Key Takeaways
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- Kumail Nanjiani remains proud of his performance in Eternals, despite its mixed reception and lower-than-expected box office performance.
- Nanjiani views failure as an opportunity for learning, rather than a setback, and focuses on what he learns from each project.
- Working on Eternals helped Nanjiani understand the gap between personal satisfaction and public response, leading to personal growth.
- In his stand-up special Night Thoughts, Nanjiani addresses fan reactions to his discussions about therapy and criticism of Eternals, using the experience as a learning opportunity.
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Kumail Nanjiani Unwavering Pride Amidst Eternals Criticism and Box Office Performance
Despite Eternals being widely considered one of Marvel Studios’ biggest failures, grossing approximately $400 million at the box office and facing harsh criticism from specialized press, Kumail Nanjiani has expressed no regret about his involvement in the film. In a recent episode of NPR’s Wild Card with Rachel Martin, shared by Variety, Nanjiani stated, “I’m extremely proud of my performance in it, and to be frank, I wouldn’t change a thing about how I am in the film.” He emphasized that he doesn’t control audience reception, box office success, or press opinions; instead, he focuses on what he learns from each project. For Nanjiani, failure is an opportunity for learning rather than a setback. Nanjiani plays Kingo in Eternals, a role he considers crucial to his career because it transformed his approach to his work. He has previously discussed the impact of the initial reaction to Eternals.
Kumail Nanjiani Reflects on Lessons Learned from Eternals and Personal Growth in Night Thoughts
Around five years after the film’s release, Nanjiani reflected on how working on Eternals helped him understand the gap between personal satisfaction and public response. He also addresses fan reactions to his discussions about therapy and the criticism he received for his part in Eternals in his stand-up special, Night Thoughts, noting that the movie influenced what he takes away from each project. Focusing on extracting lessons from his work, Nanjiani maintains a joyful outlook.
In Case You Missed It
In our last post, we explored the realm of upcoming superhero films, but for those craving a bit more edge in their cinematic universe, Bruno Pferd’s latest article is a must-read. In “Gambit’s Mutant Sex and Disney Doesn’t Do That” (2025-10-14), Bruno delves into Channing Tatum’s desire for a mature Gambit film and the challenges it faces within the family-friendly Marvel Studios. Meanwhile, midway through our discussion on Hollywood projects influenced by mixed reviews, we found ourselves reminiscing about Kumail Nanjiani’s powerful performance as Kingo in Eternals. Marcus Thompson takes this tangent further in his recent post, “Eternals Star Reveals He Signed Contract for a Video Game” (2025-08-25), uncovering the untold story behind Nanjiani’s six-film contract and a potential video game adaptation that never was. As we navigate these evolving landscapes, Channing Tatum’s insights on the challenges faced by filmmakers today are particularly poignant, especially with the rise of streaming services. Sophie Laurent’s piece from October 7th, “Sometimes you’re encouraged to make bad films for money, says Channing Tatum”, offers a fascinating perspective on this disruption and its impact on content quality – a must-read for any cinephile concerned about the future of our beloved art form. Check out Bruno’s post here Gambit’s Mutant Sex and Disney Doesn’t Do That, Marcus’ article here Eternals Star Reveals He Signed Contract for a Video Game, and Sophie’s piece here Sometimes you’re encouraged to make bad films for money, says Channing Tatum to continue this engaging conversation.
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- Kumail Nanjiani Gets Candid About Eternals CriticismKumail Nanjiani Gets Candid About Eternals Criticismcomicbook.com