Having grossed roughly $75.3 million during its debut weekend and over $150 million worldwide since its premiere on September 3, Marvel’s latest release Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has fought its way to the top of the box office.
Long-standing fans and newcomers alike have been delighted by stunning visuals and thrilling action sequences in the media giant’s latest production, affording high praise and raving reviews on a plethora of social media platforms. IMDb rates this title a solid 8 out of 10, and Rotten Tomatoes has awarded a freshness score of 92% alongside an impressive fan rating of 98%, making it the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most popular comic book-based movie release of all time, according to the Rotten Tomatoes website.
Shang-Chi sports a dynamic cast of critically acclaimed actors and actresses, as well as gripping special effects, with faces like Simu Liu, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Awkwafina, and Ben Kingsley gracing the silver screen. The story gives insight into the origin of an intrepid hero, Shang-Chi, who debuted in Special Marvel Edition #15, cover-dated December 1973. With an impressive record and long-standing history in the Marvel Universe, Shang-Chi has spent many comic book pages fighting against the injustices of the world alongside heroes like Spider-Man, Silver Sable, Iron Man, Captain America, and even Wolverine.
In this action-packed, kung-fu adventure, Shang-Chi must overcome great adversity in his quest to find himself and his place in the world after tragedy strikes his family. He must also learn to master his latent abilities and those of the mythical “Ten Rings,” which grant their user immortality and godly power. From his early childhood into adolescence, Shang-Chi is trained in martial arts, earning the nickname “Master of Kung Fu” by the time he becomes an adult.
After reaching adulthood, Shang-Chi collaborates with Captain America and Spider-Man to protect Manhattan. Once the mission is complete, Shang-Chi takes Spider-Man into his tutelage, imparting the knowledge of martial combat. These events are the result of many grueling years of training, as we see in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings during our hero’s cinematic debut. This glimpse into Shang-Chi’s past sets up his entrance into the MCU and introduces the audience to the magic and wonder that binds him together with the rest of the heroes and heroines we all know and love.
by Kyle Manseill
