The Mycenaean

Marvel Cinematic Universe released its 52nd film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, on May 6, 2022. 

Marvel Studios introduced Doctor Strange into the MCU in 2016, and his presence in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame was a necessity to the plot and all of the following Marvel movies. 

Spider-Man: No Way Home ranked #6 for the top grosses of all time according to Box Office Mojo. The movie released at the end of 2021 set up the premise for Doctor Strange’s upcoming movie. A clip from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was at the end of the film following the tear-jerking movie that reopened memories for long-time Marvel fans.

Needless to say, Doctor Strange’s newest film had a lot to live up to after Spider-Man: No Way Home, which had a 93% rating from Rotten Tomatoes and a 98% audience score. 

The film introduced the multiverse into the MCU, in -depth, for the first time. The film presented the multiverse with authentic and inventive filming techniques that explored what the multiverse really looks like. While the aspects of the multiverse are complicated, Marvel made sure to reflect the complexity in the movie that is hard to follow at times. 

The movie begins in New York at Dr. Christine Palmer’s, an ex of Strange’s, wedding. A one-eyed octopus chases after a girl, who is later revealed to be America Chavez, while destroying the city. America Chavez is being hunted for her power to travel through the multiverse. 

Strange discovers that Wanda Maximoff, who has permanently reverted to Scarlet Witch, is behind the monsters chasing after America. America and Strange travel through the multiverse attempting to find a version of Doctor Strange who can stop the Scarlet Witch from taking over the multiverse and killing the young girl for her powers. During the process, Strange meets versions of himself that have turned evil which help him understand his place in his own universe. 

Wanda Maximoff has always been a powerful witch in the MCU, but she was never presented as a villain. Wanda fought to conceal her evil urges, but in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, she no longer conceals her evil side. Bitterness from the loss of her husband and her lack of children drives Wanda cold.

Marvel fans have to view Wanda as a villain for the sake of the plot, which presents challenges for fans who remember her as a harmless Avenger. Wanda’s story transforms Doctor Strange’s movie into more of a tragedy.

Along with the movie’s bold villain choice, Strange’s love life is finally incorporated into his story. Strange is presented as a very stern superhero whose personality can be so cold and secure it is comedic. Fans discover that Doctor Strange and Christine Palmer’s love story is responsible for his serious demeanor.

Strange and Christine couldn’t work out in their universe, but in every single universe Strange went to, he loved Christine just as much. His inability to have Christine exemplifies the sacrifices Strange makes to be a hero in his universe, and it shows the goodness of his character that lies beyond his stern face.

The movie also incorporates the Illuminati and even an evil version of Strange that results in a battle between the same people of different versions. The alternative reality and dark witchery present in the movie create a horror aspect that fans don’t expect. 

The movie took a spin on Marvel’s traditional hero vs villain plot which kept the watcher’s attention for the entity of the film but at the cost of the movie drifting away from certain Marvel traditions. By the end of the film though, the plot circles back to the selfless and loveable morals that Marvel heroes reflect. 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduces the multiverse, presents an in-depth analysis of Strange’s character, and serves as a set-up movie for future Marvel movies.

Sam Raimi, the director of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, took bold approaches to character presentation and visual storytelling. The movie angered some fans because it didn’t reintroduce old characters like the last Marvel movie did, or because it was horror-like and hard to follow.

 

“I’m a little disappointed that the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home didn’t play more directly into this movie. It’s just strange that Peter Parker and Doctor Strange screw up a spell that accidentally creates cracks and rifts in the multiverse but somehow this massive magical mishap has essentially zero impact on a movie titled Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness,” says a Forbes review.

In essence, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had high standards to live up to after the closing of Spiderman: No Way Home.

Raimi’s take on the multiverse, with Marvel’s untraditional plot for the comic and script, was creative and intense. The movie opened many opportunities for the next generation of Marvel heroes entering the MCU, and the movie ventured into fun uncharted territories.