Every Marvel Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

Sure, it had poor early buzz, but who knew it would be a Howard the Duck -level disaster? A spinoff from Sony's newest Spider-Man-adjacent universe (also including two Venom films and Morbius, and yet to produce anything decent), 2024's Madame Web finds Dakota Johnson playing the titular Manhattan paramedic turned superhero after an accident triggers clairvoyance. The first feature directed by TV veteran S.J. Clarkson was greeted by terrible reviews as critics labeled the film boring, annoying, and bland.

"Stupendously stupid and never remotely in control of its faculties, the film represents a kind of weaponized incompetence, hostile and assaultive." —Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail

It's not very often Marvel is involved in a movie that so blatantly swings and misses. Shackled by horrible reviews, last year's Fantastic Four reboot managed to eke out $168 million at the box office on a $120 million budget.

"Fantastic Four is so mediocre that its title seems like a violation of truth in advertising laws." —Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times

The first proper feature film based on a Marvel property, this 1986 live-action take on the lesser-known character (an English-speaking anthropomorphic duck) was a massive commercial and critical failure, despite the fact that it was produced by Lucasfilm (and George Lucas). It features one of the first major roles for future star Tim Robbins, who was nominated for a Razzie for his performance opposite Lea Thompson (and the duck, taking the form of a puppet). Director Willard Huyck would never make another film, and it would be over a decade before another Marvel feature received a theatrical release.

"As you watch Howard the Duck, you get the vivid sensation that you're watching not a movie, but a pile of money being poured down the drain." —Paul Attanasio, The Washington Post

The 2008 reboot of The Punisher is filled with tons of gratuitous violence, but little else. To this day, Punisher: War Zone is the worst-performing Marvel film at the box office, with a worldwide gross of $10.1 million.

"The script isn't what matters here: This is a slasher movie with guns, and, uh, huh-huh, that's pretty cool." —Luke Y. Thompson, Village Voice

In 2004, the unstoppable vigilante known as The Punisher emerged following the brutal murder of his family. After Thomas Jane, the original Punisher, left for creative reasons, the planned sequel was scrapped for the previously mentioned 2008 reboot, Punisher: War Zone.

"It features an insane amount of violence and a number of visual references to the comic, but it lacks the original's humor and spirit." —Jami Bernard, New York Daily News

In this Daredevil spin-off, Jennifer Garner reprises her role as the assassin Elektra. The film was so unpopular that a companion video game was never released because developers felt it would not be successful.

"Watching this is like sitting by a pinsetter at a bowling alley. That's too bad, because the picture had potential." —Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer

In this 2012 entry, Nicolas Cage reprised his role as Johnny Blaze, the devil's bounty hunter. The sequel to 2007's Ghost Rider was largely panned by critics, but it was a box office success nevertheless. In 2013, Cage said that he is finished playing the role of Ghost Rider, and a second sequel was subsequently canceled.

"Like Ghost Rider: Low Voltage, this is a surprisingly underpowered excursion into Marvel's mad world by Neveldine and Taylor. More purgatory than hellfire." —Helen O'Hara, Empire

Aside from the stellar special effects and usual greatness of Nicolas Cage, this movie was chided by critics. The shoddy reviews didn't stop Ghost Rider from being a success as the box office, however. The 2007 film made more than $228 million in theaters, on a $110 million budget.

"Ghost Rider is the kind of movie that's great stupid fun as long as someone else is buying the tickets." —Ty Burr, Boston Globe

The long-delayed sixth film in Sony's Spider-Man spinoff series—a franchise so lackluster that Sony is now putting it on the shelf—stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass) as Sergei Kravinoff / Kraven as he attempts to become the greatest hunter in the world, if he can only overcome his daddy issues (with Russell Crowe playing said father). Director J.C. Chandor has mostly worked in smaller-scale indies (Margin Call, All Is Lost), and his jump to the superhero genre has critics laughing out loud. Unfortunately, Kraven is not a comedy.

"Kraven the Hunter explores the inner workings of a guy we didn't care about to begin with, alongside underwhelming action sequences and a lot of scenery chewing." —Alison Willmore, Vulture

Successful (if ironic) meme? Sure. But the spring of 2022 definitely wasn't Morbin' time in theaters—nor was June of that year when Sony made a misguided attempt to capitalize on said meme with a theatrical rerelease. The Daniel Espinosa-directed Morbius, theoretically part of Sony's Spider-Man shared universe and starring Jared Leto as vampiric scientist Dr. Michael Morbius, barely eked out $167 million at the box office, making it one of 2022's bigger flops. It certainly didn't help that the film was terrible, with critics deeming it one of the worst Marvel films to date.

