Since 2008, Marvel Studios has released a lot of movies – 37 to be exact. With such a collection of films, there’s bound to be some deemed better than others. And with Marvel, fans have argued back and forth on which movies are ‘the best’ and which are ‘the worst.’
There are a lot of factors when considering which Marvel movies are the best. Each viewer is going to have their own opinion on the films. There is no true consensus to decide what is ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but there are common themes that we can look for. For these movies, we’ll look at ratings, box office statistics, and the cultural impacts these 6 movies had – or didn’t have.
The Best
Let’s start off on a positive note and look at the three movies fans and critics alike deem ‘the best’ out of Marvel’s franchise. These three films were received well by viewers, earned a high profit at the box office, and/or were genuinely viewed as welcomed installments to the series as a whole. The ranking of these three movies can change for many people’s personal opinions, but overall, these three are among the best.
Rotten Tomatoes released every Marvel movie based on their rating system, and it’s interesting to see what resides at the top and bottom of this list. While my list varies a bit, I did consider their rankings in my own.
1) Avengers: Endgame (2019)
I will never forget the cultural hype around this film when it was coming out. Everyone I knew was excited for this movie and for the jaw-dropping ending of Avengers: Infinity War to be rectified. The release of Infinity War and Endgame marked the culmination of every film in this long-running franchise at that point. Everything was leading up to that final battle with Thanos, and fans couldn’t wait to see what would happen.
Personally, I am more of an Infinity War fan when it comes to these two films, but I can’t deny the cultural impact Endgame had. From Captain America wielding Thor’s hammer to Tony Stark’s tragic death, Endgame signified the end of this chapter in Marvel’s series. In my opinion, Endgame also marked the decline of Marvel’s popularity and stronghold in media. How do you follow up a conclusion to a decade-long story arc?
Why it’s one of the best: Endgame stands out from the other films on this list because of its buildup. It was not a standalone film that introduced new characters and villains – it was the end goal for everything Marvel had been building up to for a decade. The stakes were highest, the loss was immeasurable, and audiences were entirely absorbed into this series. Not to mention that it was a goodbye to this batch of characters viewers had loved for ten years. The emotional weight of this final chapter hit people hard and cemented this film in a high place on many personal rankings.
Box office: $2,799,439,100
Rotten Tomatoes ratings: Critics scored this film 94%, and audiences scored it 90%.
2) Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther was hailed as one of the greatest Marvel films released the moment it came out. Not only was it the first Marvel film centered around a Black character, but everything about the film was so well done. The soundtrack was iconic, the new characters quickly became fan favorites, and the film introduced the fascinating country of Wakanda, a new setting for the franchise. Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan were phenomenal counterparts as T’Challa and Killmonger, but the ensemble cast was extraordinary as well. There was much to love about this film, and it comes as no surprise that it’s one of people’s favorites.
Black Panther is one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, and this film did him justice. Previously introduced in Captain America: Civil War (2016), fans quickly grew excited to see more of T’Challa. The film did not disappoint, and still stands as one of the strongest installments, even almost a decade later.
Why it’s one of the best: Black Panther had a huge cultural impact on audiences that can still be seen today. As Marvel’s first film with a Black protagonist and largely Black cast, this film brought a new wave of diversity and representation that the franchise had been lacking thus far. The care that went into telling this story can be seen from the acting, costume design, and the film’s message. Released before Infinity War and Endgame, the characters of Black Panther and Wakanda became important pieces for the franchise’s first major arc.
Box office: $1,346,913,171
Rotten Tomatoes ratings: Critics scored this film 96%, and audiences scored it 79%.
3) Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy is often one of the films people think of when they think of Marvel. James Gunn’s take on this relatively unknown group of misfits turned the Guardians into a household name. Paired with a killer soundtrack, this film quickly grew to be one of the fans’ favorites in the extensive franchise.
This film came out at the perfect time; Marvel was continuing to rise in popularity, entering its golden years of blockbuster movies. Guardians of the Galaxy was an entertaining, refreshing installment that took audiences off Earth and into the expanse of space. While Marvel was skilled at introducing group ensembles, like the Avengers, the Guardians felt fresh and different from their on-world counterparts. With
Why it’s one of the best: Guardians of the Galaxy introduced to us characters that would be vital for Marvel’s progression moving forward. They were integral players in the Infinity Saga and proved with each further appearance to be a strong, beloved group. The Guardians films feel different from other Marvel films, with the writing centering heavily on impactful themes such as family, fatherhood, and loss. While these movies are most remembered for their soundtracks or comedy, it’s important to remember the emotional weight these films carry as well. Guardians of the Galaxy highlights Marvel when it’s at its best.
