Doctor Strange: Every Benedict Cumberbatch Marvel movie ranked worst to best
5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Funnily enough, If there’s any word to describe Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it could very well be “madness”. The Sorcerer Supreme’s sequel was so chaotic that it was either a hit or miss for moviegoers. And whether you are under the movie’s spell or not, there’s no denying there were problems with it. I personally loved Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness a lot, but it’s hard to look past the fact that some characters in the movie have a greater arc than Strange himself.
The movie repeatedly hits Doctor Strange with the question: “Are you happy?” and does nothing to address it later on. The answer’s pretty much left in the air once the credits appear and the movie ends. As a viewer, you could deduce he wasn’t necessarily happy after everything he’s been through, but that he found peace both in saving the world and letting go of Christine (the latter being something that becomes apparent when Strange finally fixes the clock she gave him).
Still, Multiverse of Madness did nothing to make Doctor Strange happier or more miserable. By the end, he’s still in love with the same person, he still wants some degree of control over things, and he’s still willing to bend the rules to achieve the greater good. While I’m not saying the movie did nothing to elevate his character, I do think his arc was reduced to letting go of someone he loves in every universe. It’s a sad arc that may work for some, but it didn’t click for others either.
What’s more disappointing is that he’s still not the Sorcerer Supreme even after defeating Wanda and saving the world for the third time. Knowing Marvel, they will make him the Sorcerer Supreme and are just waiting for the right time to do so. In the grand scheme of things, this could very well pay off and be worth the wait. Until then, it’s a little bit regrettable we didn’t get to see that storyline in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Overall Multiverse of Madness is a really enjoyable film that had some unfortunate problems. It’s not bad by any means, but it wasn’t a masterpiece either. Even if you love it, it’s hard to deny it isn’t as magical as other Doctor Strange movies.