Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Marvel handed Sam Raimi the keys and he quietly snuck a horror film into the trunk, which is the best and worst call in the whole thing. The best part: the camera moves are creepy, the scares are real, and some shots look like nothing else in the franchise. The worst part: the story underneath is a mess. America Chavez is a power source in sneakers who barely gets to be a person, and Wanda’s arc feels like it skipped a few episodes on purpose. Elizabeth Olsen goes all in anyway and makes it scary. Benedict Cumberbatch spends the movie being asked if he’s happy, and the answer is written all over his face. It made $955.8 million worldwide across 126 minutes of chaos, and I couldn’t tell you what happened in half of them. A 5.5 because Raimi’s fingerprints are fun and the plot feels assembled in a hurry. $37 says you jump at least once and pretend you were just fixing the couch cushion.

What works: Sam Raimi’s horror touches, creepy camera work, and Elizabeth Olsen fully committing to a scary turn.

What doesn’t: The story is rushed and messy, America Chavez is used as a plot device, and Wanda’s turn feels unearned.

Who it’s for: Marvel fans who want something darker, and horror fans curious what Raimi does with a blockbuster budget.