At CinemaCon, the first screening of The Flash prompted critics to share their thoughts on the DCU's upcoming theatrical release, with many expressing strong opinions.
After several years of delays and controversy surrounding its production, The Flash is slated to hit theaters this summer, marking its long-awaited debut.
During its development, early test screenings received mixed reviews from audiences, but more recently, the film has garnered praise as one of DC's finest productions to date.
The Flash Movie Receives High Praise from Critics Ahead of Debut
Following the first screening of DC Studios' The Flash at CinemaCon 2023, critics have shared their initial reactions to the highly-anticipated film.
According to Fandango's Erik Davis, the movie is "tremendous" and "among the best superhero films ever made," with inventive storytelling, fantastic action sequences, and a great cast. He even confessed to shedding tears at the end:
"DC's 'The Flash' is a tremendous movie! It's not just one of the best superhero films ever made, it's an all-time great. The storytelling is inventive, the action sequences are fantastic, and the cast is superb. There are so many nerdy details that fans will love. I was in tears by the end. This movie has everything you could want from a superhero film, and more."
In fact, some early test scores have compared The Flash favorably to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, which is widely regarded as one of the best superhero storytelling of the 21st century. Clearly, expectations are running high ahead of The Flash's debut.
Critics Rave about The Flash Movie's Inventive Concept and Impressive Performances
The Flash movie is receiving high praise from critics ahead of its debut, with many expressing their admiration for its inventive visuals and concept, as well as the performances of its cast.
According to ComicBook.com's Brandon Davis, The Flash is "super inventive both visually and in concept," and the dynamic between the two Barry Allens is "crazy well done." The film also managed to evoke intense emotions in Davis, and he is eager to see how the story unfolds:
"Damn, 'The Flash' is good! It's super inventive both visually and in concept. The dynamic of two Barry Allen's is crazy well done. Emotions hit me intensely hard, solid surprises, and it got me wanting to watch again and really eager to see how they follow it. Well done."
Variety's Scott Mantz also had high praise for The Flash, calling it "awesome" and "one of the very best DC movies." He specifically highlighted the impressive performances of Ezra Miller and Michael Keaton:
"'The Flash' is awesome! One of the very best DC movies, a perfect blend of action, heart & humor! So many WOW & chill-inducing moments that longtime DC fans will love! EZRA MILLER is superb (twice, actually!) & MICHAEL KEATON's still got it!"
Rob Keyes from Screen Rant has hinted that fans are in for a treat with "some stuff" in The Flash that will be difficult to believe, generating excitement about how it will connect the old DCEU with the upcoming new franchise. According to Keyes, "The Flash" showcases Barry Allen's powers to a greater extent and is one of DC's best movies, serving as a bridge between the old and new DCEU franchises, and also being the funniest DC film to date. Jenna Busch from SlashFilm also praised The Flash as "pretty great" and expressed how much she missed Michael Keaton's Batman, while also complimenting Sasha Calle's portrayal of Supergirl.
According to Jenna Busch from SlashFilm, The Flash is an excellent movie that justifies why DC did not shelve it. She praised Michael Keaton's performance and expressed her delight at seeing Keaton's Batman again. Busch also complimented the movie's emotional moments and the outstanding portrayal of Supergirl by Sasha Calle, whom she hopes to see more of.
Next Best Pictures' Daniel Howat called The Flash "massively entertaining," with a fantastic mix of humor and emotional stakes. Howat particularly enjoyed the movie's use of the Multiverse and considered it one of the best superhero movies ever made. He also noted that the film is full of fun surprises and is genuinely superb.
However, The Ankler's Jeff Sneider had mixed feelings about the movie, describing the first hour as "pretty fantastic" but criticizing the last hour as "mostly terrible."
In his review of The Flash, The Ankler's Jeff Sneider lauded the first hour, which he described as "pretty fantastic," and praised Ezra Miller's performance, which he found to be heroic, funny, and emotional. However, Sneider had a different view of the last hour, which he felt was "mostly terrible," leaving viewers confused and asking, "what the HELL is going on?" Sneider also criticized the film for relying too heavily on fan service and the recurring DC villain problem, leading to an overall mixed bag of a movie.
Andrew Salazar from Discussing Film had a more positive take, commending director Andy Muschietti for capturing the essence of what many fans wanted to see in a Flash movie, resulting in "glorious high thrills." However, Salazar also noted some "bizarre decisions" in terms of both story and technical aspects that could detract from the movie's overall quality, though he ultimately found it to be "pretty good at times."
Discussing Film's Andrew Salazar suggested that The Flash will appeal to both general audiences and longtime DC fans. He noted that the movie is not one of the best superhero movies of all time, but it also isn't a total disaster, which it easily could have been. Salazar predicted that general audiences will enjoy the movie, while longtime DC fans will walk away very satisfied, as the movie is tailored for that specific experience.
Collider's Perri Nemiroff offered an extended review of The Flash, highlighting how the film challenges Barry to confront who he is and who he wants to become, which she found enjoyable. While Nemiroff did not consider the movie to be perfect, she congratulated director Andy Muschietti for yet another successful film and even expressed her desire to see it again.
The author caught an early version of "The Flash" and enjoyed it quite a bit, particularly how the storyline challenges Barry to face who he is, who he could have been, and how people in his life have influenced him. The film successfully blends heartfelt coming-of-age elements with great action scenes (the style of Flash's powers is especially enjoyable), and plenty of laughs. The comedic timing and delivery are spot on.
While the film can feel overwhelming at times, due to the complexity of the concept and themes it explores, it mostly moves well and looks good. The movie radiates enthusiasm for its characters and story, and left the author wanting to see it again. Overall, it's another win for director Andy Muschietti.
Will Fans Embrace The Flash?
Although Ezra Miller's performance in their first solo DC movie appears to be solid, reviews have mainly highlighted Michael Keaton's return as Batman and Sasha Calle's debut as Supergirl.
Director Andy Muschietti has also received considerable praise for his work, which is particularly exciting given the amount of information he has shared about the film's production process.
The only question that remains is how fans will respond to DC's latest offering.
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