"Morbius is like watching an incompetent juggler throw six knives in the air and then get stabbed by each of them on the way down." —Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

The first entry in what is now called "Sony's Spider-Man Universe"—a yet-to-be-good franchise centering not on Spider-Man but on other lesser-known characters from Spider-Man comics—this 2018 film finds Tom Hardy playing journalist Eddie Brock, whose body becomes host to the titular evil alien symbiote. Directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland), Venom actually performed well at the box office despite getting hammered by critics who deemed it a failure on nearly every level.

"A picture in the running for the dubious distinction of being perhaps the worst Marvel-derived origin story ever." —Soren Andersen, The Seattle Times

The third entry in the Blade saga is also the most unwatchable, according to critics. Even with a decent cast that includes Wesley Snipes, Jessica Biel and Ryan Reynolds, Blade: Trinity lacks a much-needed narrative direction.

"A mess. It lacks the sharp narrative line and crisp comic-book clarity of the earlier films, and descends too easily into shapeless fight scenes that are chopped into so many cuts that they lack all form or rhythm." —Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

For years, fans of the adamantium-clawed Wolverine were clamoring for a stand-alone film. They finally got one, but this 2009 prequel did not live up to the immense hype. Although Hugh Jackman turned in another top-notch performance as James "Logan" Howlett, the actor expressed how unhappy he was with the film's final product.

"There's little of the seen-it-all, wise-guy acerbity that made his character in the X-Men trilogy stand apart from his fellow mutants." —Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

The first feature about Marvel's famed superhero team to actually get a theatrical release (following a license-preserving, low-budget version filmed a decade before) received low marks from critics, but it was still a box-office smash in 2005. The film 's success led to the 2007 sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer.

"A wildly uneven, sporadically slapdash action-adventure that amuses in fits and starts." —Joe Leydon, Variety

The fifth film in Sony's Spider-Man-less "Spider-Man Universe" franchise and the concluding film in a trilogy centering on Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock/Venom, The Last Dance is a bit better than the first Venom film but worse than the second, according to critics. (In other words: It's not very good.) The feature directorial debut for screenwriter Kelly Marcel adds Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple to the cast for a film that finds Eddie on the run and hunted by the government.

"For the most part, the film's offhanded, listless vibe feels like an insult to viewers, especially those who will pay actual money to see this thing." —Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

The first of two 2025 films serving as the concluding chapters in the MCU's Phase 5 (and the first big-budget feature from The Cloverfield Paradox director Julius Onah), Brave New World is also the first feature with Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as the titular hero—a position he first assumed (from Chris Evans' Steve Rogers) in the Disney+ TV series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Also adding Harrison Ford to the MCU as President Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk (taking over the role from the late William Hurt), this fourth Captain America film is another dull and uneven recent entry in the franchise according to critics.

"There's nothing brave about this movie. There's nothing new either. And sure, it technically takes place in the world, but one out of three is bad." —William Bibbiani, The Wrap

This 2003 feature stars Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who fights for justice as the masked vigilante Daredevil. Despite Daredevil's success at the box office, critics knocked the superhero film for its generic dialogue, religious undertones, and lack of character development. But we did get one heck of a performance from the late Michael Clarke Duncan.

"Its overall effect is distinctly underwhelming." —William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

This 2019 X-Men film is the directorial debut for writer/producer Simon Kinberg, who wrote the screenplays for several of the previous films in the series, including 2016's Apocalypse, for which this serves as a direct sequel. But his familiarity with the material didn't make Dark Phoenix a good film; only Wolverine has scored lower among the 12 X-Men films. And fans seem to have noticed, making Dark Phoenix a likely money loser and easily the lowest-grossing film in the franchise.

"It's just a disappointingly average superhero flick, with a familiar story, disinterested actors, some cool action sequences, and a whole lot of missed opportunities." —William Bibbiani, The Wrap

The follow-up to the 2005 film, Silver Surfer is one of the rare sequels that's actually (slightly) better than the original, according to critics. But even with more favorable reviews, Rise of the Silver Surfer still suffers from a failure to maximize the potential of its talented cast, including Laurence Fishburne as the voice of the Silver Surfer. While the film had some box-office success, a follow-up was canceled in lieu of a franchise reboot.

