Is Wonder Man Worth Watching? Honest Review (2026)

TL;DR

Wonder Man is Marvel’s most self-aware project to date — a show that openly questions whether the world needs another superhero story while simultaneously being one. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II brings genuine charisma to the lead role, and when the satire lands, it’s genuinely sharp. But the tonal tightrope between Hollywood comedy and MCU action doesn’t always hold, leaving the show feeling uneven despite its ambitions.

What It’s About (No Spoilers)

Simon Williams is a washed-up Hollywood actor whose career peaked a decade ago and has been in freefall ever since. When he gains superhuman abilities through circumstances tied to the wider MCU, he sees an opportunity not to become a traditional hero but to leverage his powers for a comeback — pitching himself as the star of a superhero film based on his own life. The show plays out as both a satire of the entertainment industry and a character study of a man desperately chasing relevance. It’s less punching villains through buildings and more meetings with agents, table reads, and existential crises in Los Angeles parking lots.

What Works

The Hollywood satire is genuinely funny. When Wonder Man commits to being a comedy about the absurdity of the entertainment industry, it’s at its sharpest. There are pointed jabs at franchise filmmaking, streaming culture, and the way studios commodify everything — and given that this is a Disney+ Marvel show making these criticisms, there’s an audacity to it that’s hard not to appreciate. Some of the industry send-ups are laugh-out-loud funny.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is perfectly cast. He plays Simon as a man whose charm is both his greatest asset and his biggest liability — someone who’s genuinely likeable but also deeply insecure and occasionally insufferable. It’s a tricky balance, and Abdul-Mateen nails it. He’s got that rare quality of making you root for a character even when that character is being a complete drongo.

What Doesn’t

The MCU obligations weigh it down. Every time the show builds momentum as a satire, it has to pivot back to superhero plot mechanics — mysterious organisations, CGI-heavy confrontations, setup for future Marvel projects. These sections feel like they belong in a completely different show, and the transitions between sharp comedy and standard MCU fare can give you tonal whiplash. You can almost feel the creative team being pulled in two directions.

The pacing sags in the middle. Episodes four through six lose their way somewhat, spending too much time on connective MCU tissue and not enough on what makes the show distinctive. It finds its footing again for the finale, but that mid-season lull is noticeable and may lose some viewers who were on the fence.

Who Should Watch This

MCU fans who’ve been craving something different from the formula — if you loved WandaVision’s willingness to experiment, this has a similar energy. Anyone who enjoys Hollywood satires like The Player, Episodes, or even Entourage with a brain. Comedy fans who want something with a bit more substance than your average sitcom. And if you’re the type who enjoys picking apart meta-commentary, there’s plenty to chew on here.

Who Should Skip This

If you’re after a straightforward superhero action series, this will frustrate you — the action scenes are the weakest part of the show. If you have zero interest in the MCU and its mythology, the franchise-building elements will feel like homework. And if you’ve genuinely hit superhero fatigue and the mere sight of the Marvel logo makes you want to change the channel, the irony of a Marvel show satirising Marvel won’t be enough to win you over.

Where to Stream in Australia

Wonder Man is a Disney+ exclusive worldwide, including Australia.

• Disney+ Standard with Ads — $13.99/month (Full HD, 2 screens)
• Disney+ Standard — $17.99/month (Full HD, 2 screens, no ads, downloads)
• Disney+ Premium — $19.99/month (4K UHD, Dolby Atmos, 4 screens)

Disney+ doesn’t currently offer a free trial in Australia, so you’ll need to commit to at least a month. The full season is available to binge, so you can get through it in a single month’s subscription if you want. It’s also worth noting that Disney+ bundles are available if you’re already paying for other services through your telco — check with Optus or Telstra for potential deals.

The Bottom Line

Wonder Man is the most interesting Marvel show since WandaVision, even if it’s not the most consistent. It swings big with its satirical premise and lands enough of those swings to justify the watch, but the tension between its creative ambitions and its franchise obligations keeps it from being truly great. For Australian viewers already subscribed to Disney+, it’s well worth your time. If you’d need to sign up specifically for this, maybe wait until there’s another Disney+ show you want to pair it with to get your money’s worth. It’s a solid “maybe” — genuinely clever in places, frustratingly conventional in others.