“Eternals,” directed by Chloé Zhao, is one of the latest developments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film franchise, based on the comics written by Stan Lee. Following the story of the ten “Eternals”–superhumans sent to Earth to protect the population from Deviants–we meet characters identifying with the LGBTQ+ community and possibly the most diverse cast featured in a singular Marvel film. 

Award-winning director Chloé Zhao, who has directed movies like “Songs My Brothers Taught Me” and “The Rider,” won an Oscar for Best Director last year  “Nomadland.” Now, she is known for directing a Marvel movie with the worst reviews in the Marvel’s 13-year history of producing films. 

It is likely that Eternals is receiving several of its low ratings not due to the quality of the movie, but rather bigotry toward the characters. In fact, the movie was review-bombed on IMBD, or given negative reviews prior to the release, as a result of the openly gay characters. One user described the movie as not worth one’s time after saying that  “all it does is tick all the Hollywood woke boxes, which seems to be the goal.” Likewise, many other reviews regarded the movie as “woke,” and IMDB had to remove these negative comments. 

In my opinion, this film’s plot is excellent, and the fight scenes are sensational. Nonetheless, in an attempt to follow each of the ten Eternals, the movie fails to develop most of its characters. Though it does drag at times, “Eternals” paves the way for future Marvel movies in terms of diversity.

Additions to the franchise such as “Ms. Marvel,” starring Kamala Khan, and the already-released “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” with almost its entire cast being East-Asian, are already broadening the diversity currently present in the MCU, and it’s exciting to see how Marvel will continue to expand the set borders in American film. Although the reviews indicate otherwise, “Eternals,” directed by Chloé Zhao, is worth a watch.