Is 2022 the worst year for Marvel movies ever? Here’s what the data says

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a cultural juggernaut since "Iron Man" came out in 2008. Since then, the 29 Marvel movies released in theaters have collectively grossed more than $27 billion worldwide at the box office. On top of that, the franchise has routinely put out well-received movies—MCU movies average a healthy Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 83%, per a Stacker analysis.

However, it's not been all sunny for the MCU recently. This year, both "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and "Thor: Love and Thunder" received mixed reviews from critics and fans. Last year had three of the five worst-grossing MCU movies of all time—although it's worth noting that movie revenues across the board were down in 2021 as COVID-19 continued to impact the industry.

The global box office market hit $21.3 billion in 2021, roughly half the $42.3 billion total earned in the last pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to numbers released by the Motion Picture Association.

Stacker analyzed numerous statistics behind MCU movies to better understand how rough Marvel's current run has been, using data from Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and The Numbers. Our findings lay ahead.

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Marvel movies generally review well, with all but one receiving a "fresh" status from Rotten Tomatoes and its critical review score, known as the "Tomatometer." The franchise also had an excellent run in recent years—from 2014 to 2019, no Marvel movie received a Tomatometer score below 75%.

However, since the start of the pandemic, troubling trends have arisen. In 2021, "Eternals" became the first Marvel movie dubbed "rotten" by Rotten Tomatoes with a 47% critical review score. This year, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and "Thor: Love and Thunder" both failed to break a 75% Tomatometer score. Such a feat made 2022 the first year in the MCU's 14-year history that two movies fell below 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.

There is still hope for Marvel to turn things around, though. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" releases Nov. 11, four years after 2018's "Black Panther" earned an MCU all-time high of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Based on Stacker's analysis, MCU sequels average a Tomatometer score 7 percentage points lower than their series' preceding movie. If the upcoming Black Panther sequel equals that average, it would still score a quite solid 89%. The trailer for the sequel nabbed 172 million views in just the first 24 hours of its release, which points to a lot of continued interest in Wakanda.

The tale of the MCU's scores on Metacritic tells a similar story. While Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer represents the percentage of positive critical reviews, Metacritic's critic scores are calculated slightly differently. Instead, Metacritic takes a weighted average of critic reviews to calculate its critic score, called "Metascore."

2022 marks the first year two MCU movies recorded a Metascore of 60 or below in the same calendar year—a very similar first to the 75% threshold we found for Rotten Tomatoes scores. And because there's only "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" left this year, it will be the first time since 2013 that the MCU has failed to chart at least two movies in a calendar year with a Metascore above 60. 2013 saw just two MCU releases overall, with "Iron Man 3" earning a Metascore of 62 and "Thor: Dark World" registering a 54.

Despite the review hiccups, MCU movies have still been quite the pull at the box office. 2021 and 2022 have averaged similar totals to years when no Avengers movie—Marvel's tentpole series around which other movies are built—has been released. Avengers movies came out in 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2019. All those years, except 2015, saw sharp increases in the MCU's worldwide box office averages. 

2021, as mentioned earlier, did have some low earners in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," "Eternals," and "Black Widow." However, the third MCU Spider-Man flick, "Spider-Man: No Way Home," largely saved the year with its $1.9 billion worldwide total. 

This year the MCU seems to be back up to its old tricks. The second Doctor Strange movie racked up $952 billion globally, and "Thor: Love and Thunder" nearly hit $750 million worldwide. Per The Numbers, "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness" is the second highest-grossing movie this year behind "Top Gun: Maverick," while "Thor: Love and Thunder" is ranked sixth. The box office of those two films equals a combined average of $850 million, just below the MCU's $866 million average in 2017 and above the $750 million the franchise averaged in 2021. 

So while the quality of Marvel's movie output may be below par as of late, there hasn't been a drop in earnings potential. The franchise is still raking in dollars rapidly with a reasonably solid post-2020 recovery. Whether or not review scores bounce back remains to be seen—we may get our first inkling, though, when "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" arrives in theaters next month.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe officially began in 2008 with the release of "Iron Man"—but Marvel has been in the movie business since 1986, with the release of the critical flop-turned fan-favorite "Howard the Duck." Since then, the MCU has churned out box-office hit after box-office hit, from "Black Panther" and "Thor: Ragnarok" to "Guardians of the Galaxy."

Revenues aside, though, which heroes have been the most popular with fans? Has the dawn of the MCU given viewers more to celebrate or has the glut of superhero movies led to "Avenger fatigue"?

Stacker used IMDb data to assemble a ranking of every Marvel feature released since its inaugural MCU film "Iron Man." Films are ranked according to their IMDb user rating with the total number of user votes considered in the event of a tie.

