After what certainly feels like a long wait—with tumultuous times for its star and a regime change for its studio in the meantime—DC’s The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti (the It series), has finally screened for an audience at CinemaCon. How did Barry Allen’s big-screen solo sojourn (“solo,” but with assists from Batman, Supergirl, etc.) fare? Here are some early reactions!
The first reactions are pouring in from Cinemacon 2023, and right now, they’re… surprisingly good? There was a lot of talk coming into this movie, especially among Warner Bros. execs themselves, about the buzz for Muschietti’s superhero smash, and it turns out that buzz might be a little realer than some expected. Check out a few of the reactions, kicking off with io9’s own Germain Lussier.
Yup. #TheFlash is as good as rumored. It’s Back to the Future meets Spider-Man: No Way Home with all the humor & heart of the former and action and surprises of the latter. If anything, it might be a tad too ambitious but it’s also just incredibly satisfying, heartwarming & fun. pic.twitter.com/Yysb9mjiAm
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) April 26, 2023
I don’t know what to say other than #TheFlash delivered more than I could have hoped. The acting is beyond great. Keaton delivers everything you want. Supergirl is my new favorite superhero? I’m genuinely shocked this movie meets and surpasses the hype. I never expected that. pic.twitter.com/PcmpJ2juZ6
— Chris Hayner (@ChrisHayner) April 26, 2023
DC’s #TheFlash is TREMENDOUS! Forget DC, it is without a doubt among the best superhero films ever made. An all-timer. Inventive storytelling, FANTASTIC action sequences, great cast. SO MANY nerdy details. I’m in tears at the end. Everything you want from a superhero film & more pic.twitter.com/xYSn0zuXMm
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) April 26, 2023
Damn, #TheFlash 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. pic.twitter.com/7QqiHVNAJy
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) April 26, 2023
#TheFlash is fantastic. I know Ezra Miller has made a lot of mistakes but they are soooooo good in this movie. Loved Keaton, the action, humor and emotion. Andy Muschietti has crafted something special. Thumbs way up.
WB didn’t show the after the credits scenes. pic.twitter.com/J8KsdrKVwz
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) April 26, 2023
I got to watch an unfinished cut of #TheFlash! 🧵
It’s an unabashedly comic book movie & a loving homage to DC film history. For a film that resets the #DCU, it also does a great job of closing the circle.
Michael Keaton’s return as #Batman is simply…PERFECT. pic.twitter.com/xlufy9CzrG
— POC Culture (@POCculture) April 26, 2023
#TheFlash is very good, especially given how oversaturated we are with multiverse stories.
It’s a really savvy, charming take on Flashpoint that effectively wields nostalgia rather than weaponizing it. Some genuinely delightful set pieces too! pic.twitter.com/0GXZhW6vQi
— Dan Casey (@DanCasey) April 26, 2023
The Flash is hands down one of the best superhero films of all time. No joke, The Flash is the ultimate movie going experience as it has a little bit of everything! Action, emotion, heart, humor and plenty of nostalgia. Ezra Miller is phenomenal as dual Barry Allens. Michael… pic.twitter.com/F7SHA30vZM
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) April 26, 2023
BELIEVE THE HYPE! Christopher Nolan movies aside, #TheFlashMovie is the GREATEST DC movie of the last 30 years that belongs in the same conversation as SUPERMAN 78 and BATMAN 89. The movie breaks incredible new ground in superhero cinema & honors DC lore of years past. #TheFlash pic.twitter.com/zGkhpfjlsl
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) April 26, 2023
Just watched #TheFlash at CinemaCon. It has some stuff in it you will not believe and it showcases much more of Barry Allen’s powers. It is indeed one of DC’s best and fits nicely as a bridge story between the old and new DCEU franchises. It’s also the funniest DC movie. pic.twitter.com/uDepMKVVG1
— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) April 26, 2023
Caught an unfinished cut of #TheFlash and dug it quite a bit! Especially how the narrative challenges Barry to confront who he is, who he could have become, and how one’s influenced by the people in (or not in) their life.
It’s a successful mix of heartfelt coming-of-age… pic.twitter.com/CB7mTDEZXC
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) April 26, 2023
#TheFlash is a good movie with really cringe moments. Everything with Batman & Supergirl is incredible! The Easter eggs too. But Miller's performance was annoying for me, and there's 2 of them here. The action and emotion are wonderful. The comedy is not. -Mike M #TheFlashMovie pic.twitter.com/GM4r6XagxK
— The Nerds of Color (@TheNerdsofColor) April 26, 2023
The Flash, directed by Muschietti and written by Christina Hodson (Bumblebee, Birds of Prey), stars Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/the Flash, Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Antje Traue as Faora-Ul, and Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as their respective versions of Bruce Wayne/Batman. It arrives in theaters June 16.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
