MCU: Ranking each Marvel Phase 4 movie by anticipation

5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Release Date: May 7, 2021

Doctor Strange was one of the greatest, most under-appreciated MCU origin films. This list appreciates Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange who kicks off the top five. Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Doctor Strange, stronger than ever. In fact, he’s one of the top three strongest characters in the MCU.

There’s a lot to unpack in the world of Doctor Strange. With the Time Stone gone, Dormammu lurks in the darkness plotting his next move. Who can forget the unfinished business Baron Mordo has with Strange? However, neither are the villains in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Director Scott Derrickson plans to take the film into a different direction; with the very first villain Strange faced in the comics.  At SDCC it was revealed that Multiverse of Madness would be the first horror movie of the MCU. So, the title of big bad goes to the ruler of the Dream Dimension, Nightmare.

We may never get to see Freddy Kruger take on any Marvel characters, but Nightmare will come close enough. After discovering his true power, Nightmare escaped the life of a peasant and servant to Shuma-Gonath into the Splinter Dimension where he now rules. Nightmare’s survival depends on the fear he creates with his ability to jump into the minds of mortals.

If done correctly Derrickson can basically merge the dimensional aspects of Hellraiser meets Freddy Kruger. Putting Doctor Strange in the middle of it all makes for a movie that feels like horror fantasy.  Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will scare the heck out of us May 7, 2021.