Keep reading to find out which Marvel movies had fans flying high, leaving them calling out for someone to save the day.

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- Director: Chloé Zhao

- IMDb user rating: 6.3

- Metascore: 52

- Runtime: 156 minutes

The Eternals arrived on Earth in the year 5000 B.C. to protect the planet from the villainous Deviants. The band of superheroes, having grown fond of humanity, remained on Earth ever since, which is fortunate for the planet since the Deviants return in the present day.

Some marquee celebrities among the cast include Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Kit Harington, and Richard Madden. "Eternals" is groundbreaking in several ways: Lauren Ridloff, a deaf actress, portrays a deaf female version of the Eternals superhero Makkari, becoming the first to do so; Phastos is the first MCU superhero depicted as openly gay; and Gilgamesh is the first superhero played by an actor of Korean descent.

- Director: Taika Waititi

- IMDb user rating: 6.5

- Metascore: 57

- Runtime: 118 minutes

The sequel to "Thor: Ragnarok" brings back Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, and Taika Waititi (who also co-wrote the script). Joining the star-studded cast are Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, and Jaimie Alexander.

In this installment, retirement for Thor (Hemsworth) is disturbed by Gorr the God Butcher (Bale). Thor embarks on an adventure to stop the villain with a little help from his friends King Valkyrie (Thompson), Korg (Waititi), and Jane Foster (Portman).

- Director: Louis Leterrier

- IMDb user rating: 6.6

- Metascore: 61

- Runtime: 112 minutes

In contrast to Ang Lee's 2003 take on Marvel's greenest, angriest hero, this 2008 film marks the first MCU entry following the success of "Iron Man." However, the film remains something of a dark horse among the MCU canon: Its star, Edward Norton, did not reprise his role in any subsequent MCU films and was eventually replaced by Mark Ruffalo.

- Director: Cate Shortland

- IMDb user rating: 6.7

- Metascore: 67

- Runtime: 134 minutes

The second MCU film with a female lead, "Black Widow" is one-part origin story, one-part solo mission set along the timeline between "Captain America: Civil War" and "Avengers: Infinity War."

The film follows Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) as she confronts the faces and places of her past apart from her identity as an Avenger and an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. "Black Widow" is the first film of Phase Four of the MCU. Johansson sued Disney following the simultaneous release of "Black Widow" in theaters and on Disney+ in July 2021, claiming the dual release was a breach of contract. The lawsuit was settled in October 2021 with undisclosed terms.

- Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

- IMDb user rating: 6.8

- Metascore: 64

- Runtime: 123 minutes

At the time of its release, "Captain Marvel" was the first movie in the MCU centered on a female superhero. Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), also called Vers, is an elite, rebellious warrior from the planet Hala who sets out on a mission to end the Kree-Skrull War. In the process, she uncovers her origin story on Earth.

Viewers nostalgic for the '90s will appreciate the film's homage to the decade via grunge-inspired wardrobe, tones of irreverence, and outspoken feminism. Not all viewers were open-minded about a female lead and an actress promoting feminism in the MCU and Hollywood more broadly. Internet trolls were quick to lambaste Larson and the film with misogynistic comments. Despite the negativity, "Captain Marvel" grossed $1.2 billion worldwide.

- Director: Alan Taylor

- IMDb user rating: 6.8

- Metascore: 54

- Runtime: 112 minutes

In this sequel to 2011's "Thor," the golden-haired Norse god teams up with his mischievous brother Loki to save the universe from evil dark elves. Critics felt Tom Hiddleston stole the show as the sly downtrodden Loki, standing out among an all-star cast that included Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, and Idris Elba.

Despite mixed reviews, "Thor: The Dark World" grossed nearly $650 million worldwide.

- Director: Jon Favreau

- IMDb user rating: 6.9

- Metascore: 57

- Runtime: 124 minutes

Just as the real world was starting to get used to the idea of the MCU's regularly scheduled superhero blockbusters, "Iron Man 2" depicts Tony Stark's struggle to adjust to his new life as a privately funded vigilante. In addition to an all-star cast including Robert Downey Jr. Gwyneth Paltrow, and Don Cheadle, the film had some superpowers behind the camera. The high-flying sequel was directed by Jon Favreau ("Rudy," "Swingers") and acclaimed screenwriter Justin Theroux wrote the screenplay.

- Director: Joe Johnston

- IMDb user rating: 6.9

- Metascore: 66

- Runtime: 124 minutes

Captain America's origin story—and introduction to the MCU—takes viewers back to 1941 as the Avengers' leader leads the Allies to victory in World War II. Two Captain America sequels, three Avengers films, and millions of dollars later, it's hard to believe that the film's starter Chris Evans originally turned down the part three times.

