Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsmay have lacked the level of hype of the MCU’s past box office hits, but Simu Liu’s breakout performance has just putShang-Chiat the top of a coveted ranking: the Rotten Tomatoes audience score charts.
Funnily enough,Shang-Chi’s premiere cameat a time when blockbuster movies are still struggling to find a footing in theaters and several studios have resorted to dual streaming releases to make up for lost box office earnings. However, ifShang-Chi’sopening weekend is any indication, its massive $146 million worldwide haul has already proved people are hungry for more movies like it, and at the same time, it’s almost ensuredShang-Chiwill turn a solid profit forMarvel Studiosand Disney.
RELATED:Shang-Chi: What Is the Movie’s Post-Credits Scene Setting Up For The Ten Rings?
Regardless of it being impossible forShang-Chito topple the billion-dollar earnings of past MCU blockbusters, at the time of writing its 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes would make it the absolute king when it comes to such ratings on the site for comic book-inspired films. Currently, the highest-ranked film of such kind on the Tomatometer isSpider-Man: Into the SpiderVerseat 97%, and whileShang-Chi’s92% rating from critics put it behind in that category, the former still pales in comparison to Marvel Studios' latest flick, where it’s audience score is currently sitting at a towering 98%.
To put things into perspective, the MCU’s box office king,Avengers: Endgame, holds a 94% on the Tomatometer and 90% in audience score, Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightboasts 94% in both categories, the firstIron Manhas 94% and 91%, respectively, and, even theBlack Pantherorigin story has a lopsided 96% critics’ score paired with a 76% audience rating. For anyShang-Chihaters and doubters out there, such a metric will surely drive home the idea that this movie is the real deal.
Shang-Chiis already an interesting story because of the way Marvel Studios and the film’s writer had to adapt its source material, which is mostly comprised of early ’70s comic books filled with racial stereotypes that have been slowly retconned in recent years. The result is not only aShang-Chiwith some of the best MCU actionout there, but a movie that -just likeBlack Panther- manages to tell a self-contained origin story that’s really hard to dislike, all without the pulling too much on its readily available MCU connections.
Even if Rotten Tomatoes scores are a fickle metric to judge by, being freed from the duties and fan service obligations of an Avengers team-up allowsShang-Chito thrive in the MCU’s more matured Phase Four, just asEternalsandSpider-Man: No Way Homeare right around the corner to introduce more multiversal madness beforeDoctor Strange’ssequel drops next year.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsis now playing in theaters.
