Doctor Strange is a fan favorite character that has multiple appearances on the big screen. But which one of them can be crowned as the best?
If you had told me ten years ago that Doctor Strange would be one of the best characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the likes of Tony Stark and Peter Parker… Well, first and foremost, I would’ve been shocked to hear Peter would share the screen with other Marvel heroes, because in 2013 that hadn’t happened yet.
Aside from that, it would’ve been surprising to know just how much of an impact Doctor Strange would have on the big screen. The Sorcerer Supreme has been a major player in the MCU ever since his first appearance in 2016, and thanks to his mind-bending powers he’s also a household name that every superhero fan knows and loves.
The MCU has many strengths, but perhaps one of its greatest is its casting of main characters. Just like Robert Downey Jr was the perfect choice to play Iron Man, no other actor would’ve been able to surpass Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. The British actor interprets every facet of the sorcerer supreme incredibly well and with surprising ease. His arrogance as a successful neurosurgeon is perfectly portrayed, even going as far as being unlikeable. You could also tell how frustrated and in pain he was when he lost both of his hands after the car crash. Overall there are many sides to his character, and they are made very apparent thanks to the skills of Benedict Cumberbatch.
Doctor Strange also plays a pivotal role in big movies like Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: No Way Home. He’s the reason the multiverse breaks apart and different versions of Spider-Man are able to meet. He’s also the reason audiences are introduced to the time stone and time travel in the first place. It’s because of him many great stories with supernatural elements can be adapted to the big screen, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
All of the MCU projects that involve Doctor Strange are really good in one way or another, but some managed to be more enjoyable than others. So it’s time to rank every Benedict Cumberbatch Marvel movie from okay to insanely awesome. Are you ready? Great, because we’ll start with a controversial pick.
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.
4. Doctor Strange
It’s no secret all superhero-origin movies or series follow pretty much the same narrative. Don’t believe me? Well, just tell me if you’ve ever seen this before: A reluctant hero is given a second chance at life after an accident or tragedy. The solution to their problem puts them on the path to becoming a superhero, but mastering their powers require a lot of training. However, by the end of the day, they save the world by defeating an enemy against all odds and finally manage to return home safely. Feels familiar, right? That’s because this narrative is present in many superhero projects, including Iron Man, Daredevil, Ant-Man, and, well, Doctor Strange.
So let’s start by accepting that Doctor Strange didn’t reinvent the wheel. It contains the same problems the MCU is known to repeat over and over again. There’s a one-dimensional villain that has the same powers as the hero but uses them for evil. There are a lot of quips that sometimes feel out of place to make the movie fun and family-friendly. And, finally, its narrative is very similar to that of other superhero movies. However, while Doctor Strange didn’t shine thanks to its plot, it was incredibly unique in other aspects.
Scott Derickson didn’t hold back with the use of magic in the film. The scene where the Ancient One makes Doctor Strange travel through the multiverse is stunning and way different from anything audiences have ever seen in the MCU. The fight between Doctor Strange and Mordo against Kaecilius in the mirror dimension is truly mind-bending thanks to an amazing use of CGI. Finally, while the third act of every superhero movie sees its protagonist defeat the main villain in combat, Doctor Strange did something completely new. He used a time loop to tire Dormammu and force him to give up, even if it meant dying multiple times in many bizarre ways.
Doctor Strange was a different kind of superhero movie. Not in its narrative, but in its execution. Additionally, the movie had an amazing protagonist and incredible acting by Benedict Cumberbatch. So even with all its problems, you couldn’t have asked for a better big-screen adaptation of the Sorcerer Supreme. It was fun, action-packed, and unique. Better yet, it still has a lot of rewatch value thanks to amazing CGI and its iconic set pieces. Now let’s hope the third movie in Doctor Strange’s saga manages to beat it.
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home
It’s no secret Phase 4 of the MCU was somewhat… disappointing. Its slate was a little too crowded, and it felt like some projects in it were made just for the sake of delivering content instead of wanting to tell an epic story. But if there’s one movie in Phase 4 that managed to stand out from all others, it would have to be Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The wall-crawler’s third adventure finally delivered on the promise of different universes clashing with each other, something the MCU was building towards ever since Avengers: Endgame came to an end. You can even say Spider-Man: Far From Home is a better multiversal film than Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which funnily enough has “multiverse” in its title. Yes, that’s how good Spider-Man’s latest movie is.
An emotional rollercoaster that made audiences laugh, cry, and shout in excitement, Spider-Man: No Way Home had everything. It brought together three different versions of the wall-crawler, and best of all is that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were more than simple cameos. Without them, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker would have murdered Green Goblin, and I seriously doubt audiences want to see Spider-Man kill. They greatly impacted the story and felt like fully fleshed characters (unlike the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, who were mostly fanservice).
