Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness

 'You break the rules and become a hero. I do it and I become the enemy. That doesn't seem fair.' - Wanda Maximoff

Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness (2022)- directed by Sam Raimi. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, and Rachel McAdams

Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness is the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that started fourteen years ago. The sequel to 2016's Doctor Strange has been quite possibly the most highly anticipated Marvel film since Avengers: Endgame, due to tits grandiose title and the numerous rumors and speculation that have surrounded the film since its announcement. (Potential Spoilers Ahead)

The events of the first twenty-two films built up to the events that culminated in Endgame. Since then, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has reached a crossroads longer can they entertain fans by giving a simple superhero origin story. Since we have seen this arc multiple times already, the films are now tasked with showing us creative ways of introducing new characters, and expanding the large universe that they have created, while keeping a solid sense of direction for the MCU as a whole. Recent films such as Shang-Chi, Eternals, and Spiderman: No Way Home, while entertaining, have not done much to advance the MCU as a whole. However, many fans expected the new Doctor Strange to be the film that brought all of these movies and shows together, similar to how Endgame did.

If you into this film with those expectations, you may be left feeling extremely disappointed. While the film did expound on the Multiverse, it is no more than a standalone film that builds on the character arc of Doctor Strange, rather than the MCU as a whole. However, if you went into this film with lesser expectations, you might leave the film being very satisfied. Director Sam Raimi's unique style offered us elements of horror that we have never seen before, which is definitely refreshing to see.