Do critics think Marvel’s ‘Wonder Man’ is super?
Do critics think Marvel’s ‘Wonder Man’ is super?
The show represents a clear departure from formula for Marvel and Disney+.
There once was a time that Marvel could do no wrong. Any Marvel Cinematic Universe title that went to theaters could be virtually guaranteed of a $1 billion box office, and TV shows from Marvel properties — first on Netflix, and later on Disney+ — were sure to be a hit with audiences.
In 2026, however, the MCU is trying to get back on its feet. Disney and Marvel have exhausted audiences to the point that they now feel their only choice is to essentially reunite all of their original Avengers for “Avengers: Doomsday.” Whether that strategy will pay off is a question for time to answer, but in the meantime, Marvel will release a new series on Disney+ designed in part to answer fan exhaustion: “Wonder Man,” which premieres on the streamer on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 9:01 p.m. ET.
“Wonder Man” stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, an aspiring actor who sees the role of a lifetime within his reach when legendary director Von Kovak decides to remake the superhero movie “Wonder Man.” As he pursues the film, Simon meets failed actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), who is looking to “Wonder Man” to revive his long-since-foundered career.
Watch a trailer for ‘Wonder Man’
Thus far, “Wonder Man” seems to be a return to form for the MCU, according to critics. The show currently sits at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 75 on Metacritic, which indicates “Generally Favorable” reviews. Dive into what critics think of the new Marvel series in their own words below.
What are critics saying about ‘Wonder Man’?
Aidan Kelley | Collider
Wonder Man is, by far, the most grounded, low-stakes series the MCU has ever produced, and it is all the better for it. Instead of being the ten millionth superhero show to follow the formula of “origin story, bad guy reveal, huge superhero fight at the end,” this is a deep, personal, character-driven adventure that honestly has more in common with The Studio or Atlanta than any previous MCU project, especially with its refreshing level of authenticity in its showcase of how the film and television industry works…Whether you’re a hardcore MCU fan or have never watched a superhero movie in your life, Wonder Man is one of those rare experiences that appeals to both sides, and it marks a truly phenomenal start for Marvel’s ambitious 2026 slate.
Stephen Robinson AV Club
Wonder Man can at times feel like the Netflix Marvel series from a decade ago, which seemed to exist in their own separate realities from the more bombastic MCU of the movies. This is perhaps not the show for anyone interested in traditional frenzied battles between costumed characters. Of course, fans are admittedly hard to please: Depending on who you ask, heavy continuity in Marvel shows and films can make each installment feel less accessible to new audiences, who must wade through hours of homework to understand what’s happening. Other fans complain that the series in particular feel disconnected from any larger narrative and introduce characters and plot points that never pay off.
Amon Warmann | Empire
Unsurprisingly, the actors playing the actors are themselves excellent. In his other superhero gig as villainous Black Manta in Aquaman, Abdul-Mateen II is mostly angry and violent; here, he’s especially good at playing the sweet, sad and sensitive notes that help make the tightly wound Simon so easy to root for. As for Kingsley’s Trevor, where at times he felt like the odd one out in the worlds of Iron Man and Shang-Chi, here his unique, slightly off-kilter energy is perfectly utilised. He’s more than just comedic relief this time round: he’s a fully realised and relatable character. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley’s superb double act makes this one of the best shows in the MCU to date.
Tai Gooden | Nerdist
For those who are looking for major connections to the MCU at large and in-depth Easter eggs, you won’t find them here. It’s a Marvel Spotlight show, which indicates that Wonder Man won’t have a major connection to what’s coming in the films of Phase 6. Considering Wonder Man’s comic book history, place in the Avengers collective, and close ties to Tony Stark as well as Vision and Wanda, it simply feels like he came into the MCU a few years too late and no one was totally sure what to do with him…So, if you’re looking for something super, Wonder Man won’t give you that. But, if you’re down for a duo who gets into hijinks, tries to understand deep feels, and one of who happens to have a very, ahem, explosive response to inconveniences, then you’ll find something to enjoy in this series that should’ve been a streaming movie.
Jesse Schedeen | IGN
All told, this is a very solid start to the new series. But does the initial premise carry enough weight to justify an eight-episode show? Not necessarily, which is why it’s just as well that this episode throws a late-game curveball that casts everything in a different light. By the end, we get a slightly better idea of where Wonder Man is actually headed and what Simon’s place in a world full of superhumans truly is. If the promise of a more character-driven MCU show isn’t enough on its own, that tease might just seal the deal.
Angie Han | The Hollywood Reporter
Wonder Man shares with other recent showbiz sendups like The Other Two or The Studio the wry amusement of creators who’ve clearly spent enough time in the trenches of Hollywood to know just how unglamorous it is up close — to know their way around cramped trailers and cheap apartments and self-tape studios. It does not, however, share with those shows the sharp satirical bite toward the industry in general, or the skepticism toward and critique of big-budget IP filmmaking more specifically. This is hardly surprising, given that Wonder Man hails from the money-minting Marvel machine, but it feels like a missed opportunity nonetheless.
Keith Phipps | TV Guide
Marvel’s commitment to experimenting with different approaches has remained admirable, and it’s never tried anything quite like Wonder Man, a low-key buddy comedy in which superheroics largely remain in the background, usually deep in the background. Anyone showing up to watch, say, Daredevil lay into the Kingpin will likely be confused. But those who stick around should quickly realize that this is a strength, not a weakness.
Jesse Hassenger | The Wrap
As a character study, “Wonder Man” is uncommonly quiet and focused for the MCU. It still, however, suffers a bit from a common Marvel miniseries problem: a short season of half-hour episodes (especially dropped all at once, as these are) winds up feeling more like an oddly paced movie than a TV show. This in turn exacerbates how odd it is to spend so much more time in the company of Simon and Trevor than, say, a marquee character like Doctor Strange or Carol Danvers. The aforementioned one-off episode (shot, for reasons unclear, in black-and-white) mitigates that distended-movie feeling a bit, but it’s also not a particularly strong installment. 200-plus minutes is probably more screentime than this story ultimately requires.
Disney+
Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”