Spider-Man: No Way Home also gave an amazing arc to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker as well. Now he’s more like the Spider-Man we all know and love who keeps his identity a secret, makes great sacrifices to save the day and stands on his own without the need of other heroes. If there’s anything negative about the movie, it would unfortunately be its use of magic. Since the multiverse wasn’t fully open by the time Spider-Man: No Way Home was released, Doctor Strange needed to make an appearance and do it by himself. However, the explanation given as to how three different versions of Spider-Men and their villains came together was heavily undercooked.
Movies like Doctor Strange try to set rules and limits to their use of magic, but Spider-Man: No Way Home uses it as a way to make the plot more convenient. The more you think about certain aspects of the story, the more you realize they don’t make sense. But while the movie could’ve benefited from a greater script, there’s no denying it was an incredible experience that blew everybody’s minds. Better yet, it’s one of the best projects in Phase 4 of the MCU, if not the best.
2. Avengers: Endgame
Tony Stark said it himself: “Part of the journey is the end” and sometimes that end has monumental expectations to meet. Concluding a saga that was 11 years in the making and that encompassed 22 movies is easier said than done. While that task would prove to be too much for some, Marvel found the perfect solution with Avengers: Endgame. Not only it is a love letter to the MCU, but an epic conclusion to everything that came before it.
Some of the main characters in Avengers: Infinity War took a step back and gave the spotlight to other heroes in Endgame. This unfortunately means Doctor Strange wasn’t present during most of the film. After all, he was turned to dust by the Mad Titan himself. However, after Hulk brought half of the world back to life in a snap, the Sorcerer Supreme had an important role to fill. The scene where every hero appears from a magic portal might be one of the most iconic moments in the MCU as a whole, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Strange. Watching the Avengers come together to fight the Mad Titan one last time was a dream come true, and it may take a while before Marvel manages to surpass it.
Avengers: Endgame gave an emotional conclusion to some of our favorite characters. Out of the six founding Avengers, three of them would have their stories brought to an end. Tony Stark went from being a selfish billionaire to a hero who gave his life to save half of the world. Natasha Romanoff completed her last and greatest mission by sacrificing herself to give the Avengers a chance at bringing everyone back. Finally, Steve Rogers realized his war was finally won, and so he hung his shield and stayed in the past with the love of his life.
While the MCU would go o and keep telling great stories, it’s hard to deny a part of it died with Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow. Still, their end was part of an epic tale that might very well be one of the best superhero movies to date. Avengers: Endgame is exciting, emotional, heartbreaking, and the most ambitious Marvel project to date. Let’s just hope another Avengers movie in the future manages to be as special as Endgame was.
1. Avengers: Infinity War
If you were to ask people what their favorite MCU movie is, you’d probably have a lot of different answers. Some may think Iron Man was unbeatable, and others may prefer the sheer scope of Captain America: Civil War. However, it’s safe to say Avengers: Infinity War would be in the minds of many, either as the direct answer or as a strong contender.
Expectations for Avengers: Infinity War were huge before its release back in 2018. Marvel was finally going to give the first step in concluding the Infinity Saga, and the prospect to see every hero come together to stop an inevitable doom was amazing. The way the movie united different characters was organic and seamless. Some long-awaited interactions finally came to be, like Tony Stark meeting Stephen Strange, or Peter Parker meeting Peter Quill. Everyone had a pivotal role to play, even if some had more protagonism than others.
Besides, the movie finally allowed Thanos to set his plans into motion. This meant no one was safe, and that was a first for the MCU. While Marvel is often critiqued for its low stakes, Avengers: Infinity War was a big exception. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes didn’t just fail once at preventing Thanos from snapping his fingers. No. Every time the Mad Titan obtained an Infinity Stone proved to be a defeat for the Avengers, as they tried everything they could to stop him and failed in every instance. It was brutal.
However, Avengers: Infinity War also managed to be fun, exciting, and incredibly entertaining. Its plot managed to do justice to 10 years of storytelling and world-building. Its characters made audiences cheer whenever they first appeared on the screen. Its locations were varied and unique, and finally, it was made with incredible passion (something that other MCU projects lack).
Overall, Avengers: Infinity War is not only the best movie in which Doctor Strange has appeared, but one of the most iconic films of the last decade. It had high stakes and a heartbreaking ending, something that’s not too common in the MCU. For that reason, among many others, it will always have a special place in every fan’s heart.