The Marvel Cinematic Universe and other Marvel franchises have produced some movies that deserve more love than they get, with quite a few underrated entries. Since the creation of the MCU, Marvel Studios has become the leading company when it comes to comic book adaptations. The MCU has many successful movies, with its latest entry, Deadpool & Wolverine, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. That goes to show how popular Marvel remains to this day.
However, many MCU movies are underrated, with some entertaining films failing at the box office or being forgotten when fans discuss the franchise’s best entries. That extends to other non-MCU Marvel movies, with entries that could be talked about in a more positive light than they have been over the years. Future Marvel movies could look at those underrated entries to take what worked and improve on certain aspects that, if adjusted, could have made them huge hits.
Related 10 Best Marvel Movie Trilogies Ranked
With Deadpool & Wolverine concluding one of the best Marvel trilogies, the list includes some impressive live-action entries both in the MCU and not.
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10 Fantastic Four
Non-MCU Movie Released In 2005
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Fantastic Four (2005) follows the story of four astronauts who gain extraordinary abilities after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Ioan Gruffudd stars as Reed Richards, who becomes Mr. Fantastic, alongside Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm, the Thing. Together, they must learn to harness their new powers to thwart the plans of the nefarious Dr. Doom.
Director Tim Story Release Date June 29, 2005 Cast Ioan Gruffudd , Jessica Alba , Chris Evans , Michael Chiklis , Julian McMahon Runtime 106 Minutes
The first of the 2000s Fantastic Four movies is an incredibly underrated Marvel film. Sure, it is not the cosmic adventure that many would have wanted to see with the Fantastic Four in live-action, but it has more positives than negatives. The key aspect that makes the movie work is its cast. Fantastic Four nailed the casting for its lead heroes, with Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm.
The characters had great chemistry, with Reed and Sue’s romance being charming and Johnny’s interactions with Ben being hilarious. The movie also did a great job with the team’s powers, perfectly representing how exciting they should look in live-action. Overall, 2005’s Fantastic Four is an entertaining watch that stands as the team’s best live-action film so far.
Related I’m Convinced The MCU Is Hiding A Key Fantastic Four Suit Change In Plain Sight
The Fantastic Four: First Steps brings Marvel’s First Family to the MCU, and after the reveal of a unique costume, I think a major change is coming.
9 Thor
MCU Movie Released In 2011
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Chris Hemsworth’s MCU debut as the Asgardian God of Thunder saw him navigating the ultimare sibling rivalry and parental expectations. Kenneth Branagh’s theatrical adaptation of the long-running Marvel Comics deals with Thor’s quest to prove himself worthy. Banished to Earth for his impulsiveness and tendency to violence, Thor must earn his destiny, while Tom Hiddleston’s Loki tries to destroy him.
Director Kenneth Branagh Release Date May 6, 2011 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Natalie Portman , Tom Hiddleston , Kat Dennings , Stellan Skarsgård , Idris Elba , Clark Gregg , Colm Feore Runtime 115 minutes
Thor is one of Chris Hemsworth’s best solo movies as the God of Thunder. The film could be appreciated more, as it is the most distinct from the rest of the Thor entries. Directed by Kenneth Branagh in his only directorial outing in the MCU, 2011’s Thor is a visual marvel. Asgard has hardly looked better than it does in the film, with an ethereal look that makes it shine.
Thor must first be broken down as a character before the MCU can build him up to the formidable hero seen in Thor: Ragnarok and more entries.
The movie is the perfect MCU origin story for Thor. It delves into his arrogance and how his power and pride lead to his downfall. Thor must first be broken down as a character before the MCU can build him up to the formidable hero seen in Thor: Ragnarok and more entries. Thor also does a great job of setting up the romance with Jane Foster and how humanity changes the hero.
Related All 13 MCU Movies & Shows Starring The Original 6 Avengers, Ranked
The MCU’s original six Avengers have been part of many crossovers, but the team’s contribution to the franchise in solo entries is equally impressive.
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8 The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Non-MCU Movie Released In 2014
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In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Andrew Garfield returns to the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, dealing with balancing his life as a high school student and his responsibilities as a hero. After reconnecting with his old friend, Harry Osborn, Peter learns details regarding his late father’s mysterious past and begins to connect the dots that his father’s disappearance, the emergence of new supervillains, and other dark dealings in his city are all connected to Oscorp.
