“The film is a visual feast, but its story feels like a patchwork quilt of ideas that never quite stitch together into a satisfying whole.”
A.O. Scott
The New York Times

United States"Three heroes. One cosmic switch. No backup plan."
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Carol Danvers has spent years as one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy, but The Marvels finds her facing something she cannot punch her way out of: a cosmic mix-up that ties her powers to two other women. When a Kree revolutionary named Dar-Benn starts tearing holes in space, Carol's attempts to intervene keep swapping her with Kamala Khan, a Jersey City teenager who idolizes her, and Monica Rambeau, the astronaut and estranged niece she has not seen in decades. Every time two of them use their light-based abilities at once, they trade places. The result is a fight that requires coordination, not just strength.
Nia DaCosta directed the film, working from a script she wrote with Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik. Brie Larson returns as Carol, Teyonah Parris reprises Monica from WandaVision, and Iman Vellani brings Kamala from the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. Samuel L. Jackson shows up as Nick Fury, now running the orbital station S.A.B.E.R., and Zawe Ashton plays the villain Dar-Benn. The cast also includes Gary Lewis as Emperor Dro'ge.
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The story begins on Hala, where Carol Danvers serves as the commander of S.A.B.E.R., an orbital space station dedicated to deep-space exploration. She intercepts a distress signal from Prince Yan of Flaxa, a planet struggling to survive due to resource depletion. A Kree warrior named Dar-Benn arrives to rescue him, revealing she has seized control of the Quantum Bands, ancient relics capable of opening portals through space-time. Dar-Benn intends to connect the dying world of Hala with Flaxa to steal its resources, a plan that will inevitably destroy both planets. When Carol intervenes to stop the ritual, the energy from the Quantum Bands reacts with her photon-based powers, creating an unstable link between the three women.
This reaction triggers a bizarre phenomenon known as quantum entanglement. Whenever any two of the trio, Carol, Kamala Khan, or Monica Rambeau, use their powers simultaneously, they involuntarily swap physical locations. Carol finds herself stranded in Jersey City, unable to access her full capabilities without risking another swap. Kamala, a young fan who idolizes Captain Marvel, ends up aboard a Kree ship, while Monica, currently serving as a pilot for S.A.B.E.R., is transported to the surface of Hala. The three must navigate this chaotic situation while trying to communicate across vast distances and different realities to understand the mechanics of their shared condition.
As the team struggles to coordinate, Dar-Benn escalates her campaign of planetary destruction. She systematically targets worlds to harvest their energy, believing that total domination is the only path to saving her people. The heroes travel to various locations, including the planet Xandar and the moon of the Kree Empire, to gather information and locate the source of the instability. Along the way, the film explores themes of legacy and family. Carol confronts her guilt over past failures, while Kamala learns that heroism requires sacrifice and teamwork beyond fan enthusiasm. Monica begins to heal her fractured relationship with her aunt, realizing that their bond is stronger than the distance that has kept them apart.
The central conflict intensifies as the heroes realize the Quantum Bands are unstable and could cause a chain reaction destroying the entire universe if left unchecked. They must work together to find a way to neutralize the bands without harming anyone, all while evading Dar-Benn's forces and navigating the political intrigue of the Kree Empire. The narrative emphasizes the importance of collaboration, showing that even the most powerful individuals need each other to survive. As the stakes rise, the film delivers a mix of action, humor, and heart, showcasing the growth of each character and the formation of a new alliance that will define the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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Official Trailer
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Critical Consensus
While the film suffers from a convoluted plot and pacing issues, it succeeds as a vibrant, heartfelt adventure thanks to its charismatic lead trio and visually stunning space sequences. The body-swap mechanic provides fresh comedic opportunities, though it occasionally overshadows the deeper emotional arcs. Critics praise Iman Vellani's performance and the chemistry between the leads, but many feel the movie lacks the narrative cohesion expected of a major Marvel release.
“The film is a visual feast, but its story feels like a patchwork quilt of ideas that never quite stitch together into a satisfying whole.”
A.O. Scott
The New York Times
“Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani bring a spark to the screen that saves the film from its own narrative missteps.”
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
“The Marvels is a delightful mess, full of heart and humor, but it needs a better script to truly soar.”
David Ehrlich
IndieWire
“The film's greatest strength lies in its ability to balance comedy and drama, though it sometimes stumbles under the weight of its own ambition.”
Owen Gleiberman
Variety
Director
Nia DaCosta
Writers
Nia DaCosta, Megan McDonnell, Elissa Karasik
Composer
Laura Karpman
Cinematographer
Sean Bobbitt
Producer
Kevin Feige
Saturn Awards (2024)
Best Science Fiction Film: Nominated
Saturn Awards (2024)
Best Actress: Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards (2024)
Best Superhero Movie: Nominated
Hollywood Music in Media Awards (2023)
Best Original Score – Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Nominated
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