Los Angeles, CA – Marvel Studios has unleashed the first full trailer for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, reuniting the Russo Brothers in the director’s chair and bringing Robert Downey Jr. back to the MCU as the iconic villain Doctor Doom. While the trailer’s massive crossover—featuring characters from the MCU, Fantastic Four, and the X-Men franchise—has generated significant buzz, a different narrative has taken over social media: widespread criticism of the film’s visual effects, with some fans even comparing it unfavorably to the recently released Ramayana glimpse.
Soon after the trailer dropped on July 20, X (formerly Twitter) users were quick to point out what they perceived as subpar CGI. Many described the visuals as resembling a “pre-rendered CG trailer for a video game from 2012,” while others felt several shots appeared unfinished. The comparison to the Indian epic Ramayana was particularly sharp, with one user posting, “#Ramayana glimpse visuals dominating #Doomsday’s trailer visuals after being criticised so much is insane.” Another remarked, “Imagine the reviews of official trailer are already promising so much… what will be scenario 3 days later.”
The Russo Brothers’ visual style also drew criticism for its muted, gritty aesthetic. One viewer commented, “You know you’re watching a Russo brothers Avengers movie when the characters fight in the ugliest environments possible. Genuinely embarrassing that these are ‘adaptations’ of a medium as colourful as comics.” While the visuals were panned, Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom emerged as a major highlight, with his distinct Eastern European accent helping to separate the villain from his iconic role as Tony Stark. The trailer also excited fans with the return of Thor, Loki, Wolverine, Shang-Chi, and Sue Storm, along with nods to Xavier’s School and the collision of multiple Marvel universes.
The final moments, featuring a young Steve Rogers wielding Mjolnir, proved divisive—thrilling some while others felt it risked undermining the emotional conclusion of his story in Avengers: Endgame. The absence of fan favorites like Captain Marvel and Wanda Maximoff also drew criticism. Directed by the Russo Brothers and featuring a star-studded cast including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, and Vanessa Kirby, Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on December 18, 2026. The debate over its visual effects is likely to continue as the release date approaches.