"The early dilemma in Rise of the Silver Surfer is this: Save the world or marry Jessica Alba. Your conscience says, 'Save the world.' But the Maxim reader in you knows better." —Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

In 1998, Blade became the first Marvel comic-book hero successfully adapted to the big screen. The success of this film also helped popularize both superhero and vampire films, which are two of the most successful movie genres today.

"Although the opening scene suggests a dark urban satire, Blade quickly turns into a cartoonish futuristic action-adventure." —Stephen Holden, The New York Times

Kicking off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the third Ant-Man film (and sequel to 2018's Ant-Man and the Wasp) not only failed to repeat its predecessors' positive critical reception, it also managed to score lower than any other film in the MCU to date. Despite the returns of director Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly (as the title characters)—plus new faces like Jonathan Majors and Bill Murray (both of whom would turn out to be problematic due to off-screen issues)— Quantumania was dismissed by critics as a "tired retread" plagued by poor CGI effects and an overly convoluted story.

"Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is ultimately one of Marvel's dullest and most unnecessary movies to date." –Emily Zemler, Observer

Arriving three years after Sony's first Venom film, this first of at least two sequels actually scored 14 points better with critics while faring significantly worse at the box office (though the latter issue could be chalked up to the post-pandemic environment). Andy Serkis steps behind the camera to direct a cast led by a returning Tom Hardy and virtually-new-to-the-series Woody Harrelson, who plays Carnage (after a brief cameo during the credits of the prior film). Reviewers noted that Carnage was breezier and funnier than the first film, though still plagued by less-than-special effects.

"Venom: Let There be Crazy, Stupid Love isn't a great movie, but it doesn't matter because it's just big, dumb, romantic fun." —Sarah Jane, Austin Chronicle

Another MCU Phase 5 disappointment and the lowest-grossing MCU film to date, this 2023 release from writer-director Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) serves as a big-screen follow-up to the 2022 Disney+ miniseries Ms. Marvel as well as a sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel. The Marvels finds Brie Larson's Captain Marvel teaming up with astronaut Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani, returning from the TV series) to save the universe. Deadline pegged it as the biggest box-office bomb of 2023 with an estimated loss of $237 million.

Critics found it a minor entry in the series, but they did agree on one admirable attribute: It's a lot shorter than most Marvel films.

"Even though there are some fun scenes with The Marvels trio, I'd be hard-pressed to recommend this to anyone who isn't an MCU superfan. Again, even *I* was a bit lost with the latest in the Kree and Skrull political relationships — I felt lost by it all and I've seen every movie. I bet a pretty straightforward plot involving the main three characters would have gone a long way." –Mike Ryan, Uproxx

In this 2016 film, Oscar Isaac portrays the villain Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant. But this sequel to the critically acclaimed Days of Future Past disappointed critics. The Austin Chronicle chided Apocalypse for never rising "to the sum of its parts."

Fresh off her best director Oscar win for Nomadland, Chloe Zhao tackled her first big-budget project with this second MCU film of 2021, centering on an immortal race of superheroes (played by the likes of Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, and Kumail Nanjiani). Billed as a character-driven departure from the usual Marvel formula, Eternals is that, to an extent. But because it doesn't commit fully to being an action-driven spectacle or an arty drama, the result is a muddled failure, according to critics who deemed it among the least successful films the franchise has yet produced.

"After over a decade of the MCU formula's dominance, it's easy to mistake Eternals' deviance for profundity. Films that wrestle with difficult experiences can often be difficult to watch, and intentionally so. Unfortunately, Eternals isn't bold, merely incongruous. The simpler explanation is truer: Eternals is a mess." —Joshua Rivera, Polygon

This film represents another sequel that critics believe is better than the original. And moviegoers agree, as Blade II is both the best-reviewed and the highest-grossing film in the saga. What's more, this flick helped introduce Americans to the talents of director Guillermo del Toro, who would go on to helm Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy after Blade II.

"May be too grisly to extend its appeal beyond its fan base." —Joe Leydon, Variety

While this 2014 film might have been stuffed to the brim with plot lines, set pieces and villains, Amazing Spider-Man 2 was still a commercial success, as it grossed $709 million worldwide. The movie was originally envisioned as a springboard for a shared universe, but it performed below expectations and all subsequent installments were canceled. Spider-Man will instead join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Peter Parker's first appearance coming in Captain America: Civil War.

