Source: Pixabay

It has been a big year for the film and television industry. We saw in-person screenings such as those at the Venice Film Festival return and the box office shatter on multiple occasions. One of these record-breaking instances came following the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. 

The American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi is the third-highest-grossing film of the year, grossing nearly $960 million worldwide. But what made Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness so good? It turns out, the movie’s success has more to do with the cinematography and blending of genres than its star-studded cast. 

The Success of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 

Blended Genres

One of the standout successes of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is that the film combines action, humour and horror. Director Sam Raimi did an incredibly imaginative job of distinctively blending these three genres, making the film stand out more than some of the other superhero movies released in 2022. Although, Raimi’s ability to do this should not come as a surprise considering the director has years of experience in both the horror and the superhero genres. Raimi directed The Evil Dead in 1981, The Gift in 2000, and Drag Me To Hell in 2009 and was responsible for directing the Spider-Man trilogy between 2002 and 2007, which still has plenty of admirers as can be seen on CBR. 

For these reasons, the film did well not only in cinemas but on Disney+ after its release for streaming. For example, according to the 2022 ExpressVPN streaming wrap up, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness set a viewership record on Disney+, seeing the platform's highest viewership figures in a program’s first five days. It is worth mentioning that there is no doubt that the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Disney+ and other superhero-themed movies helped the Disney streaming service gain 26 million new subscribers in the first half of the year. 

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Balanced Script Writing

When movies have several lead characters in them, sometimes their characteristics and storylines do not come across as balanced. That did not appear to be the case in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, as each character’s portrayal was balanced and exhilarating. Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Doctor Strange was multifaceted, and characters like Wong and Christine Palmer finally got higher profiles and the respect they deserved. 

Star-Studded Cast

Of course, this film’s cast also contributed to its financial and commercial success. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Xochitl Gomez and Rachel McAdams. 

2022 was a big year for the film and television industry. Even as we approach the end of the year, there are still new releases shattering streaming records, such as Tim Burton’s show Wednesday setting viewership records on Netflix, beating Stranger Things 4, according to IGN. In terms of movies, however, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will go down as one of the most successful movies of the year, not just in cinemas but on streaming platforms like Disney+.