The Flash movie reactions are out after Warner Bros. Discovery showed a preview at CinemaCon, giving a glimpse of what to expect from the upcoming DC movie.
Ezra Miller has been playing Barry Allen on the big screen for almost a decade and, after showing up in some other DC movies, his own superhero film is finally coming to theaters this summer. The eagerly awaited movie not only stars Miller’s The Flash, but also features a bunch of other superheroes from different eras, such as Michael Keaton’s Batman, Ben Affleck’s Batman and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl.
A new The Flash movie trailer came out today from WBD, showing more scenes of Miller’s Barry Allen and Keaton’s Batman, as well as other characters, like Zod (Michael Shannon), the villain from Man of Steel.
Then tonight, before The Flash movie hits theaters on June 16, WBD showed the film at CinemaCon where Screen Rant and other press members were present. Now, here are the opinions of those who’ve watched The Flash.
It is the Funniest DC Movie Yet
Screen Rant’s Rob Keyes praised The Flash movie’s comedy, while also remarking on how it relates to the soon-to-be changed DC film franchise.
DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran had hinted before, that The Flash would “reset” the DC universe and help prepare for their partial reboot of the DCEU. Based on Keyes’ opinion, that seems to be true. The exact way this reset is done is still unknown, but probably involves the multiverse.
The Flash is Everything You Want From a Superhero Movie & More
Erik Davis from Fandango loved The Flash movie, boosting the story, action and cast. The Flash has many rivals for the best superhero movie ever, but it seems director Andy Muschietti (IT) and screenplay writer Christina Hodson (Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey) have succeeded in making a film that attracts comic book fans of all ages.
Whether that means this DC film will get as much enthusiasm among general moviegoers is still uncertain, but if Davis is right, The Flash could be a huge hit.
It Lives Up to Its Hype
JoBlo.com editor-in-chief Chris Bumbray was one of a few critics to rank The Flash as one of the best superhero movies of all time, also mentioning it meets the expectations.
Before its release, many within WBD – including Gunn and CEO David Zaslav – have boosted The Flash. Even Tom Cruise, who asked for a private screening after hearing early buzz for The Flash, reportedly said it’s “everything you want in a movie.” With so much excitement around it, it’s truly an achievement for The Flash to match it.
The Flash is in the Same League as Batman (1989) & Superman (1978)
The Wrap’s Umberto Gonzalez complimented The Flash, comparing it to classic superhero movies like Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Keaton’s Batman. Both those films are landmarks of comic book movie history, which puts The Flash in respected company.
Unlike those movies, though, The Flash isn’t Miller’s first-time playing Barry Allen, after showing up in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad and Justice League – as well as Zack Snyder’s Justice League. All that means, Miller has had time to become The Flash before this movie. Still, The Flash may establish itself as a modern classic of the superhero genre.
It’s Something Special from Andy Muschetti
Collider editor-in-chief Steve Weintraub complimented star Miller as well as Keaton, along with the work of Muschietti. Weintraub also referred to Miller’s legal issues over the last few years, which have made some to choose not to watch The Flash.
Miller has since said sorry for his behavior and WBD has supported the actor, but it’s uncertain whether they will be a part of the movie’s upcoming promotional tour before its release.
Satisfying, Heart-warming and Fun
Germain Lussier, of Gizmodo and io9, compared The Flash to a mix of Back to the Future and Spider-Man: No Way Home, with the former involving time travel and latter in the multiverse. This makes sense given The Flash follows Barry Allen as he goes back in time to save his mother, only to end up altering the universes.
Both Back to the Future and Spider-Man: No Way Home are popular movies, so The Flash being likened to them is surely a good sign that it’ll manage its time travel and multiverse elements well.
Many Easter Eggs in The Flash Movie
Film editor Ben Pearson complimented both Miller and Keaton and boosted the Easter eggs included in The Flash movie. Although Easter eggs don’t determine a superhero movie’s quality, they certainly add an extra level of charm for those who are familiar with the comics or other media on which a film is based.
Apart from the comics, The Flash has already shown it will include plenty of references to Man of Steel with the return of Zod. So, both comics and DC movie fans will no doubt catch few references in The Flash.
The Story Challenges Barry to Confront Himself
Collider’s Perri Nemiroff gave some details about The Flash movie’s story, hinting at the character journey Barry Allen goes on and how it’s affected by the superheroes he meets along the way.
Miller’s Barry Allen has previously interacted with the whole Justice League, but in The Flash, he’ll have a different group of friends, which includes an alternate version of himself that grew up with both his parents. With two versions of Barry, The Flash is ready to really explore the character – which is exactly what it does according to Nemiroff’s opinion.
Michael Keaton Delivers Well
GameSpot senior editor Chris E. Hayner gave more compliments for The Flash, especially pointing out Calle’s Supergirl as a potential new fan-favorite and boosting Keaton’s return. The actor wears the cape and cowl of Batman for the first time in over 30 years – since 1992’s Batman Returns – in The Flash.
His return has been eagerly awaited ever since it was announced in 2020, and it’s encouraging that Hayner’s opinion suggests Keaton will make it a satisfying comeback.
It is Different from Other Superhero Movies
Fandom managing editor Eric Goldman was impressed by The Flash movie, which distinguished itself from other comic book fare. Superhero movie fatigue has been a talking point for much of the last decade but has grown over the last few years with Marvel Studios producing Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows at a faster rate. The similarities in all superhero movies has been mentioned as a factor in such fatigue, so The Flash offering something new will make it stand out.
It’s an Impressive DC Movie
Insider’s Jason Guerrasio gave a balanced review of The Flash, saying it’s not the ultimate superhero movie. He acknowledged that people have different views on movies, so some might praise The Flash as the best superhero movie, while others might not.
Personal preferences vary, and it seems The Flash may not impress everyone who watches it, but that doesn’t mean it won’t do well. As Guerrasio points out, there are many things to enjoy about The Flash.
It has Some Really Cringe Moments
The Nerds of Color had some issues with The Flash movie, saying it has some “really cringe moments” and the jokes don’t work, but they liked Batman and Supergirl as well as the action and emotion. They didn’t mention which Batman they meant, but Keaton and Calle have only received positive feedback among The Flash early reactions, suggesting they’re some of the best parts of the movie. However, it seems the comedy of The Flash may not appeal to everyone.
It is Overall a Mixed Bag
On the opposite side of The Flash reactions is Jeff Sneider, who loved the first hour of the movie, but thought the last hour was a “total disaster.” Every movie will have its critics, and Sneider may not be the only one who dislikes The Flash when more people see it.
It wouldn’t be the first superhero movie to fail to end well after a good start. However, though The Flash may have some flaws, it seems to be a general hit. In the end, the mostly positive early reactions to The Flash raise the expectations even more – and it remains to be seen if the upcoming DC movie can meet them.
About The Flash (2023)
The Flash is an upcoming American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film is directed by Andy Muschietti and a part of the DCEU.
The movie will see Barry Allen travel back in time to prevent his mother’s murder, which brings unintentional consequences to his timeline.
Miller will be joined by actors Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, Kiersey Clemons, Maribel Verdu, and Ron Livingston. The movie is set to release on June 16, 2023.
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