- Director: Sam Raimi

- IMDb user rating: 7.0

- Metascore: 60

- Runtime: 126 minutes

The MCU's 28th film, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" serves as Phase Four's tenth installment and follows "Doctor Strange," "Avengers: Endgame," "WandaVision," and "Spider-Man: No Way Home." Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Stephen Stranch/Doctor Strange as he voyages across multiverses to fight villains—including alt-versions of himself from galaxies away.

- Director: Peyton Reed

- IMDb user rating: 7.0

- Metascore: 70

- Runtime: 118 minutes

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) gets a second movie after the comedic success of 2015's "Ant-Man." But this time, he is joined by Evangeline Lilly as the Wasp. Also known as Hope Van Dyne, the Wasp is not the original from the comics (Janet Van Dyne), but rather her daughter.

- Director: Kenneth Branagh

- IMDb user rating: 7.0

- Metascore: 57

- Runtime: 115 minutes

Thor's 2011 introduction to the MCU skirts the conventional origin story in favor of a family drama of godlike proportions. After being kicked out of his palace by his father, Odin, Thor must prove himself worthy of his powers by battling Loki, his conniving half-brother. The film grossed nearly $450 million worldwide, securing Chris Hemsworth's seat on the MCU throne for many sequels to come.

- Director: Shane Black

- IMDb user rating: 7.1

- Metascore: 62

- Runtime: 130 minutes

The final film of Marvel's "Iron Man" trilogy once again had Robert Downey Jr. flying into uncharted territory. It was the first MCU film released after the legendary team-up that was 2012's "The Avengers," and its star handled this pressure with Tony Stark's devil-may-care aplomb—ordering rewrites of his scenes throughout the filming process.

- Director: Peyton Reed

- IMDb user rating: 7.3

- Metascore: 64

- Runtime: 117 minutes

Despite its 2015 release date, "Ant-Man" had been in development since 2006—when "Baby Driver" director Edgar Wright expressed interest in bringing Marvel's tiniest hero to the big screen. But in a shocking turn, Wright left the project in 2014, citing creative differences with Marvel. Despite this, the size-changing superhero heist was a hit in it grossed more than $500 million worldwide and paved the way for the 2018 sequel, "Ant-Man and the Wasp."

- Director: Ryan Coogler

- IMDb user rating: 7.3

- Metascore: 88

- Runtime: 134 minutes

After Black Panther's appearance in "Captain America: Civil War," fans clamored for more of Chadwick Boseman's Wakandan monarch. This 2018 release did not disappoint. In addition to becoming the third-highest-grossing film of all time in the United States, the film's plot, director Ryan Coogler, and majority-Black cast were lauded by critics as a major step forward for minority representation in film.

- Director: Joss Whedon

- IMDb user rating: 7.3

- Metascore: 66

- Runtime: 141 minutes

The second Avengers movie finds the team battling among themselves as one of Tony Stark's creations goes awry, threatening to destroy not just the Avengers but all of humanity. After finishing the film, director Joss Whedon left the "Avengers" franchise behind, citing fatigue from trying to make a film that met Marvel's strict plot requirements.

- Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

- IMDb user rating: 7.4

- Metascore: 71

- Runtime: 132 minutes

In this film, the titular character Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) is a powerful fighter who is forced to confront his past and his family's involvement with the Ten Rings—powerful objects that grant immortality.

There is a pattern of Marvel movies being criticized as unoriginal, predictable, and shallow. However, many critics felt "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" was the first MCU film in a long time to break that cycle, regarding it as soulful, complex, and distinct. Despite being Marvel's first superhero of Asian descent to hit the big screen and being well-received among many Asian communities, the film was not approved for release or distribution in China due to concerns over stereotypes from the 1973 comic upon which "Shang-Chi" is based.

- Director: Jon Watts

- IMDb user rating: 7.4

- Metascore: 69

- Runtime: 129 minutes

In the second installment of the Tom Holland-era Spider-Man films, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) must save Earth from the Elementals—monsters who take the form of Earth, air, fire, and water—with the help of an extraterrestrial hero named "Mysterio" (Jake Gyllenhaal). The film, which grossed $1.13 billion worldwide, received mixed reviews from fans and critics.

- Director: Jon Watts

- IMDb user rating: 7.4

- Metascore: 73

- Runtime: 133 minutes

Tom Holland's first outing as Spider-Man picks up where "Captain America: Civil War" left off, with the young web-slinger still learning the ropes of his new powers under the stern tutelage of Iron Man. Holland claimed his portrayal of Peter Parker focused on the 15-year-old hero's youthful naiveté, which clearly won over the hearts of fans: The film grossed more than $800 million at the box office worldwide.