Box office: $773,328,629
Rotten Tomatoes ratings: Critics scored this film 91%, and audiences scored it 92%.
The Worst
Similarly, with what’s viewed as the best, the three worst Marvel movies can differ from person to person. Not every film is going to appeal to viewers, so these three might not line up with your least favorite films. But there is a reason these films are commonly viewed as the worst Marvel has produced, and we’ll discuss why for each of these movies.
1) Thor: Love and Thunder
Personally, I was very excited for this movie to be released. The trailer looked fun, the visuals were colorful, and the story seemed to be an emotional one. Almost instantly, as the film began, though, I could sense some issues. I left the theater disappointed and eager to never hear those giant goats scream again.
Thor: Love and Thunder could have been a great movie. It had all the same elements as Thor: Ragnarok, but seemed to take everything that worked about that film and amplify it too much. The jokes weren’t funny, the characters were annoying, and the CGI was atrocious. The story itself wasn’t engaging, with most of the film trying desperately to get you to laugh.
Why it’s one of the worst: This film represents everything that was wrong about Marvel’s Phase 4. After the decade-long arc leading to the Infinity Saga, Marvel struggled with moving forward. The next few years, even now, depending on your opinion, would produce weak films that felt cheap and disconnected. Thor: Love and Thunder was just that. It felt like a parody of Ragnarok, just with worse visuals and no true purpose.
Box office: $760,928,081
Rotten Tomatoes ratings: Critics scored it 63%, and audiences scored it 76%.
2) Thor: Dark World
Once more, another Thor movie makes it to the bottom. Imperially, Thor: Dark World is not a terrible movie – it’s just mediocre. Being one of Marvel’s early releases highlighted the weaker aspects of this film that many people still hold on to. Marvel has a litany of movies, some good, others less so, but Thor: Dark World cemented itself early on as one of the weaker films the franchise had released.
Personally, this film never stood out to me. I didn’t hate it, it just never appealed to what I liked about Marvel. Many fans feel the same, often choosing to forget its existence. The story wasn’t as strong as other Marvel films released before it, making this movie feel bland in comparison. If anything, this film was a bit boring, which is not what you want from a superhero movie.
Why it’s one of the worst: Thor’s first two films are not often met with much excitement. Marvel was still establishing a style in the early years, and that is evident when you rewatch these two. There’s a different feeling than many of the later films, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your sensibilities. For Thor, audiences seemed to react better to him as portrayed in Thor: Ragnarok, and when looking back on this film, Dark World pales in comparison. As more movies are added to the series, it’s possible that Thor: Dark World will fade into the background, but for now, it’s still among people’s least favorite Marvel movies.
Box office: $644,571,402
Rotten Tomatoes ratings: Critics scored it 67%, and audiences scored it 74%.
3) Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Similar to Thor: Love and Thunder, this film was just another mediocre Marvel movie to be released. The Ant-Man films were never fan favorites, compared to the Guardians of the Galaxy or Captain America series, but they were somewhat enjoyable. The third installment
Why it’s one of the worst: When a franchise is struggling, mediocrity will not save it. Unfortunately, Ant-Man 3 was nothing special. The story was plain, the visuals weren’t as good as they should have been, and the hype surrounding Kang was nonexistent. While audiences enjoyed this film initially, it quickly faded into the background of people’s minds. With such a myriad of movies, I doubt this film will ever be viewed as one of the best.
Box office: $476,071,180
Rotten Tomatoes ratings: Critics scored it 46%, and audiences scored it 81%.
What really matters
Marvel is such a huge franchise that anyone can find something to enjoy about it – and that’s a great thing. Marvel’s huge series is ripe with opportunities for any person to enjoy this cinematic universe. Each viewer will find a character or movie that speaks to them, and that’s what makes Marvel appealing to so many people.
If you disagreed with anything I put on this list, that’s okay! Your personal 3 best and worst movies might not align with these, but as I said, that’s the great thing about Marvel. These movies speak to millions of people, and the connection between the story and the viewer is something truly special.
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