Director Marc Webb Release Date May 2, 2014 Cast Andrew Garfield , Felicity Jones , Chris Cooper , Emma Stone , Martin Sheen , Paul Giamatti , Sally Field , Jamie Foxx , Dane DeHaan Runtime 142 minutes
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 might be one of the most divisive entries on the list. Sure, it has multiple well-known problems, but the movie is not as bad as it has been painted over the years. The Amazing Spider-Man franchise has the best romance in all the different Spider-Man live-action properties. Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy and Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker have undeniable chemistry, and that relationship carries the movie to great heights.
Peter and Gwen’s love story and its tragic ending make for a gripping cinematic outing. While Electro and Green Goblin could have been better handled, the perfect execution of Gwen Stacy’s iconic death stands as one of the most iconic moments in superhero films. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 also has the best-looking CGI and swinging scenes of all Spider-Man movies, with Garfield delivering a charismatic, funny, and heartbreaking performance as Spider-Man.
Related The MCU Already Has The Perfect Way To Bring Back Tobey Maguire & Andrew Garfield In Spider-Man 4
Tom Holland will return in Spider-Man 4, and the MCU’s Multiverse Saga plans have created the perfect story for Garfield and Maguire to also return.
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7 The Marvels
MCU Movie Released In 2023
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The Marvels sees the long-awaited team-up of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) as the trio work together to find out how their powers have become inextricably linked. Acting as a sequel to both Captain Marvel (2019) and the Ms. Marvel television show, The Marvels is the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Director Nia DaCosta Release Date November 10, 2023 Cast Brie Larson , Zawe Ashton , Teyonah Parris , Iman Vellani , Samuel L. Jackson , Park Seo-joon , Zenobia Shroff , Mohan Kapur , Saagar Shaikh , Gary Lewis Runtime 105 Minutes
The Marvels is bound to be another controversial entry on the list. The movie fell spectacularly short of the original Captain Marvel‘s numbers, becoming the MCU’s biggest box office bomb. However, The Marvels is not nearly as bad as those numbers might make it seem. The truth of the matter is that the Captain Marvel sequel improves on the original in every way and had more people watched the film in theaters, they would also have realized it.
Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers is more charismatic in The Marvels. It is interesting to see how her emotional connection to Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau and her fun mentor relationship with Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel brings out different sides of the character. While The Marvels has a forgettable villain, the movie offers a fun, action-packed, cosmic adventure that feels fresh and sets up a new X-Men universe.
Related 10 Lowest-Grossing MCU Movies, Ranked From Worst To Best
The MCU has had some movies falter at the box office over the years, but that does not mean that all of them are bad, with good movies among them.
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6 The Wolverine
Non-MCU Movie Released In 2013
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Based on the 1982 comic event “Wolverine,” The Wolverine takes place after X-Men: The Last Stand and follows Logan on a journey to Japan at the behest of a former acquaintance. Living in isolation after the world-changing events in the prior movie and haunted by the death of the woman he loved, Logan is found and asked to travel to Japan to meet with a man named Ichiro, who he had saved during World War II. At the end of his life, Ichiro offers Logan a chance to free himself of his healing abilities to finally die by taking them for himself. However, Logan soon learns that Ichiro’s intentions for immortality are far less honorable than he had expected, leading him to struggle to face off with a former ally.
Director James Mangold Release Date July 26, 2013 Cast Famke Janssen , Will Yun Lee , Brian Tee , Hugh Jackman Runtime 2h 6m
The Wolverine is the most distinct of Hugh Jackman’s outings as Logan. The movie is often forgotten when talking about Wolverine’s live-action appearances, as it does not meet the heights of Logan or the lows of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. However, The Wolverine is a nice addition to the character’s live-action legacy, going for the tone of a samurai film, similar to how Logan went to Westerns for inspiration.
The film brings an interesting look at Wolverine’s past and the character’s immortality. The Wolverine also features a version of the Silver Samurai, with some exciting action sequences that include Logan fighting with his Adamantium — and later bone — claws against multiple characters with swords. The Wolverine is one of the darkest movies with Jackman’s character, and it serves as a nice exploration of Wolverine’s mind, his regrets, and his fears.
Related I’m Now Convinced The MCU’s Best Answer To Recasting Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Is Not Doing it
Hugh Jackman’s long tenure as Wolverine makes recasting the hero a nearly impossible task, and the solution to that might be the MCU not doing it.