"Marc Webb, returning after the last instalment, again shows a better feel for the relationships than he does for juggling all the overlapping story elements." —Tim Robey, The Telegraph

Poor Thor. The second installment in the god of thunder's saga sits toward the bottom of the Marvel Universe in terms of critical reception. Despite the fact that most of the characters in The Dark World seem to be going through the motions of saving the cosmos, when it comes to entertainment value, you could do worse.

"There's a fleet and funny comic-book movie nestled inside Thor: The Dark World. You catch glimpses of it here and there." —Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald

Ang Lee's 2003 art-house rendition of the Hulk is one of the most ambitious Marvel films, with its poignant themes and beautiful cinematography. But it wasn't a good match with the source material. Ultimately, this film just needed more HULK SMASHES!

"In the end, we don't know what we're watching, an art-house superhero film or a computer-generated King Kong. By trying to please both sensibilities, the filmmakers have pleased neither." —Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The third—and worst—film to star Ryan Reynolds as the snarky Merc with a Mouth pairs him with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, returning on screen for the first time since that character's 2017 swan song (not anymore!), Logan. Unlike the previous Deadpool films (both Fox productions), this one's an official entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, marking the franchise's first R-rated entry. It's also the first Marvel film for director Shawn Levy, who worked with both Reynolds and Jackman before on Free Guy/The Adam Project and Real Steel, respectively. 

What may have seemed a good team-up on paper has been disappointing reviewers who bemoan a lack of substance and a low success rate for the humor. Financially? It's a huge success: With over $210 million in North America across its first three days, D&W had the highest-grossing opening weekend for an R-rated film in history (and the sixth-highest for any film, period).

"The movie is two hours of cheap jokes, culminating in the world's biggest Family Guy episode. It tries so hard to be clever, it just ends up being cringe." —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly

Following the breakout critical and commercial hit Iron Man, this sequel left much to be desired. Mickey Rourke's Whiplash couldn't quite reach the level of Jeff Bridges' Obadiah Stane.

"A better-than-average follow-up, but Tony doesn't suit up enough." —Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle

Released in the summer of 2022, director Taika Waititi's second MCU film is a sequel to his first, 2017's Thor: Ragnarok. Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as the titular hero, joined by other returning MCU faces including the Guardians of the Galaxy crew plus Natalie Portman's Jane Foster, Jaimie Alexander's Sif, and Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie. The most notable newcomer is Christian Bale, playing villain Gorr the God Butcher, and his performance has been earning raves, though the film as a whole is less well-liked by critics than Ragnarok.

"By now, it must be said, the quips are beginning to wear a little thin, the vinyl-era needle drops a little less cool, the quotation marks a little more obvious among the ironic references and self-mocking bonhomie. Still, Thor: Love and Thunder is out for a good time, even if the journey doesn't feel quite so novel or giddily buoyant." —Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post

This film is quite the rousing action-fest, notable for its imaginative take on the majestic world of Asgard. Ranked among its fellow Marvel films, however, Thor is slightly flawed, with a plot bogged down in backstory. But it's worth a watch for fans of the Norse hammer-wielding god.

"Thor has its strengths, but it is finally something of a mishmash with designs on being more interesting than it manages to be." —Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

The final chapter in the original X-Men trilogy is also the worst-reviewed in the saga. But with a worldwide gross of $459.4 million, Last Stand was the highest-grossing X-Men film until it was surpassed by X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014.

"But for all the sound, fury and spectacle, the film feels vaguely hollow and unsatisfying." —Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide Magazine

Yes, Spider-Man 3 featured everyone's "favorite" character: Emo Peter Parker. But this film was still pretty darn entertaining. Tobey Maguire's final appearance as Spidey was the most successful in the franchise's history, with over $890 million grossed worldwide. A fourth installment was originally planned, but director Sam Raimi and Sony had creative differences, and a reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man, was developed instead.

"Still smart, still exciting and still action-packed. It's just a shame to note that, after promising greatness, all Spider-Man 3 delivers is satisfaction." —Chris Hewitt, Empire

Returning to the superhero genre for the first time since his Spider-Man trilogy, Sam Raimi directs this 2022 MCU sequel to both 2016's Doctor Strange and 2021's Spider-Man No Way Home. Benedict Cumberbatch returns as the title character—joined again by Chiwetel Ejiofor's Karl Mordo, Benedict Wong's Wong, and Rachel McAdams' Christine Palmer, along with WandaVision star Elizabeth Olsen and new-to-the-MCU Xochitl Gomez (as America Chavez) and multiple surprise cameos—but critics were less enthused this time around, calling the result chaotic, impersonal, and lacking emotion.

