Cumberbatch and dazzling visuals carry a script that plays it too safe.
Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Doctor Strange is largely positive, with most reviewers finding it a worthwhile entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film's visual effects and kaleidoscopic, Escher-esque action sequences drew near-universal admiration, while Benedict Cumberbatch's central performance was frequently cited as a strong anchor. The most common criticism was that the script and characters failed to match the ambition of the visuals, with several critics noting the film played it safe rather than embracing the genuinely strange or psychedelic qualities of its source material. A few reviewers also flagged its appeal as being primarily limited to existing Marvel fans.
4 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 15 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
Everything is forgotten in the brilliant Inception-like reimagining of cities, streets and buildings that the film deploys, as The Ancient One and her pupils battle out Kaecilius and his lynchpins in different dimensions.
Top critic
Film review ·
Benedict Cumberbatch film shows Marvel heeded fans' complaints...
Film review ·
Go watch it! It's everything you expect from MCU and yet it's different. I just can't wait to see Doctor Strange's banter with Tony Stark in Avengers Infinity War, oh that would be EPIC. Also do wait till end credits. An Avenger might surprise you. Just Saying!
Film review ·
I apologise if this sounds like a cheap plug, it's really not: you're probably going want to head in for a second round, perhaps picking IMAX more wisely.
Film review ·
It's unmissable, for sure. It has the style, the spectacle, a story with little to no twists, a penchant for gags and jokes we've now come to expect from the MCU and more. And its Cumberbatch-ness is definitely a big draw. And the fact that it knows its flaws and doesn't dwell on it. That you're going to love this one is an understatement.
Film review ·
Ultimately, in a genre exhausted by noisy vigour, spurious brooding and overwrought CGI, Doctor Strange finds a rare balance between blockbuster de rigueur and playful ingenuity.
Film review ·
With the constant barrage of superhero films, one would think the eventual decline of caped crusaders is inevitable. That might (arguably) be the case, but the MCU shows no signs of releasing comic book fans from their spell, as 'Dr. Strange' elevates yet another relatively unknown Marvel character to top tier status, making it well worth a dizzying watch in 3D.
Film review ·
The action sequences with seamless teleporting are perfectly choreographed and the visuals along with the video effects are astutely laid with Wyatt Smith and Sabrina Plisco's fine edits. Ben Davis's cinematography is fuzzy in parts. The two brief end-credits teasers give us a taste of things to come. And, overall, "Doctor Strange" will appeal only to Marvel fans, for others it would be a rather outlandish entertainment.
Film review ·
Scott Derrickson's work is fascinating and bewildering. His treatment of the story and understanding of the space-time continuum is beyond what I have experienced, and it makes me shiver at the possibilities of what could be done with this understanding. Doctor Strange also has a lot of detail in its storytelling and iconography.
Film review ·
If only the care that was put into the staggering, MC Escher-esque visuals from the final act were put into the characters. If only the fantastic special effects and a strong central performance from Cumberbatch were put in service of a more cohesive script. Maybe then Doctor Strange could've been the trippy, psychedelic adventure it always promised to be, and not a middling entry in a 14-film-old franchise.
Film review ·
The camerawork and CGI are quite immersive. Mind bending sorcery, multiverse battles, time space interjections and more come into play so easily that it almost seems like a daily occurrence. This film may not have the playfulness of a 'Guardians of the Galaxy', but it certainly makes for an adequate fire-starter of sorts.
Film review ·
The real and only hero of Dr Strange is its visual effects. What happens to large cities and vast tracts of land in the film is what you see when you look into a kaleidoscope. Buildings, roads and bridges fold upon each other while the heroes and villains do parkour between all of that. It is great to look at till a point. But then, you have seen stranger things before.
Film review ·
Marvel is yet again expanding our horizons into expecting different kinds of heroes and threats to our world. Watch as they insert minor foreshadows of the future of the series, as everything comes together in the Infinity War. Watch this because Marvel delivers yet another gem. Watch it for Stan Lee's hilarious cameo, and please do not leave before watching the mid-credits and post-credits scenes.
