The MCU's Hits And Misses
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for raking in billions of dollars at the box office with their A-list actors and exciting films, but not every movie is made the same. While some rank at the top of everyone's favorites list, some are sadly always at the bottom. Here are 10 of Marvel's best works and 10 of their absolute worst. Which ones do you agree with?
1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Often seen as the greatest Marvel movie ever made, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of the best the MCU has to offer. It has a compelling story, fantastic acting, and some of the best fight sequences the franchise has ever seen, particularly with its hand-to-hand combat scenes. Not to mention, it's one of the few films that expertly balances humor with seriousness, done in a way that doesn't undermine the cool grittiness.
2. Iron Man
How could we not honor the movie that started it all? If the first Iron Man movie flopped, we wouldn't have the MCU as we know it now! Giving superhero movies a good reputation, this film shined as brightly as it did thanks to Robert Downey Jr.'s convincing performance as Tony Stark. The special effects were impressive for its time, the story had you hooked, and it truly felt like you were watching something special.
3. The Avengers
After years of building up the characters and making sure audiences loved and knew them well, The Avengers seamlessly brought them together to create this action-packed movie. You might think having six protagonists would be too much, but they each bounced off each other so effortlessly, leaving movie-goers with a satisfying experience watching their favorite heroes join forces.
4. Black Panther
Black Panther wasn't just a movie, it was a statement and a cultural phenomenon. Not only did it make over a billion dollars in the box office, it celebrated Black culture in a way that made people feel seen and respected. Chadwick Boseman handled the titular role with absolute grace, making this movie not just enjoyable in terms of a cinematic experience, but a powerful one too that sent a message.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
5. Thor: Ragnarok
With both the first two Thor movies receiving a lot of bad rep, the executives over at Marvel knew something needed to be changed. Transforming Thor from the serious and handsome demi-god to a hilarious, relatable guy, Thor: Ragnarok quickly became one of the funniest and most entertaining Marvel movies. While the story is complex and has layers to it, fans mostly enjoyed the comedy and light-hearted aspects of it.
William Tung from USA on Wikimedia
6. Spider-Man: No Way Home
After months and months of speculation, every fan's biggest dream came true: all the Spider-Man universes collided. While many might argue there were plenty of plot holes in this movie, no one really cares! After all, in terms of fan service, Spider-Man: No Way Home can't be beat. It all centered around a heartwarming story as we watch Peter Parker grow into the hero he was meant to be - one driven by compassion and selflessness.
GAULUAEN Yamwzld00 on Wikimedia
7. Captain America: Civil War
After the first two Avengers movies, Marvel had us believing that everything was swell and that our heroes would always come around to work together. Wrong! In Captain America: Civil War, tensions are at an all time high as our beloved heroes, Captain America and Iron Man, start butting heads when the government gets involved. It was both exciting and heartbreaking to watch as our favorite team began to duke it out. Which side were you on?
elisfkc from Orlando, FL, United States on Wikimedia
8. Guardians of the Galaxy
The beauty of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie was that a majority of people had no idea what they were in for! A rag tag team of aliens and weirdos coming together to defend the galaxy? Who knew that would be a recipe for success? But thanks to the wonderful (and hilarious) performances of each actor in the movie, this film quickly stole every Marvel fan's heart and skyrocketed to the top of their favorites list. It'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry, and it'll guarantee a fun rewatch every time.
Chris Favero from USA on Wikimedia
9. Avengers: Infinity War
We know you've been waiting for this one to show up on the list. The brilliance of the MCU was the slow build-up of 10 years of movies all leading to this one moment: Avengers: Infinity War. The start of the final chapter to many of our favorite characters' stories, the stakes had never been higher than when the Avengers had to face off against Thanos. A seemingly unbeatable threat, fans were thrown around by all the amazing twists and turns, complete with a shocking end that left everyone's jaw dropped.
10. Avengers: Endgame
After waiting an entire year to learn what would happen to everyone's favorite superheroes, Avengers: Endgame was a cinematic experience you just couldn't miss out on. Full of fan service that everyone could appreciate, this film had movie-goers crying as they watched the final storyline unravel. The Russo Brothers managed to do justice to all the characters (despite the massive ensemble), finding a way to make each hero shine in their own way as they came together to defeat Thanos and bring back the snapped half of the universe.
Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan on Wikimedia
1. Eternals
2. Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania
A disappointing movie made worse by the irrelevance of Kang the Conqueror following Jonathon Majors' departure from the MCU, Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania simply didn't hit any of the right notes. Many people complained about Cassie Lang's character, the subpar plot, and the underwhelming feel of the film despite its high stakes. To put it bluntly, it just didn't capture the usual Marvel essence that fans love.
3. The Marvels
Feeling rather disjointed, The Marvels failed to make waves during its release despite bringing together three characters who have great chemistry with one another. The tone seemed all over the place, it was hard to care for the characters, and the whole story just felt a bit generic with a basic villain.
William Tung from USA on Wikimedia
4. Thor: Love and Thunder
Trying to follow the success of Thor: Ragnarok, which was a massive hit with fans, Thor: Love and Thunder failed to hit the target because it focused on comedy above anything else. Not only did the humor feel cheesy and forced, but every other aspect of the film was lacking as a result.
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima on Wikimedia
5. Iron Man 2
Though Iron Man is a timeless classic with so much rewatchability, most fans can't say the same about the second instalment. Many argue that the film feels rushed, messy, and doesn't have the same identity as the first. It's not necessarily their worst offering, but it's definitely not Marvel's best - nowhere close.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasonurb/ on Wikimedia
6. Black Widow
Being one of the original six, fans were hoping Marvel would do Black Widow right with an amazing solo origin story, but sadly, most were let down. Although Black Widow did introduce some great new characters and showcased Natasha in a cool way, fans were disappointed with the portrayal of Taskmaster. There was so much potential to make this into a cool and gritty spy film, but instead, the humor and boring antagonist ruined it.
7. Thor: The Dark World
When Marvel Studios was first starting out and only had a few superheroes to work with, Thor was the one who got the short end of the stick. For the longest time, fans called Thor: The Dark World the worst MCU movie of all time! Nothing seemed to work, from the story to the action to the humor. Everything seemed forced and the villain, Malekith, was arguably the worst the franchise had ever seen.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamin2/ on Wikimedia
8. Captain Marvel
Though she may be one of the most powerful Avengers on the team, the Captain Marvel movie didn't get the warmest of receptions. Despite earning over one billion at the box office, the film was criticized for making the character too overpowered with little flaws alongside poor writing that made the story fall flat.
9. Iron Man 3
As the finale to Iron Man's trilogy, most fans were heavily disappointed by Iron Man 3. Though it explored some important topics, the film just lacked a solid identity and purpose. The villains were underwhelming, the story was subpar, and it didn't do this amazing character justice. Sadly, most people think Tony Stark shines far better in the other MCU movies outside of his own.
10. Captain America: Brave New World
Despite being the most recent release on this list, many have already stormed online to comment about their disappointment with Captain America: Brave New World. Though it featured a stellar cast, had decent fight sequences, and pretty solid CGI, the biggest complaint centers around it feeling like a straightforward story that didn't highlight Sam's ability to take on the mantle. There just wasn't enough focus on Sam!
