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The Flash

The 100 Most Anticipated Movies of 2023

The Flash

2023

Andy Muschietti

Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon ...

6.0

12,271

Sci-Fi. Action. Fantasy. Comedy While working in his lab during a storm one night, a bolt of lightning strikes a tray of chemicals soaking police scientist Barry Allen with its contents. Now able to move at super-speed, Barry becomes The Flash protecting Central City from the threats it faces.

	Media	Author	Review
		David Fear Rolling Stone	"[It] is the best DCEU superhero movie yet (...) This beleagured cinematic universe has finally hit upon a winning film, and one that will be forever tainted"
		Owen Gleiberman Variety	"The trouble with 'The Flash' is that as the film moves forward, it exudes less of that 'Back to the Future' playfulness and more of that mythological but arbitrary blockbuster self-importance"
		Chris Hewitt Empire	"Set to be one of the final entries in what we know as the DCEU, this is also one of the best, a witty and warm buddy comedy (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter	"The early word on 'The Flash' calling it one of the greatest superhero movies ever made was pure hyperbole. But in the bumpy recent history of the DC Extended Universe, it’s certainly an above-average entry"
		Peter Bradshaw The Guardian	"There are some spectacular and surreal visions of the various iterations of DC superheroes (...) But this is not a movie with any new ideas or dramatic rethinking (...) Rating: ★★ (out of five)"
		Joshua Yehl IGN	"[It] may have an unwieldy third act and indulges in too much unearned fan service, but that doesn't stop it from being an entertaining and earnest DC superhero film"
		Matt Zoller Seitz rogerebert.com	"One of the most spectacular and frustrating mixed bags of the superhero blockbuster era, it is thoughtful and clueless, challenging and pandering. It features some of the best digital FX work I've seen and some of the worst (...) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)"
		Tim Robey Telegraph	"Ugly effects, bizarre cameos and another multiverse... this DC instalment starring Ezra Miller makes you question the sanity of all involved (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"
		Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times	"DC movie boasts some moments of brilliance and a remarkable performance by Ezra Miller. (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"
		Ross Bonaime Collider	"Thankfully, those antics are enjoyable and hard not to get excited about, but unfortunately, this isn’t a story that holds together on a narrative level"
		Nick Allen The Playlist	"A hollow movie overfilled with fan service"
		Brian Truitt USA Today	"And as much good stuff as the 'The Flash' features (...) the film can't help but get tripped up by the same old hurdles (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"
		Tim Grierson Screendaily	"An entertaining adventure that outruns its familiar narrative trappings"
		Michael O'Sullivan The Washington Post	"If you’re sick of the multiverse, 'The Flash' won’t help, but star Ezra Miller delivers an intriguing double performance (...) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)"
		Jack Riedy Chicago Reader	"Messy compilation of superhero plots and characters"
		Brandon Zachary CBR	"Bolstered by a solid cast, a well-balanced script, and deft direction, 'The Flash' is a highlight of the DCEU era"
		William Bibbiani The Wrap	"The film holds few surprises and lacks any type of punch in its script"
		Joshua Rivera Polygon	"[It] is a bright, colorful, imaginative film with enough verve to pop off the screen, even though it’s often nonsensical in its wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff"
		Johnny Oleksinski New York Post	"[It] is a solidly entertaining if predictable time-travel film that boasts something most DC movies sorely lack: a strong lead performance (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"
		Justin Clark Slant	"When Andy Muschietti’s film isn’t trying to tie a big sloppy bow on the DCU, it’s an example of the franchise’s output at its best (...) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)"
		Alex Flood NME	"Electric origin story (...) 'The Flash’s' future is starting to look a lot sparkier than his past (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Christian Holub Entertainment Weekly	"Rather than the beginning of a cool, new idea, 'The Flash' now feels like it should be the last word on movie multiverses"
		Matthew Jackson AV Club	"Entertaining but overstuffed adventure (...) The Flash is, put simply, a lot, and Muschietti deserves some kind of award for bringing us something coherent and even, at times, joyful."
		Chris Bumbray JoBlo	"I had more fun watching this than any superhero movie in a long time"
		Kate Erbland IndieWire	"[It] touches on something new and exciting, but too often, its the past that tugs on, keeping it from speeding ahead"
		Molly Freeman Screen Rant	"[It] is a passable multiverse superhero movie, but no amount of DC cameos can make audiences forget the awful off-screen actions of Ezra Miller (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"
		Pete Hammond Deadline	"Ezra Miller is doubly great in wildly fun comic book movie"
		Justin Chang Los Angeles Times	"The spirit is thrilling, but 'The Flash' is weak"
		Jesse Hassenger Paste Magazine	"Muschietti (...) struggles with whether 'The Flash' is an emotional cautionary tale, a universe-resetting franchise play, or just a zany sci-fi farce"
		M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut	"The Flash strikes the perfect balance of heartfelt, action-packed nostalgia and is the best DC comic book movie since 'The Dark Knight Rises' (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Allegra Frank The Daily Beast	"Yet having to reconcile their winning performance with their shameful behavior makes 'The Flash' the summer’s most fraught recommendation"
		Mel Valentin Screen Anarchy	"Thanks, surprisingly enough to Miller’s layered performance, a reminder of what superhero storytelling can deliver beyond visual pyrotechnics"
		John Serba Decider	"[It] may be fast, but he’s still a step behind the cinematic competition"

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