Released on February 16th 2023, Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania premiered in cinemas internationally, reaching a box office record of $106.1 million subsequent to its first weekend of streaming in domestic theatres. However, this success declined by 69.8%, reaching only $31.9 million on the successive weekend, hitting yet another record of sharpest decline amongst the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions.
Directed by Peyton Reed, numerous beloved actors from the MCU return to their roles in this film, including Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Evangeline Lilly (Hope Van Dyne/Wasp), Michelle Pfeiffer (Janet Van Dyne), and Michael Douglas (Hank Pym), while newer members, such as such as Kathryn Newton (Cassandra Lang) and Jonathan Majors (Kang the Conqueror), finally establish their characters.
To briefly summarise, this production revolves around the odyssey lived by the characters within the Quantum Realm, a microscopic dimension accessible only through subatomic particles. Therefore, this journey involves revealing Janet’s former history of residing in the Realm, and endeavouring to defeat Kang, who they encounter there. While Quantumania still maintains the traditional comedy of Ant-Man, it also achieves a heavy focus on adventure and action, with its ultimate act consisting of a grandiose “quantumatic” battle.
Overall however, the reviews were deeply juxtapositional between the critics and the fans. According to Rotten Tomatoes, although the film scored a low 47% in critical perspective, this number remarkably increased from the audience, receiving 83%. Generally, the critics believe that there was an absence of amusement that viewers experienced with the former productions, and though Major’s Kang was an enchanting villain assured to reshape the MCU, the film didn't deliver as it should have. Alternatively, while the audience similarly observed a few of these flaws, they chiefly praised the film for its “colourful, creative thrill ride”, and for Major’s performance as Kang.
Even though its reviews are slightly controversial, the events in its plot are critical for future productions, for the film establishes the MCU’s fifth phase - the fourth concluded with Wakanda Forever; and although the rating may leave viewers possibly debating whether to truly watch the movie, as Doctor Strange once articulated, in the grand calculus of the Multiverse, it means far more for the MCU.