Film review ·
An endless supply of pop culture references and a swagger similar to Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark character from the Iron Man films allow Doctor Strange to showcase Cumberbatch's talents. But the filmmaking isn't bold enough to fully revel in the strangeness of the source material. Co-writer C Robert Cargill had said in an interview that an early version of the script was rejected by producer Marvel Studios for being "too weird", which is exactly what the film needed to be.
Film review ·
'Doctor Strange' is a subverted superhero film with plenty to look and laugh at.
From our readers
12 ratings · user score 6.4
has some mind bending visuals, however, the story lacks depth or emotional connection. A few mins into the movie you phase out as the premise seems surreal in a bad way. Had high expectations but was disappointed
Doctor Strange?....Mr.Strange?.....Doctor?....Strange? However you address Doctor Strange Movie it's fabulous.Really a visual spectacle.I don't know how Chris Pratt Is going to handle is claim That GOG V.2 will be the biggest cinematic Spectacle after he sees Doctor Strange. The movie starts by giving us a Combat between Kaecilius and Ancient One.Honestly i didn't enter the theater thinking that i would see great choreography of hand to hand combats with mystical elements.And then it shifts to the character development of Our Own Modern Era Sherlock-Mr. Bendict Cumberbatch. Needless to say he is Flawless in the movie.My only problem was as i am not a native of America Or UK , sometimes the way he delivered some words like MANTRA for example was hard to catch other than that for me Bendict was Doctor Stephen Strange. Mads Mikkelsen character was by far in MCU After Loki Really well developed.But still MCU lacks good Villain that believes in their purpose.Every performance be it of Rachel McAdams(However short her role was),Chiwetel Ejiofor (Can't wait for him to be the villain for DS-2),Benedict Wong and alas Tilda Swinton she was the highlight of the movie for me. The humor clicked in this movie very rightly but sometimes it didn't and it bummed me. The best scene in this movie for me was when Ancient One and Doctor strange Talk in their Astral Form And Ancient One bids Goodbye to reality was really emotional and it meant everything to me in respect to the movie. My only negative for this movie was the maintain of existence of time-Kaecilius was really underused when strange journey is shown from the accident to his meeting with ancient one. Seriously you are saying me that strange must have used around 3 years for this path from his physical recuperation to being a student in sanctum but Kaecilius could only translate one page of the book? But nonetheless this movie is really good and needs to be seen IMAX 3D.
Other than being turned off by the poor humor timing, Doctor Strange presents ample entertainment as its arrogant protagonist quickly transforms into a likeable human being with superpowers and even more quickly learns the skills that he aspires to learn. TN.
'Doctor Strange' deserves being watched. It has the likeability checklist which stays usually- the one introduced by the 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'. It also capitalizes the problems omce again which made the first two outings of the Thor movies boring. But it is one of the most remarkably innovativeness-laden movies of the franchise- No, there's nothing like Doctor Strange's character which existed in either Marvel or DC. The film has gripping writing: it makes you submit to the thrilling magic of this superb character. You will to take his name woth respect. And that's not a small thing. I am going with 3.5 for 'Doctor Strange'. Watchable, and, more.
Credits
Benedict CumberbatchStephen Strange / Doctor Strange
Chiwetel EjioforBaron Karl Mordo
Rachel McAdamsChristine Palmer
Benedict WongWong
Mads MikkelsenKaecilius
Tilda SwintonThe Ancient One
Michael StuhlbargDr. Nicodemus West
Benjamin BrattJonathan Pangborn
Scott Derrickson
Kevin Feige
C. Robert Cargill
Jon Spaihts
Michael Giacchino
Ben DavisEnglish films like Doctor Strange
SeriesDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
2022
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
2015
Wonder Woman
2017
Avengers: Infinity War
2018
X-Men: Days of Future Past
2014
Justice League
2017
Ant-Man and the Wasp
2018
Kong: Skull Island
2017
Aquaman
2018
X-Men: Apocalypse
2016
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