Actor Kumail Nanjiani recently revealed that negative reviews of the Marvel film “Eternals” in 2021 took a toll on his mental health, prompting him to seek therapy.
During an interview on the podcast “Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum,” Mr. Nanjiani, 45, admitted that he was deeply affected by the criticism, confessing, “The reviews were bad, and I was too aware of it. I was reading every review and checking too much.”
He explained how Marvel had high hopes for the film, lifting the embargo early and sending the cast on a global promotional tour, only to face backlash from critics.
Mr. Nanjiani expressed frustration at what he perceived as unfair judgment, stating, “I think there was some weird soup in the atmosphere for why that movie got slammed so much, and I think not much of it has to do with the actual quality of the movie.”
Mr. Nanjiani’s wife, writer and producer Emily V. Gordon, attested to the lasting impact of the experience, describing it as traumatic. Reflecting on the shared ordeal with a fellow cast member, Mr. Nanjiani remarked, “I think we all went through something similar.”
Marvel Universe Ends Box Office Domination
Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has recently faced a notable setback at the box office, signaling a departure from its previous dominance.
“The Marvels” stumbled in its opening weekend, raking in $47 million, marking the lowest debut in MCU history. Initial forecasts had anticipated a stronger start, ranging from $75 million to $80 million, but these estimates dwindled significantly in the weeks leading up to the release, settling around $60 million to $65 million. Hindered by negative publicity and the absence of key cast members like Brie Larson, who could not promote the film due to the SAG strike at the time, “The Marvels” failed to surpass even these diminished expectations.
Among the extensive MCU catalog, only two other films have debuted with less than $60 million: 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk” with $55.4 million and 2015’s “Ant-Man” with $57.2 million, without adjusting for inflation.
Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has shown some signs of weakness in recent releases such as “The Marvels,” its other major releases this year, including “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” in February ($106 million) and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” in May ($118 million), still managed to achieve impressive triple-digit debuts. However, it’s worth noting that the third “Ant-Man” installment faced criticism only after the conclusion of its theatrical run. “The Marvels” stands out as a rare MCU entry to falter upon its initial release.
