Ant-Man is a 2015 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name: Scott Lang and Hank Pym.
Directed by Peyton Reed, the film stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man, alongside Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Tip "T.I." Harris, Anthony Mackie, and Michael Douglas as Hank Pym.
The film follows Scott Lang, a master thief who is recruited by Hank Pym to embrace his inner hero and help him protect the secret behind his Ant-Man suit, which allows the wearer to shrink in size but increase in strength. Together, they must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Production
Ant-Man was originally developed by Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, but creative differences led to their departure. Peyton Reed took over as director, with the screenplay being rewritten by Adam McKay and Paul Rudd. The film had a production budget of $130-169.3 million.
Release and Reception
Ant-Man premiered in Hollywood on June 29, 2015 and was released in the United States on July 17, 2015. It was the last film in Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The film received generally positive reviews, with praise for Rudd's performance, the visual effects, and the humor. It grossed $519.3 million worldwide against its production budget.
Ant-Man was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and won a Saturn Award for Best Comic-to-Motion Picture Release. It was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects.
Legacy
Despite some initial doubts, Ant-Man proved to be a critical and commercial success for Marvel Studios. It expanded the MCU in a fun, light-hearted way while still connecting to the larger narrative. The film's success led to a sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp, in 2018.
Paul Rudd's performance as Scott Lang/Ant-Man was well-received, with the actor reprising the role in later MCU films like Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame, and Avengers: Infinity War. Ant-Man demonstrated Marvel's ability to take lesser-known characters and turn them into box office hits.