Marvel Studios
- Eternals has been rated PG-13 for “brief sexuality.”
- It’s the first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie to have that distinction since Disney took over Marvel Studios.
- The Chloe Zhao-directed film hit theaters on Friday, November 5.
Eternals has finally hit theaters and the film is *quite* divisive, as it’s now laid claim to the undesirable title of being the lowest-rated Marvel Cinematic Universe movie on Rotten Tomatoes with a 49% critic score, making it the first and only MCU to be considered “Rotten”. Audiences, however, seem to be reacting far more positively to it, as its audience score on Rotten Tomatoes sits at a comfortable 86%.
The film isn’t only divisive on the macro level, but on the micro level, too, as fans seem to disagree on the movie’s “sex” scene between Richard Madden’s Ikaris and Gemma Chan’s Sersi — some fans think it’s a positive step forward for the franchise, while others believe it’s corny and instead speaks to the larger issues with blockbuster filmmaking. Regardless, the romance between the two characters represents a change of pace for the MCU. The quality of its execution, though, is up for debate.
The sex scene in Eternals is not a sex scene.
If that's what we're calling sex scenes now, then we've just become prude as viewers.
— Aaron aka Mayo (@maroyasha) November 5, 2021
chloe zhao when she put that sex scene in eternals: pic.twitter.com/t9FDx6T2Xv
— president evil (@RanchCrab) November 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/Skvll_Residve/status/1453314943240089602
Guy whose only experience with sex was watching the Eternals sex scene having actual sex for the first time: getting a lot of “Eternals” vibes from this https://t.co/rICe45sAfV
— Fairy Gothmother, MD (@jenny2x4) November 4, 2021
Saw #Eternals yesterday. The “sex scene” was so fleeting, I already forgot it happened https://t.co/pWRPvOCNFz
— Paleozoic Paige 🦖 Personal Trainer (@whatpaigeesaid) November 5, 2021
Personally, I find that the viability of Eternals’ sex scene is contextual. In comparison to, let’s say Basic Instinct, it’s obviously and hilariously prude. But compared to the sexlessness of, Shang-Chi and Black Widow, it’s undoubtedly progress. Marginal progress, sure, but progress all the same.
‘Eternals’ Review: Sweeping, Occasionally Slow Sci-Fi Epic Delivers Heroes Worth Rooting For
Eternals — the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third in the MCU’s Phase 4 following Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings — stars Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Kit Harington, Gemma Chan, and is currently playing in theaters.
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