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5 Black Widow
MCU Movie Released In 2021
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Black Widow is a film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War. This is the 24th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first solo film for Black Widow, one of the original six Avengers. The character previously appeared in seven MCU films, including all four Avengers movies. Black Widow was originally scheduled for May 2020 but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Director Cate Shortland Release Date July 9, 2021 Cast Scarlett Johansson , Florence Pugh , David Harbour , O-T Fagbenle , Olga Kurylenko , William Hurt , Ray Winstone , Rachel Weisz Runtime 134 minutes
Black Widow is often talked down due to its box office performance. However, were it not for the pandemic and the decision to release the movie in theaters and on Disney+’s Premier Access on the same day, Black Widow‘s box office could have been higher. While the movie came after Natasha Romanoff’s death in Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow did a great job of finally exploring the character’s past.
Natasha’s Red Room experience was jarring, with Black Widow’s introduction being quite heavy. Thankfully, the movie introduces a makeshift family for the character that is one of the best additions to the MCU. Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Melina Vostokoff’s MCU debuts help explain how Natasha slowly shifted away from the Red Room. The movie explores Black Widow’s trauma well, answering many questions from the past and setting up Yelena Belova as the possible next Black Widow, all with great action and character interactions.
Related I Know The Best Way For RDJ’s Doctor Doom To Bring Back The MCU’s Original Avengers
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4 Spider-Man 3
Non-MCU Movie Released In 2007
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The third film in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Spider-Man 3 sees the Marvel hero face some of his most iconic enemies. Peter Parker’s life is turned upside down by the arrival of an alien symbiote, even as his former friend Harry Osborn prepares to assume the mantle of the Green Goblin and his uncle’s killer gains superpowers after escaping from prison. Starring Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man alongside Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Topher Grace, and Thomas Haden Church.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date May 4, 2007 Cast Tobey Maguire , James Franco , Topher Grace , Bryce Dallas Howard , Kirsten Dunst , Rosemary Harris , J. K. Simmons , Thomas Haden Church , James Cromwell Runtime 139 minutes
Spider-Man 3 is the worst of Tobey Maguire’s movies as the wall-crawler. However, that does not mean that it is a bad film, as it has to go up with two of the best superhero movies of all time. Maguire’s Spider-Man franchise is iconic, helping establish Spider-Man as one of Marvel’s most popular characters in theaters and setting the stage for the MCU and other Marvel franchises.
There is no defending the movie’s handling of Peter Parker under the effects of the Venom symbiote, but at least the dance scene has now become extremely popular as a comedic moment.
It is well-known that director Sam Raimi did not want to include Venom in the movie, which is easy to see, as the villain leads to the worst parts of Spider-Man 3. However, the film is underrated, as there are still a lot of entertaining action scenes and, more importantly, many emotional moments to close out the trilogy. Harry Osborn’s villain stint, turn to the good side, and death are poignant events. Everything with Sandman also works, making the movie an impactful entry.
Related 20 Best Characters In Every Spider-Man Movie Franchise Ranked
The Maguire, Garfield, and Holland Spider-Man movies have brought many iconic comic book characters linked to Spidey to life, and some were the best.
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3 Ant-Man
MCU Movie Released In 2015
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Former S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) is alarmed when his protégé Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) announces his near success in replicating his shrinking technology. Representatives from HYDRA are looking to buy the suit that could cause massive destruction, and Hank must find a man who can successfully infiltrate a tightly guarded facility. After rigorous training with Pym and his daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), including the manipulation of a technologically advanced suit, control of ants, and physical fighting skills, ex-convict Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is chosen to become the new Ant-Man. Together with Hank, Hope, and his friends Luis (Michael Peña) and Dave (Tip Harris), Scott must fight with Darren, who has perfected his version of the suit called the Yellowjacket. Ant-Man is the twelfth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and acts as the final addition to Phase 2.
Director Peyton Reed Release Date July 14, 2015 Cast Paul Rudd , Michael Douglas , Corey Stoll , Evangeline Lilly , Bobby Cannavale , Anthony Mackie Runtime 117 minutes
The Ant-Man franchise is not one of the MCU’s biggest in terms of box office or impact on the overall shared universe, but that does not make it any less exciting. 2015’s Ant-Man is quite underrated, as the movie is one of the MCU’s funniest. Marvel nailed the use of the character’s powers, not only shrinking Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man or making him bigger, but also using the Pym Particles on various objects, vehicles, and more.
