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Action thriller

Blue Beetle (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Blue Beetle (2023) movie poster

Blue Beetle is a 2023 action thriller directed by Angel Manuel Soto, starring Adriana Barraza as Nana Reyes, Brianna Quinn Lewis and Susan Sarandon. It brings to the screen characters from Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes Book One by Keith Giffen and John Rogers. It runs 2 hours 7 minutes and earned $130.8 million worldwide on a $104 million budget. It won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Younger Actor in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2024. Critics gave it 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.

IMDb rating
5.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
78%
worldwide gross
$130.8M
award won
1
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Blue Beetle (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 7m (127 min)
Original language
English
Budget
$104M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Blue Beetle About?

The premise of Blue Beetle without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A recent college graduate returns home to discover his life has been irrevocably altered. Jaime Reyes unexpectedly finds an ancient Scarab, which bonds with him and grants him a powerful, alien bio-armor. Becoming the Blue Beetle, he must now navigate his newfound abilities and a rapidly changing world, facing challenges that will test his destiny and redefine his role as a hero.

Blue Beetle Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • superhero
  • blue beetle character
  • based on comic book
  • dc extended universe
  • alien technology
  • high tech suit
  • family relationships
  • symbiotic
  • good versus evil
  • based on comic
  • hero
  • superpower
+38 more
  • alien
  • armor
  • costume
  • latin american
  • latino
  • shared universe
  • origin of hero
  • mexican
  • superhero action
  • superhero sci fi
  • villainess
  • fictional city
  • fired from a job
  • security alarm
  • defense mechanism
  • bus
  • heart attack
  • fight
  • evil
  • color in title
  • costumed hero
  • surrealism
  • transformation
  • beetle
  • animal in title
  • alliterative title
  • insect in title
  • two word title
  • aunt niece relationship
  • texas
  • financial difficulty
  • box
  • orbit
  • basement
  • childhood home
  • helicopter
  • fire
  • house on fire
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Cast & crew

Blue Beetle Cast & Characters

Adriana Barraza leads the cast as Nana Reyes, with Brianna Quinn Lewis as Kord Receptionist and Susan Sarandon as Victoria Kord. Directed by Angel Manuel Soto; 14 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Angel Manuel Soto

More films directed by Angel Manuel Soto, best-rated first: Charm City Kings, The Wrecking Crew and The Farm (La Granja).

Full filmography
Ratings

Blue Beetle Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Blue Beetle 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in art & craft (78) and weakest in rewatch factor (57).

66 /100

Blue Beetle Echo Score Breakdown

Blue Beetle lands in a middle ground, offering a colorful visual palette and heartfelt family moments while stumbling over a derivative plot and uneven execution. Critics note the film's striking cinematography and cultural homage, yet point to generic action and a lack of narrative depth. Audience reactions echo this split, praising representation and humor but criticizing pacing and low-budget aesthetics. Overall, the film provides modest entertainment without achieving lasting impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of art and craft, the film shines through its vibrant visual fireworks and the work of cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski. Critics commend the practical‑virtual blend and the design of the titular beetle, though some note murky action sequences and occasional cheap‑look effects. The overall production design is praised as a high point amid otherwise mixed technical execution.

  • Character & Emotion 73

    When it comes to character and emotion, the ensemble's chemistry and Xolo Maridueña's charisma are highlighted as strengths. Family dynamics receive commendation for authenticity and cultural resonance. Conversely, reviewers find the villains flat and some performances lacking empathy. The net impression is a generally engaging cast tempered by uneven character development.

  • Story & Flow 58

    Story and flow present a mixed picture. The origin premise introduces the world of Blue Beetle but many critics label the plot as derivative and pacing as uneven. Unanswered questions about the Scarab and generic superhero beats reduce narrative originality. While some appreciate social commentary, the overall coherence suffers from predictable beats.

  • Sensory Experience 62

    Sensory experience benefits from striking visual moments and occasional strong VFX, especially in weapon creation scenes. However, the film is also described as having murky action and a cheap, streaming‑quality aesthetic. Sound design receives little mention, leaving the overall sensory impact as uneven but not wholly detrimental.

  • Rewatch Factor 57

    Rewatch factor is modest. Audiences enjoy the family humor, cultural references, and potential for future stories, suggesting some replay value. Yet the generic superhero formula, low-budget feel, and pacing issues limit lasting appeal. The film may warrant a second look for fans of representation, but broader enthusiasm is restrained.

Plot

Blue Beetle Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Blue Beetle from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Somewhere amidst the frozen wasteland, an expedition from Kord Industries led by the mercenary Ignacio Carapax stumbles upon an alien artifact known as the Scarab. This powerful entity is handed over to the company’s CEO, Victoria Kord.

Full summary

The whole story of Blue Beetle, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Blue Beetle Box Office & Budget

Blue Beetle grossed $130.8 million worldwide on a $104 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $72.5 million came from the US and Canada and $58.3 million (45%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$130.8M

1.3× its budget

US & Canada
$72.5M
International
$58.3M
Budget
$104M
US & Canada 55% Rest of the world 45%
Awards

Blue Beetle Awards & Nominations

Blue Beetle won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Younger Actor in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2024.

1 win2 nominations1 ceremony

Videos

Blue Beetle Trailers & Videos

12 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 3 clips, 3 featurettes and 3 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 12 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Final Trailer
  • Teaser
  • Clip Extended Preview
  • Clip DC Super Scenes: Powers Come Out
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Blue Beetle?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What extraterrestrial artifact is discovered by Ignacio Carapax's expedition?

Details

Blue Beetle Also Known As

25 alternative titles, including “החיפושית הכחולה” and “Blue Beetle: Bọ Hung Xanh”.

Also known as
  • החיפושית הכחולה
  • Blue Beetle: Bọ Hung Xanh
  • Синия Бръмбар
  • Kék Bogár
  • Синий Жук
  • Besouro Azul
  • Синій Жук
  • Плава Буба
  • 蓝甲虫
  • 블루비틀
  • Błękitny Skarabeusz
  • 블루 비틀
+13 more
  • بلو بيتل
  • בלו ביטל
  • บลู บีเทิล
  • ब्लू बीटल
  • ப்ளூ பீட்டில்
  • బ్లూ బీటిల్
  • 藍甲蟲
  • Mėlynasis vabalas
  • ブルービートル
  • Zilais Skarabejs
  • Gândacul Albastru
  • سوسک آبی, ლურჯი ხოჭო
  • Sinine Põrnikas

Seen Blue Beetle?

FAQ

Blue Beetle FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Blue Beetle, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Blue Beetle?

Blue Beetle runs 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).

When was Blue Beetle released?

Blue Beetle was released on August 18, 2023.

Who directed Blue Beetle?

Blue Beetle was directed by Angel Manuel Soto.

More films by Angel Manuel Soto

Who is in the cast of Blue Beetle?

Blue Beetle stars Adriana Barraza as Nana Reyes, Brianna Quinn Lewis as Kord Receptionist and Susan Sarandon as Victoria Kord, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Blue Beetle make at the box office?

Blue Beetle grossed $130.8 million worldwide ($72.5 million domestic, $58.3 million international) on a budget of $104 million.

How is Blue Beetle rated?

Blue Beetle has 5.9/10 on IMDb, 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

What awards did Blue Beetle win?

Blue Beetle won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Younger Actor in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2024.

Does Blue Beetle have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Blue Beetle has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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