5 Marvel movies that definitely should have been better

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

• Release Date: May 6, 2022
• Directed by Sam Raimi
• Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness seemed like it would be one of the biggest MCU movies since Avengers: Endgame. And, financially, it was. The film nearly grossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. There was so much excitement heading into this movie about who would be in the cast, how the multiverse would be pieced together, and the infinite directions this movie could seemingly take.

I'm not saying they chose wrong every time, but a movie from Sam Raimi with Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, and the rest of these great cast members and characters should have just been better. The movie tells the story of America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, and Dr. Strange, played by Cumberbatch, as they evade a villainous Scarlet Witch, played by Olsen.

Like many of the movies on this list, it's not bad! There are some excellent moments and sequences. Gomez is a star, star, STAR!

But, and maybe this is just me, I don't know how we went from Doctor Strange to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The first movie was grounded. It felt real, you know? The story is self-contained and intriguing. It does a great job setting up for other MCU movies. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness loses almost all of what worked in the first movie.

Visually, there's no debate that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is stunning. It's a massive undertaking, and some of the special appearances and cameos do work and play well to the audience. Ultimately, those are the only two things about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that hold up. Well, I guess I'd also say that Raimi's style comes through, and it's definitely fun and different at times, too.