a cosmic triumph that grounds its spectacle in emotional sincerity and character depth. DaCosta’s nuanced direction and the trio of heroines’ compelling performances are singled out for bringing humanity to the MCU. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-marvels-review-cosmic-triumph-grounded-in-sincerity-humanity-1235596559/) ## The Wrap 8 November 2023. The critic finds the film fun and colorful but with a thin plot and underdeveloped character relationships. Iman Vellani’s exuberant performance as Ms. Marvel is singled out for praise as the standout element that makes the movie enjoyable. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-marvels-review-brie-larson/) --- © 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/the-marvels.md