I started seeing a therapist because of bad ‘Eternals’ reviews: Kumail Nanjiani

During a recent appearance on the “Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum” podcast, Kumail Nanjiani opened up about how the negative reception to “Eternals” impacted his mental well-being.

Reflecting on the experience, Nanjiani, who portrayed Kingo in the 2021 Marvel film, admitted, “The reviews were bad, and I was too aware of it. I was reading every review and checking too much.” Despite being part of an ensemble cast led by Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, Nanjiani and his co-stars faced significant criticism. The superhero epic garnered one of Marvel’s lowest Rotten Tomatoes scores to date, with a mere 47%.

Nanjiani shared that Marvel had high hopes for the film, leading to an early embargo lift and extensive promotional efforts, which coincided with the film's poor reception. Moreover, the promotional activities took place amid the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating the stress for Nanjiani and his colleagues.


“I think there was some weird soup in the atmosphere for why that movie got slammed so much, and I think not much of it has to do with the actual quality of the movie,” Nanjiani remarked. The ordeal prompted him to seek counseling, acknowledging the toll it took on his mental health. His wife, Emily V. Gordon, even observed signs of trauma stemming from the experience.

Discussing the matter with a fellow cast member from “Eternals,” Nanjiani found solace in the shared acknowledgment of their collective struggle. The episode underscored the importance of addressing mental health challenges exacerbated by the pressures of the entertainment industry.