OPEN YOUR MIND. CHANGE YOUR REALITY. 

Brilliant but arrogant New York surgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) has his hands destroyed in a car accident; out of desperation, he looks up a mystic (Tilda Swinton) in Nepal who opens his mind and gives him awe-inspiring abilities.

Another Marvel hero gets his own movie, done in the same style as all the predecessors, with a generous sense of humor, impressive visual effects in 3D and great casting. Cumberbatch does for Strange what Robert Downey, Jr. did for Stark; in other words, he’s a lot of fun to watch.

Entertaining and elaborate, even if most of the magical tricks come across as curiously uninvolving. 

2016-U.S. 115 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Scott Derrickson. Comic Book: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko. Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch (Stephen Strange), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Karl Mordo), Rachel McAdams (Christine Palmer), Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt. Cameos: Stan Lee, Chris Hemsworth. 

Trivia: Cumberbatch also plays the evil entity Dormammu, created with motion-capture technology and having the star’s voice blended with that of another actor. Ryan Gosling and Joaquin Phoenix were reportedly considered for the lead role. Followed by Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022); Strange next appeared in Thor: Ragnarok (2017).