Blue Beetle (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 7m (127 min)
- Director
- Angel Manuel Soto
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Budget
- $104M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
- Director Angel Manuel Soto
-
Adriana Barraza as Nana Reyes - Brianna Quinn Lewis as Kord Receptionist
-
Susan Sarandon as Victoria Kord - Damián Alcázar as Alberto Reyes
Also Starring in Blue Beetle
· 10 more- Elpidia Carrillo Rocio Reyes
- George Lopez Rudy Reyes
- Belissa Escobedo Milagro Reyes
- Bruna Marquezine Jenny Kord
- Sharon Stone
- Becky G.
- Raoul Trujillo
- Harvey Guillen
- Gabriella Ortiz Tía Letty
- Xolo Mariduena
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).
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).
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.
-
IMDb 5.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 78% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 90%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 61 Metascore
User score 5.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 66% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.9 /5
399872 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.4 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$130.8M
1.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $72.5M
- International
- $58.3M
- Budget
- $104M
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
-
Saturn Awards 2024 1 win · 2 nominations- Won Best Younger Actor in a Film – Xolo Mariduena
- Nominated Best Superhero Film
Blue Beetle Trailers & Videos
12 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 3 clips, 3 featurettes and 3 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Official Final Trailer
- Teaser
- Clip Extended Preview
- Clip DC Super Scenes: Powers Come Out
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What extraterrestrial artifact is discovered by Ignacio Carapax's expedition?
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 Show fewer
- 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?
Movies Like Blue Beetle
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including DC Showcase: Blue Beetle, The Flash and Max Steel.
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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