The upcoming DC superhero film "The Flash" was screened for the first time at CinemaCon on Tuesday for theater owners, exhibitors, and reporters. Though reviews are embargoed, reactions on social media were overwhelmingly positive, with many using words like "impressive" and "awesome" to describe the movie.
Brian Welk of Indiewire noted that the movie "played very well," with the audience reacting audibly to the film. Film critic Jordan Hoffman described it as "far more madcap than I expected," while "The Playlist's" Greg Ellwood said that it was "very good" and praised Ezra Miller's performance. Scott Mantz declared that the movie is "one of the very best DC movies, a perfect blend of action, heart & humor." Erik Davis of Fandango called it "tremendous" and "an all-timer," with "inventive storytelling" and "fantastic action sequences."
Directed by Andy Muschietti, "The Flash" follows Barry Allen as he travels back in time to try and save his parents, leading him to a different reality where Michael Shannon's General Zod is back and Batman is not the version he knows. The movie is one of Warner Bros.'s biggest films of the year, with a reported budget of $200 million.
Despite the personal troubles of star Ezra Miller, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, the studio has remained committed to the movie. Miller was arrested twice last year and was accused of inappropriate behavior with a minor, though they denied the allegations and sought mental health treatment.
Despite Miller's personal struggles, the long-planned standalone movie has remained a top priority for the studio. "The Flash" has been in development for nearly 10 years, with Muschietti not being attached to direct until 2019.
After the box office disappointment of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," which was released earlier this year, "The Flash" is now being seen as a potential blockbuster hit. The hope is that the movie will achieve commercial success when it opens in theaters on June 16.
The DC movie has also garnered attention due to the appearance of Michael Keaton's version of Batman, which has already been shown in widely available trailers. Despite being a major character, Ben Affleck's version of Batman is not expected to have a major role in the film.
Overall, "The Flash" is generating a lot of excitement from DC fans and moviegoers alike, with many eagerly anticipating its release. The positive reactions from those who have seen it thus far only add to the hype surrounding the film.