Eternals’ CinemaScore is the MCU’s lowest to date

Last Updated on November 9, 2021

Despite opening at number one domestically with $71 million, Marvel’s Eternals has received a polarizing response from Marvel fans following the critical beating the film received leading up to its release. Currently sitting at 48% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, Eternals has also been graced the lowest CinemaScore from opening night moviegoers.

Eternals received a “B” CinemaScore from opening night audiences. CinemaScore is a company that surveys moviegoers on opening night and is sometimes a solid barometer of a film’s potential word of mouth, or lack thereof. This is officially the worst CinemaScore grade for an MCU movie and only two Marvel movies, prior to this one, have received a grade below an “A-” (The Incredible Hulk and Thor both received a “B+” grade.)

A “B” grade is disappointing by Marvel standards and a higher grade may have softened the blow of its critical reception but it’s clear that even moviegoers are split on Eternals. The IMDB score is at a 6.9/10 while the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is more solid at 81% but it has steadily crept down since opening on Friday. This is not the typical start for a Marvel film and I’m sure the Marvel offices have been buzzing about what exactly went wrong with the film. The narrative is trying to get people to focus on the fact that Eternals has the fourth biggest domestic opening of the pandemic and that it pulled in over $160 million from its global debut. There is no doubt that these are solid figures but the muted response indicates that the Marvel release is going to see a steep fall in its second weekend, at least domestically.

As per the official synopsis, “Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” welcomes an exciting new team of Super Heroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The epic story, spanning thousands of years, features a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena. Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman.”

What are YOUR thoughts on Eternals’ CinemaScore?