Blue Beetle lands on Netflix today, bringing back one of DC’s most surprising and emotionally resonant films of the last decade. Released in 2023, the movie became a rare critical bright spot in a turbulent era for the studio, praised for centering family, identity, and the first ever Latino live action superhero in the DC universe. Starring Xolo Maridueña of Cobra Kai, the film blends glossy action with a proudly cultural voice that resonated deeply with audiences.
Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, Blue Beetle stands out for its warmth, humor, and sincerity, offering a hero defined less by brooding darkness and more by heart, community, and compassion. Now that the film arrives on Netflix, it’s finally set to reach the broad audience many felt it deserved in theaters. If you didn’t catch it during its original run, don’t miss it this time. Here is everything you need to know about Blue Beetle – plot, cast and reviews. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
Blue Beetle – all the key details
- Title: Blue Beetle
- Format: Film
- Length: 127 minutes
- Genre: Superhero, action, adventure
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: August 18, 2023 (theatrical); November [TO BE ADDED], 2025 on Netflix
- Director: Ángel Manuel Soto
- Lead cast: Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez
- Produced by: DC Studios, The Safran Company, Entertainment One
What Blue Beetle is about
Set in the vibrant and fictional Palmera City, Blue Beetle follows Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate trying to find his footing when a mysterious alien Scarab chooses him as its host. The fusion grants him a powerful armored suit with flight, weapons, and a mind of its own, transforming Jaime into an unlikely hero overnight.
But the real foundation of the film is the Reyes family. Unlike the lone wolf approach common in DC stories, Blue Beetle embraces a multigenerational household that rallies around Jaime with humor, chaos, and fierce devotion. As he struggles to control the Scarab, Jaime becomes entangled in a corporate plot led by a ruthless tech magnate seeking to weaponize its power, forcing him to protect both the city and the people who define him.
Blue Beetle cast: the main characters
Xolo Maridueña anchors the film with a charismatic and emotionally grounded performance as Jaime Reyes, capturing the mix of panic, courage, and vulnerability that comes with sudden power. Bruna Marquezine brings quiet intensity as Jenny Kord, who holds the key to the Scarab’s past. Susan Sarandon’s turn as Victoria Kord adds a sleek, calculated corporate villainy that hits with a very modern sting. Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Elpidia Carrillo, Belissa Escobedo, and George Lopez complete the Reyes family, creating a lived in dynamic that is warm, funny, and instantly relatable.
Is Blue Beetle based on a true story?
No. The film is based on the Blue Beetle comic book character introduced by DC in 2006, reimagining classic lore for a modern setting. While fictional, the movie draws from real experiences of Latino families in the United States, including bilingual households, intergenerational bonds, and the nuances of cultural identity.
What reviews say about Blue Beetle
Reviews were mixed, but many critics highlighted the film’s sincerity and cultural voice as its greatest strengths. Rotten Tomatoes’ top critics praised it as “authentically Latino”, noting how the story explores family, community, and the fragile sense of belonging within a larger world – the humor, class tension, and family dynamic are honestly refreshing, in a crowded superhero genre.
The Washington Post offered the most impassioned praise, calling Blue Beetle “the best modern DC movie” and celebrating its cultural impact as DC’s first Latino superhero story told by Latino filmmakers. The review emphasized the film’s heart and soul, noting that seeing a hero shaped by compassion and Latinidad rather than gloom or vengeance made it stand out in the modern DC lineup.
Where was Blue Beetle filmed?
The film was primarily shot in Atlanta, Georgia, and El Paso, Texas, with additional scenes filmed in Puerto Rico. These locations helped build the sunlit, energetic atmosphere of Palmera City, giving Blue Beetle a brighter, more grounded look than many recent DC entries.
Blue Beetle: behind the scenes and fun facts
Blue Beetle holds a historic place as the first Latino led superhero film in the DC universe. Director Ángel Manuel Soto leaned heavily on practical effects, including a fully built hero suit worn by Maridueña, giving the film a tactile feel uncommon in recent comic book releases. The script integrates references to earlier Blue Beetle iterations, including nods to Ted Kord’s gadgets and lore, while many of George Lopez’s funniest lines were improvised on set.
Why watch Blue Beetle
If you enjoy superhero films with humor, family emotion, and cultural depth, this title deserves a spot on your Netflix list. It blends the youthful energy of Spider-Man: Homecoming with the warmth of Shazam!, all through a proudly Latino lens that gives the story a unique heartbeat and makes Blue Beetle on Netflix an easy recommendation.
Blue Beetle release date on streaming
Release date: Blue Beetle begins streaming on Netflix on November 17, 2025.
Watch the trailer
Here’s the trailer to get a first taste.