- Director: Scott Derrickson

- IMDb user rating: 7.5

- Metascore: 72

- Runtime: 115 minutes

"Doctor Strange" tells the story of Dr. Steven Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) as he goes from arrogant surgeon to reality-bending wizard. Although the film grossed more than $650 million at the box office worldwide and received an Oscar nomination for special effects, controversy followed the film's casting.

- Director: James Gunn

- IMDb user rating: 7.6

- Metascore: 67

- Runtime: 136 minutes

The sequel to 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy" sees Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and the gang struggle to function as a superhero team in light of their individual family issues—including the arrival of Quill's father, Ego (Kurt Russell). True to the over-the-top nature of Marvel's intergalactic crime fighters, this film features five mid- and post-credits scenes—more than any other Marvel film.

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

- IMDb user rating: 7.8

- Metascore: 75

- Runtime: 147 minutes

The friendships forged among the heroes of the MCU are tested in this film as Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) lead separate factions against each other in response to governmental legislation of superheroes. In addition to massive success at the box office—it was the third highest-grossing film of 2016—the third Captain America flick features another accomplishment: the famous airport battle among the film's protagonists was shot almost entirely digitally.

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

- IMDb user rating: 7.8

- Metascore: 70

- Runtime: 136 minutes

This second film of the Captain America series marked the first MCU film directed by Joe and Anthony Russo; the brothers later helmed smash hits "Captain America: Civil War" and "Avengers: Infinity War." They weren't the only key players to be introduced in this film: through his portrayal of Cap's old friend-turned-rival, Bucky Barnes actor Sebastian Stan's contract with Marvel runs for nine films.

- Director: Taika Waititi

- IMDb user rating: 7.9

- Metascore: 74

- Runtime: 130 minutes

The sequel to "Thor: The Dark World" was full of changes for fans of the God of Thunder, not the least of which was actor Chris Hemsworth's new shorter hairstyle. Despite these changes, fans praised the film's comedic tone that was largely attributed to New Zealand director Taika Waititi.

- Director: Jon Favreau

- IMDb user rating: 7.9

- Metascore: 79

- Runtime: 126 minutes

As the first film of the MCU, this origin story of Tony Stark's metal-suited hero introduced now-familiar MCU fixtures like Stan Lee cameos, post-credits sequences, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Surprisingly, as the film is the basis for the rest of the cinematic universe, much of the film's dialogue was improvised by the actors.

- Director: James Gunn

- IMDb user rating: 8.0

- Metascore: 76

- Runtime: 121 minutes

This intergalactic adventure film was a breakout role for former "Parks and Recreation" actor Chris Pratt, who lost 60 pounds to portray the immature rogue Peter Quill. Additionally, the film's soundtrack comprised of pop hits from the '60s and '70s was the first soundtrack without any new songs to land the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart.

- Director: Joss Whedon

- IMDb user rating: 8.0

- Metascore: 69

- Runtime: 143 minutes

This ensemble superhero film was an unprecedented hit for Marvel, bringing in more than $1 billion at the box office. However, the process that brought "The Avengers" and all its preceding standalone films to the big screen was a gamble: Marvel offered the movie rights to its "Iron Man," "Captain America," "Hulk," and "Thor" as collateral to receive funding from Merrill Lynch.

- Director: Jon Watts

- IMDb user rating: 8.3

- Metascore: 71

- Runtime: 148 minutes

The third part of the latest Spider-Man series sees Peter Parker (Tom Holland) seek help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in keeping his identity a secret after being exposed posthumously by Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal). Following the course of many films on this list, "No Way Home" received wildly mixed reviews but managed to rake in the cash—$1.13 billion in box office sales alone—nonetheless.

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

- IMDb user rating: 8.4

- Metascore: 68

- Runtime: 149 minutes

This Avengers film earned the title of the fourth highest-grossing film of all time. In order to keep important details from leaking before the film's premiere, directors Joe and Anthony Russo included fake scenes in actors' scripts—to the point that, at the time of the premiere, some of the film's actors didn't know the complete plot.

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

- IMDb user rating: 8.4

- Metascore: 78

- Runtime: 181 minutes

"Avengers: Endgame" is the culmination of MCU Phases One, Two, and Three—the final chapter of a 10-year saga. In the finale, the Avengers and other remaining MCU heroes embark on a mission using quantum mechanics in an attempt to bring back those who were snapped away by Thanos.

After bringing in nearly $2.8 billion globally, "Avengers: Endgame supplanted "Avatar" to become the highest-grossing film of all time—for a little while, at least. In March 2021, "Avatar" was re-released in China, earning $50 million—enough to reclaim the #1 spot.