Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania had a better box office than the MCU’s biggest 2023 flop, but the film is still the one to earn Razzie nominations.

Although another film was considered to be the MCU’s biggest bomb of 2023, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania ended up being the one to earn the franchise its first-ever Razzie nominations. Marvel Studios produced some big hits in 2023, like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but the success was ultimately overshadowed by the various projects that bombed. Between the other two films on Marvel’s 2023 slate, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels both failed in their own ways.

The Marvels infamously broke the record for the lowest-grossing MCU film ever, making considerably less than Ant-Man 3 at the box office. The Golden Raspberry Awards are a parody award show that honors the biggest cinematic “failures” of the year, and it seemed like if any MCU project were to be nominated, it would be The Marvels. However, Quantumania is the film to earn the MCU its first ever Razzie nominations, and it deservingly earns its nominations over The Marvels.
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Was More Poorly Received Than The Marvels

Although The Marvels failed financially at the box office, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania was actually the more poorly received film. Both films have an 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but Quantumania only has a 46% critics score versus The Marvels’ 62%. Part of The Marvels’ box office bomb can even be in thanks to Quantumania, as fans who were disappointed with the MCU’s first film of 2023 were weary to go back to theaters. The reviews of fans who actually saw The Marvels, while not overtly positive, were pretty much neutral. Quantumania, however, garnered plenty of criticism.

The Marvels did plenty of things better than Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania. It was the more charming film with great chemistry from its leading trio, whereas Ant-Man 3 fell flat with the Lang’s and Van Dynes’ family chemistry. The biggest criticism that came out of Quantumania was how weak Kang felt as a villain, considering how much the MCU has played him up, with Ant-Man of all heroes being the one to single-handedly defeat him. The Marvels may have performed poorly at the box office, but the film actually feels a lot more thought-out and substantial than Ant-Man 3.

Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Epitomizes Everything Wrong With The MCU

Ant-Man 3 encapsulates all of the MCU criticisms of recent years. The film felt like a pure set-up for the future MCU slate with not much attention actually being on developing Scott as a character. The film featured terrible CGI graphics, especially with the poor attempt at humor in MODOK. Jarring visuals and failed comedic timings have been two of the biggest MCU weak points, and Quantumania just felt full of them. The MCU also has a problem with inserting characters for the sake of a cameo, which is evident in Bill Murray’s unnecessary role in a now Razzie-nominated performance.

While Quantumania may have made more than The Marvels, the film rightfully earned the MCU its first-ever Razzie nominations over the 2023 box office bomb. Ant-Man 3 lacked the charm of The Marvels and epitomizes almost every criticism of the recent MCU, from poor CGI to bad attempts at comedy. The film ultimately suffered from just being a stepping stone into the Multiverse Saga, and it’s clear now that Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania was the MCU’s weakest film of 2023 and deserving of its Razzie nominations.