Ant-Man

Scott Lang is a recently released thief trying to rebuild his life for his young daughter when he gets recruited by retired scientist Hank Pym to help recover a suit that can shrink its wearer while boosting strength. Pym warns the shrinking technology cannot fall into the wrong hands, because a former protege has weaponized similar science. Scott must adapt his criminal know-how to a new ethical code as he trains in the suit, pulls together a small crew of allies, and plans a complex break-in to stop the threat. The film keeps a light tone, balancing clever action and comedy with the growing mentor-protege bond, with stakes.

Released in 2015, Ant-Man was directed by Peyton Reed, with screenplay contributions from Adam McKay, Joe Cornish, and Paul Rudd, who also stars. It features Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Evangeline Lilly in lead roles, with a strong supporting cast.

The movie opened strongly at the box office, turning a mid-level concept into a profitable entry that helped broaden the franchise's palette, proving audiences were receptive to smaller-scale, comedic superhero stories and boosting confidence in varied tones and franchise expansion.

Ant-Man introduced memorable visual effects for size-shifting action and a heist sensibility that stood out from other blockbusters. Paul Rudd's amiable take on the hero and the film's playful tone influenced how the studio mixed humor with stakes in later entries, and several scenes became pop culture touchstones and merchandising.

Critics gave Ant-Man generally positive reviews, reflected in a vote average of 7.067/10 from 20,529 votes, praising its humor and fresh scale. Thematically it focuses on redemption, family bonds, mentorship, and the idea that small actions can have big consequences, while reviewers praised the action choreography and cast chemistry widely.