"The follow-up to 2016's 'Doctor Strange' hits the ooh-and-aah marks we expect from a well-crafted Marvel adventure, but even with Sam Raimi at the helm, this entry goes heavy on the spectacle but light on the humanity." —Alonso Duralde, The Wrap

Wolverine's second stand-alone film might have moved at a glacial pace, but it was still a critical and commercial success. The sixth film in the X-Men saga, and the first without the name "X-Men" in the title, is the third-highest-grossing film in the franchise ($414.8 million).

"The lack of plot coherence is a lingering irritant in a film that otherwise seems to be trying to improve on its cinematic-series forebears." —Tasha Robinson, The Dissolve

This reboot came out just five years after Ang Lee's rendition of the Hulk. The new entry did a considerably better job at depicting the spirit of the green Goliath, and, at the time, its visual effects were unmatched.

"The result is solid and efficient, if unadventurous, illustrating both the lure and the limitations of comic book extravaganzas." —Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Following the disappointing Iron Man 2, Marvel bounced back with the third film in Tony Stark's saga. While this movie never quite reached the heights of the original, it definitely injected some much-needed heart that was missing from the previous installment.

"It's not without its payoffs; I enjoyed a lot of it. But overall last year's Avengers delivered the bombastic goods more efficiently than this year's Marvel." —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

This 2000 film gave the world its first look at a live-action X-Men flick, and it did not disappoint. Director Bryan Singer's first choice to play Wolverine was Russell Crowe. The actor turned Singer down, but Crowe then suggested his friend, Hugh Jackman, for the role. And the rest is history.

"X-Men flies to the rescue with superheroes who have real substance." —Ann Hornaday, Baltimore Sun

The best of MCU Phase Five's rather lackluster slate so far, this final (and lowest-scoring) installment in James Gunn's comedic GOTG film trilogy adds Will Poulter (as Adam Warlock) to a returning cast of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and Vin Diesel.

"An enjoyably eccentric, insouciantly funny and often beautiful-looking jumble of an entertainment that plays — at least when it isn't let down by a wobbly seriocomic tone and some excessive narrative multitasking — like a sincerely moving farewell to some of the more likable rogues and motley misfits in the Marvel cosmos." – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

He may be Marvel's smallest superhero, but Ant-Man more than makes up for it with his big heart and super strength. In fact, scale may be one of the keys to the film's success. Ant-Man offers a welcome change-up for comic book fans, as Scott Lang must save his daughter, instead of the entire world.

"Ant-Man is infectious, silly entertainment, a popcorn flick that knows what it is and does what it does to an intoxicating degree." —Josh Kupecki, Austin Chronicle

The first film in the official Marvel Cinematic Universe to feature a female lead (though 2005's Elektra is first among all Marvel properties), the 1990s-set Captain Marvel finds Brie Larson playing the title character, a former Air Force pilot named Carol Danvers turned part-Kree superhero. The 2019 film is the first big-budget movie from Mississippi Grind directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, and critics found it decent but lacking innovation or distinction.

"The picture is not dull, exactly, just mundane, marked by unimaginative plotting, cut-rate villains, a bland visual style and a lack of elan in every department." —Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter

While the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four have soared into outer space, the various attempts at bringing the heroes to the big screen over the past three decades have consistently crashed and burned. That finally changed when critics declared that TV director Matt Shakman's 2025 feature film reboot is actually ... good? It's true. With a cast led by Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby and a 1960s-inspired retrofuturistic production design, First Steps may not be groundbreaking, but it's the rare recent Marvel movie that bothers to be entertaining and fun, according to reviewers.

"These First Steps might not be the great strides I was hoping for, but they are sure footing for the Fantastic Four to officially leap into the MCU." —Clint Gage, IGN

The crude, fourth-wall-breaking antihero has been a sensation ever since his film Deadpool was released in February. The foul-mouthed film has set a number of box-office records en route to becoming the highest-grossing R-rated comic book film of all time. And a sequel is already on the way!

