It's easy to think of superhero movies as just popcorn entertainment, not "truly" good movies. That's why it might come as a surprise for some people to learn that every single Marvel movie so far [1] — all 20 of them! — has earned a "certified fresh" rating from the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. The films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been praised for everything from their scripts to their world-building to their characters [2], and the best of them have been reviewed on par [3] with some of the top movies and have won major awards [4]. Ahead of this year's major Marvel releases [5], we've ranked all the Marvel movies so far by their review ratings — check it out and see where your favourite ranks!
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
The 2013 Thor sequel is the worst-reviewed movie over the course of the decade-long Marvel Cinematic Universe, mostly receiving criticism for simply having too much going on and lacking a compelling villain.
[6]66% [7]
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The Incredible Hulk had the misfortune of being a standard-issue superhero movie that happened to follow right on the heels of the very well-received Iron Man. With its hero played by Edward Norton [8] (who was later replaced by Mark Ruffalo [9] for the rest of the franchise), it just didn't quite click.
[10]67% [11]
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Although most reviewers praised the unusually dark, complex turn that Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark took in this sequel, the consensus seemed to be that it simply didn't live up to its sharp, smart predecessor.
[12]73% [13]
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Sequelitis struck the MCU again in the second team-up Avengers film. While most reviewers praised the snappy writing, the plot was often criticized for being overstuffed, and the character developments of some of our heroes weren't well-received in all corners.
[14]75% [15]
Thor (2011)
To the surprise of many, the epic, mythology-laden introduction of the Asgardian superhero was praised for the most part. Director Kenneth Branagh received plaudits for bringing his Shakespearean sensibilities to the film, while the cast of then-unknowns pulled off star-making performances.
[16]77% [17]
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
The film that finally set up for the first Avengers crossover was one of the only historical films in the MCU. Despite being criticized for being a little "square," the film and its stars were mostly well-received.
[18]80% [19]
Iron Man 3 (2013)
The Iron Man franchise bounced back from its disappointing second instalment with a snappy three-quel that brought in some of the series's classic twists and quippy dialogue — even with Stark's supersuit out of commission for part of the film!
[20]80% [21]
Ant-Man (2015)
The first Earth-bound Marvel film to not focus on one of the original Avengers, Ant-Man's witty capers earned respect from critics and audiences, in large part thanks to the charming lead performance of Paul Rudd [22].
[23]82% [24]
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017)
Much like its 2014 predecessor, the ensemble action comedy was praised for its quippy sensibilities and hilarious use of music. However, critical consensus was that the sequel lacked the originality and freshness of the first Guardians film.
[25]84% [26]
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
It was the ultimate Marvel crossover, bringing together all the disparate corners of the MCU to fight against the long-term villain Thanos. Although some critics commented that it was overstuffed and overly long, most praised the film's balancing act and emotional highs and lows [27].
[28]85% [29]
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
After the depressing, shocking ending of Infinity War, critics praised the return of quirky, lighter Marvel movies with Ant-Man and the Wasp. The film also made Marvel history as the first film in the MCU to have a female superhero in its title.
[30]88% [31]
Doctor Strange (2016)
The 2016 film introduced magic into the MCU, with mostly successful results. Despite some casting controversies, the film rode to good reviews on the quirkiness of the material and the performance of Benedict Cumberbatch.
[32]89% [33]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
It's the movie that blew up the MCU as we know it, while also kicking off a long-term emotional arc for one of its core heroes. The smart, tense thriller was highly praised for breaking the mold and taking risks that would have ripple effects on all future films and TV series.
[34]90% [35]
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
The 2014 space comedy was the first Marvel film to not feature any of the original Avengers, and despite this, it won some of the best reviews of the MCU as a whole. Its irreverent, snarky, gleeful tone earned praise from critics who were ready for something fresh in the superhero world.
[36]91% [37]
Captain America: Civil War
Pitting the MCU's heroes against each other was a risky — if frequently theorized about — move, but it resulted in one of the best films of the franchise. With moral complexity and a plot that lacked goofy MacGuffins or cartoonish villains, it received some serious praise from all corners while resetting the entire franchise.
[38]91% [39]
The Avengers (2012)
Packed with quippy, smart dialogue, character details, and a straightforward plot, the first Marvel crossover film set the bar high for the ever-expanding franchise with top-notch reviews.
[40]92% [41]
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
It was the third iteration of the web-slinging superhero in 15 years but the first one to tie in with other Marvel films. Most reviews applauded the movie for being a fun ride that winked at key parts of mythology without being a serious, mythology-heavy type of origin story.
[42]92% [43]
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Director Taika Waititi got the lion's share of the praise for this colourful, quirky film that shook off the straight-faced mythology of previous Thor instalments in favour of a madcap adventure that blended game-changing battles with fresh, modern humour.
[44]92% [45]
Iron Man (2008)
It's the one that started it all, and its stellar reviews proved that a superhero movie could also be just a really great movie. The original Iron Man garnered praise for its talented cast, smart and funny script, and socio-political commentary on the mid-2000s military-industrial complex.
[46]93% [47]
Black Panther (2018)
It should come as no surprise that the first superhero movie [48] to be nominated for the best picture Oscar is also the best-reviewed Marvel film of all time. From its nuanced story to its engageing characters to the visuals of the Wakandan world, the film received major praise across the board.
[49]97% [50]