The perspective of the small Ant-Man against normal-sized objects and characters or altered objects with regular people leads to many fun and exciting sequences in the movie. Ant-Man is also a heist movie, first and foremost, and while many MCU films feel like major superhero epics, it is nice to have a different kind of focus now and then. Ant-Man is that palate cleanser before a new big event arrives.
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Related The MCU Has 4 Perfect Ways To Kill Off The Council Of Kangs To Make Room For Doctor Doom
While Doctor Doom is the Multiverse Saga’s new main villain, the MCU could still use the Council of Kangs’ death to set up multiple stories.
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2 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Non-MCU Movie Released In 2007
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Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is the only sequel to Tim Story’s 2005 introduction of Marvel’s First Family. Starring Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Chris Evans as the Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm a.k.a. The Thing, the 2007 superhero film marks the Silver Surfer’s live-action debut with Doug Jones portraying his motion capture and Laurence Fishburne providing his voice. The sequel also features Julian McMahon’s return as Doctor Doom and Galactus first big-screen appearance.
Director Tim Story Release Date June 15, 2007 Cast Chris Evans , Jessica Alba , Stan Lee , Ioan Gruffudd Runtime 92minutes
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is famously known for butchering Galactus, making him a cloud. However, there are still many positives in the movie. While nothing game-changing, the film brings back the excellent core cast from the first Fantastic Four movie, and all the stars seem to have even more chemistry this time around. The jokes between Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm and Michael Chiklis’ The Thing are a highlight.
While Galactus is not handled well, Doctor Doom gets some nice moments in the sequel, and the Silver Surfer is a great adaptation of the comic book character. The Fantastic Four sequel also presents a twist to the heroes’ powers that adds a new dynamic to the movie, with the Human Torch being able to switch powers with other characters or absorb them after coming into contact with the Silver Surfer. While not amazing, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer offers a fun adventure with charismatic characters.
Related I’m Furious With Deadpool & Wolverine For How It Treated Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm & His Ending
Chris Evans returned to the MCU as Johnny Storm — not Captain America — in Deadpool & Wolverine, and though it was a fun role, I disliked key choices.
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1 Avengers: Age of Ultron
MCU Movie Released In 2015
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In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Earth’s Mightiest must reunite and work with newcomers Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch to battle a new antagonist Ultron, who receives an all-new origin story while dealing with a new level of inner conflict amongst the team. Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch may not necessarily agree with The Avengers and initially blame Tony Stark for creating the new villain and the death of their parents. Avengers: Age of Ultron was directed and written by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige for Marvel Studios. The movie was released on April 13, 2015, followed by its eventual sequels, Avengers: Infinity War in 2018 and Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
Director Joss Whedon Release Date May 1, 2015 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Clark Gregg , Robert Downey Jr. , Cobie Smulders , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Jeremy Renner , Thomas Kretschmann , Chris Evans , Don Cheadle , Mark Ruffalo , Elizabeth Olsen , Scarlett Johansson , Paul Bettany , Samuel L. Jackson , James Spader Runtime 141 minutes Expand
Finally, closing out the list is Avengers: Age of Ultron. While the inferior entry among the Avengers movies, the project is better than several MCU entries. There are many excellent moments in Avengers: Age of Ultron, with the Avengers Tower party scene allowing the audience to spend a good time with the heroes outside of world-ending scenarios, which is a nice twist. Ultron is an intriguing villain, and his creation is handled well.
Avengers: Age of Ultron‘s problems stem from the movie being too ambitious. It tries to set up many threads for future projects, which do not all work. However, almost a decade after the movie’s release, the Avengers film works better on a rewatch, as one can spot all the setups that would be paid off in now-released projects. With major action set pieces, events that impact the MCU, exciting new characters, and great interactions among the Avengers: Age of Ultron is an underrated MCU entry.
All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies
-
Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025
- Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025
- The Fantastic Four (2025)
Release Date July 25, 2025
- Blade (2025)
Release Date November 7, 2025
- Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date May 1, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027
Captain America: Brave New World
Thunderbolts*
The Fantastic Four (2025)
Blade (2025)
Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Secret Wars