"It takes a strong stomach for extreme violence and over-the-top obscenity, but if you're willing to roll with that, Deadpool is a hoot." —Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

First Class represented a fresh revival for a franchise that desperately needed some new blood. The 2011 prequel brought together a perfect combination of stylish directing, a strong script, and powerful performances to create one of the best origin stories in any comic book feature.

"X-Men: First Class isn't anywhere close to being a genre classic like Spider-Man 2 or The Dark Knight, but it is good enough to rejuvenate a franchise stuck on idle." —Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic

The first sequel to the 2016 hit Deadpool retains the R-rated, fourth-wall-breaking humor of the original but finds David Leitch (Atomic Blonde) taking over directing duties from Tim Miller. Josh Brolin is the sequel's major new arrival, Cable, while other newcomers include Zazie Beetz as Domino, Terry Crews as Bedlam, Lewis Tan as Shatterstar, Bill Skarsgard as Zeitgeist, and Rob Delaney as Peter.

"Does Deadpool 2 pick up its predecessor's baton and run off to new and exciting places? Not really. Is it as tasty as leftovers on the second day? Absolutely. Temper your expectations accordingly." —Alonso Duralde, TheWrap

The reboot of the popular Spider-Man franchise was met with generally favorable reviews from top critics. However, many reviewers believed that The Amazing Spider-Man reused the same plot points from 2002's Spider-Man. Nevertheless, with $757.9 million at the box office, this movie is the highest-grossing reboot of all time.

"None of this is new to us, but Garfield and Webb make it feel convincingly fresh and exciting." —Mary Pols, Time

The fourth Spidey-centric film to feature Tom Holland's version of Peter Parker (and be part of the MCU), Brand New Day comes from Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton. It's another positively reviewed entry that finds Parker dealing with a recent memory wipe as well as growing pains from his evolving arachnid form. Marvel TV regular Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle/The Punisher makes his big-screen debut, but the film's villain(s) were a closely guarded secret that we won't spoil here. It isn't a spoiler to say that reviewers liked the film about as much as its immediate predecessors, firmly establishing Spider-Man as the one consistently strong brand in the current iteration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"While Brand New Day might not be the most rambunctious or exciting of Holland's Spider-flicks, it aims to be a little deeper than the average MCU installment while trapping you in its gratifying web." —Brian Truitt, USA Today

This movie definitely scratches the retro itch for those looking for a classic World War II comic-book tale. With a fun, pulpy style similar to Indiana Jones, The First Avenger finds that healthy balance between action thrills and corny nostalgia.

"On its own, Captain America is a modestly engaging little-big movie in the median range: well below the first Iron Man, somewhat above X-Men: First Class." —Richard Corliss, Time

While the second Avengers adventure didn't quite top their first film, its genuine sense of fun and camaraderie helped make Age of Ultron one of the better Marvel movies.

"There's so much ground to cover here—so many introductions to make, so much story to churn through, so many gargantuan set pieces to mount—that the movie never really finds room to breathe." —A.A. Dowd, The A.V. Club

The 2022 sequel to one of Marvel's most critically and commercially successful films returns Black Panther director and co-writer Ryan Coogler, who was forced to pivot away from a storyline involving its title character following the death of star Chadwick Boseman. Instead, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, and Danai Gurira star in a film deemed by critics to be imperfect, overlong, and lacking its predecessor's impact, but also heartfelt and superior to many other superhero films.

"While a Black Panther without Boseman is undoubtedly nothing like the film's creators or any of its cast wanted it to be, the movie they've made feels like something unusually elegant and profound for the multiplex: a little bit of forever for the star who left too soon." —Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly

The sequel to the original James Gunn-directed action film follows Peter Quill (Pratt) and the Guardians as they try to keep their team together while searching for Quill's father.

Variety said that "shot for shot, line and line, it's an extravagant and witty follow-up, made with the same friendly virtuosic dazzle."

Gunn has already stated that he will write and direct the third film in the franchise.

Following a rare two-year hiatus in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Widow simultaneously opened in theaters and on Disney+ in July 2021. Scarlett Johansson heads a cast that also features Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, David Harbour (Stranger Things), O-T Fagbenle (The Handmaid's Tale), and William Hurt, while the director is MCU first-timer Cate Shortland (best known for her Australian indie drama Somersault). Though Shortland was inspired by Thelma and Louise and No Country for Old Men, there is plenty of action in a film whose most obvious inspiration within the MCU itself is Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Still, critics find it to be a minor entry in the series.

