Blue Beetle Early Reactions Are in And They All Say The Same Thing
The latest entry into the new James Gunn-led DCU has nearly arrived in theaters everywhere, and the early reviews are beginning to mount on Twitter. Though Blue Beetle has not yet received official ratings from critics on IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, the embargo on X (formerly Twitter) discourse surrounding non-spoiler reviews has been lifted, allowing fans to present their first reactions to early screenings.
Early reactions to Blue Beetle are coming in and it’s the family drama getting universally praised.
Blue Beetle centers on Xolo Maridueña’s Jaime Reyes, who mysteriously uncovers an ancient relic of alien biotechnology. The tech, referred to as the Scarab, takes on Jaime’s body as a symbiotic host, allowing him access to incredible powers and an unstoppable suit of colorful armor. Taking on the mantle of Blue Beetle offers Reyes an opportunity to become greater than he ever thought possible.
Most early reactions, including from Fandango’s @ErikDavis, for Blue Beetle seem to specifically praise the cast for their incredible performances above all else. The film touts a mostly Latino cast composed of Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Yuli Zorilla, Raoul Max Trujillo, Gabriella Ortiz, legendary comedian George Lopez, and What We Do In The Shadows‘ Harvey Guillén, among many others. There is also a specific focus on family and support from your loved ones, making the film a particularly special entry into the DC franchise.
Though many of the film’s cast are not yet household names, their stars are surely on the rise as some of the first to bring James Gunn’s cinematic vision to life. With Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer attached as the film’s writer and Angel Manuel Soto’s direction, Blue Beetle is on pace to set the tone for the future of the DCU.
Blue Beetle star Xolo Maridueña isn’t a household name, but the Cobra Kai star is getting praise for bringing life and color to the DCU in a way not seen in years.
The reactions to Blue Beetle seem to be overwhelmingly positive, in sharp contrast to the unfortunate response of previous DC films such as Shazam: Shadow of the Gods and The Flash, which each bombed horribly at the box office. Though it’s far too soon to know what kind of box office turnout Blue Beetle will receive, it seems clear at this time that the film holds a great deal of fanfare amongst critics and audiences alike, in addition to taking much less of a financial burden to produce.
If Blue Beetle can generate great word of mouth, it will run laps around Shazam: Fury of the Gods at the box office, and hopefully start the new DCU with a hit.
While some derided Blue Beetle for having a less serious tone than other, grittier installments in recent superhero sagas, fans across the globe seem to be waiting with eager anticipation to reveal their love for the upcoming film, which is set to premiere in theaters on August 18. The film’s overwhelmingly positive responses seem to reaffirm that the studio made the right decision helming Blue Beetle, opting to pivot from the film’s planned straight-to-streaming release in favor of a wide theatrical run.
The prevailing sentiment regarding Blue Beetle seems to place the film as an upcoming fan-favorite DC outing, touting heartwarming themes of family and community while uplifting the mostly Latino cast. With other films, such as Strays and Retribution scheduled to hit the box office on the same weekend, Blue Beetle is projected to outperform its DC predecessor from earlier this year.