"Black Widow certainly suffers from MCU bloat—dutiful references to other installments in the franchise, an overly convoluted plot leading to a two-hour-plus runtime, an endlessly explosive action finale that takes place mostly in front of green screens—yet a strong cast and emphasis on character ultimately overcome much of those grievances." —Josh Larsen, Larsen on Film

Here's one sequel that is definitely bigger and better than its predecessor. The follow-up to X-Men features a tight script, solid acting, and the best cliffhanger in any comic-book movie.

"As it is, most of X2's action is restricted to the Northeast Corridor, with a climactic face-off in the western Rockies, where, in typical blockbuster fashion, everything goes kablooey and ka-bam." —Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

This 2018 film is the first Avengers feature (but third Marvel title) to be directed by the Russo brothers. The first of a two-part story (to conclude with a 2019 sequel), Infinity War finds the Avengers going up against Josh Brolin's Thanos, who aims to collect all of the infinity stones.

Variety's Owen Gleiberman calls the film "a sleekly witty action opera that's at once overstuffed and bedazzling."

The first big-budget feature from director Jake Schreier (Robot & Frank), Thunderbolts* —complete with its mysterious asterisk*—is the final chapter in Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story is an antihero version of the Avengers as a group of your favorite villains (including Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, David Harbour's Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost, and Wyatt Russell's John Walker) assemble at the request of CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), only to learn that it's a trap—and one which can only be escaped if they work together as a team. It appears to be the best film in what has otherwise been a lackluster period for the MCU.

*The asterisk was ultimately a sneaky way to introduce the film's alternate title, The New Avengers.

"If the film cannot entirely shake the suspicion that the creative peaks of this franchise are in the past, the depth of feeling in the performances suggests Marvel still has compelling tales to tell." —Tim Grierson, Screen Daily

Peter Parker takes a school field trip to Europe in this 2019 sequel to 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, which returns director Jon Watts and stars Tom Holland (who plays Spider-Man for the fifth time) and Zendaya. Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury also has a large role.

"Spider-Man: Far From Home is a bouncy addition to a bulging franchise, with just enough fringe zaniness to help it stand out from the pack." —David Sims, The Atlantic

Director Joss Whedon brings together an all-star cast of fan favorite Marvel characters in this raucous adventure. Not surprisingly, The Avengers is one of the most fun Marvel movies to date, with its witty script and playful banter. It's also the most successful Marvel film at the box office by more than $160 million.

"If the film is more solid and satisfying than terrific, so be it." —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

The second entry in the Captain America saga barely edges out The Avengers in a surprising critical upset. The Winter Soldier also has huge ramifications on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the dismantling of S.H.I.E.L.D.

"The movie does its duty. It's a reliable commodity, delivered efficiently and well, like pizza." —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

The third Marvel film to arrive in 2018 is the first sequel to 2015's Ant-Man. Director Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly return, and the result is a better movie than the original.

"It's funny how little things, like personality, can lift a movie. Ant-Man and the Wasp features kinetic action sequences, but what makes it zing is that Mr. Reed has figured out how to sustain the movie's intimacy and its playfulness, even when bodies and cars go flying." —Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

The third MCU film to revolve around Tom Holland's Spider-Man, 2021's No Way Home is once again directed by Jon Watts, who also handled the previous Spider-Man titles Homecoming and Far From Home. While No Way Home, which also stars Zendaya, Benedict Comberbatch, Jamie Foxx, and Willem Dafoe, wasn't quite the best-reviewed film of the three, it was wildly successful at the box office, grossing nearly $1.9 billion en route to becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film in history, and the only billion-dollar film of the pandemic era.

"No Way Home is overlong and its various temporal loop-the-loops start to wear out their welcome ... All that said, there's an imaginativeness to No Way Home, along with a ton of energy, that makes the viewer cut it a lot of slack." —Mark Feeney, The Boston Globe

The 25th MCU film (and second in "Phase Four," following a few months after fellow summer 2021 release Black Widow), Shang-Chi introduces the titular Asian hero (played by Simu Liu, often performing his own stunts) to the film franchise. The first MCU film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) also stars Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, and Tony Leung. Critics mostly liked the film, though they also lamented its unwillingness to fully shake up the superhero action movie formula.

"Shang-Chi may be built on familiar lines, but in the moments when it's allowed to be its own film, it's a vastly different (and vastly superior) film compared to its predecessors." —Kate Erbland, IndieWire

In this 2016 film, Benedict Cumberbatch plays neurosurgeon turned Sorcerer Supreme in one of the most critically-acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe films to date. The Tampa Bay Times believes this movie has "a nice balance of solemn myth-making and genre irreverence lifts Doctor Strange to Marvel's first tier of movie franchises."

Months after the events of Civil War, Peter Parker must learn to balance his high school life with the emergence of his web-slinging alter ego, Spider-Man.

"Homecoming is a return to form, featuring an incredibly likable cast, a compelling and complicated villain, and a irrepressibly charming Spider-Man," according to ScreenCrush's Matt Singer.

This 2002 film signaled the beginning of the avalanche of superhero films, which are ubiquitous today. At the time of its release, Spider-Man had the highest-grossing opening weekend ever, and it was the only film to reach $100 million in its first weekend. And that upside-down kiss between Spidey and Mary Jane Watson is one of the most iconic smooches in recent memory. And definitely not corny at all.

"When the cast and their director are really cooking, they conjure a bipolar sense of high school-age emotion -- and use it to fuel outrageous fantasy." —Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun

Imprisoned without his mighty hammer, Thor must escape an alien planet before his home world of Asgard is destroyed. The third film in the franchise was praised for being "delightfully funny" by the New York Daily News.

It's the best reviewed X-Men film in the series and one of the rare movies that actually makes time travel work. Days of Future Past has the distinct honor of being the only X-Men film in the series to be nominated for an Academy Award (Best Visual Effects). What's more, the sequel to First Class serves as a resolution to the original trilogy's messy storyline.

"For better or worse, X-Men: Days Of Future Past is the first Marvel movie to truly embrace comics-style storytelling." —Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, The A.V. Club

An adorable new Spider-Man and a badass Black Panther freshen the MCU lineup, but the fight scenes alone are worth the price of admission.

"Civil War strikes that admirable balance: serious-minded action that never forgets to indulge in serious fun." —Dave White, TheWrap

This fun flick delivers a breath of fresh air to the overly serious world of comic-book franchises. Guardians of the Galaxy features a gaggle of lovable losers, along with an upbeat soundtrack that will get your nostalgia juices flowing. This rousing film instantly became a Marvel classic.

"It's filled with a kind of giddy energy that leaps off the screen. It's corny, it's dopey, it's sincere, it's romantic, it's thrilling and it leaves one anticipating the next adventure of these heroic goofballs." —Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

In his final appearance in the X-Men saga, a grizzled Hugh Jackman delivers one of his finest performance as the Wolverine. RogerEbert.com said of the film, "Logan is the rare blockbuster that could be a game-changer. It will certainly change the way we look at other superhero movies."

This 2019 sequel to the 2018 megahit Avengers: Infinity War is again directed by the Russo brothers, and they've turned in the longest blockbuster in recent memory: Endgame clocks in at just over 180 minutes. (At least you can leave when the credits start rolling; there's no post-credits scene this time.) Nearly every actor is back in some capacity from the previous film, joined by Frank Grillo's Crossbones and Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie, plus Jeremy Renner, whose Clint Barton adopts his new superhero identity: Ronin.

"The film earns its length not by overstuffing the frame with opulent action, but by slowing things down and basking in the charisma of its ensemble." —David Sims, The Atlantic

The film that kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes up just short of the top spot on this list. The first Iron Man simultaneously resuscitated Robert Downey Jr.'s career while helping to make comic book movies super cool once again.

"When it's idling in neutral, and we're watching Stark putter in his workshop or seduce unsuspecting journalists, Iron Man abounds in that rarest of superpowers: charm." —Dana Stevens, Slate

This Oscar-winning 2004 sequel to Spider-Man was the best-reviewed Marvel film for over a decade following its release. All the big players reprise their roles in Spider-Man 2, but what elevates this feature is Alfred Molina's brilliantly complex portrayal of Doctor Octopus.

"The sequel is more exciting and surprising than the 2002 original, thanks largely to Molina's excellent acting." -David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor

In this Ryan Coogler-directed action movie, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to Wakanda as the king, but he's challenged by a long-time nemesis.

The Washington Post said it's a "film that fulfills the most rote demands of superhero spectacle, yet does so with style and subtexts that feel bracingly, joyfully groundbreaking."