Every Marvel movie, ranked worst to best

With “Avengers: Infinity War” breaking box office records the world over Marvel is at the top of the superhero game. The multi-hero blockbuster makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe the highest-grossing franchise of all time and with another three films slated for 2019 release they’re not slowing down anytime soon.

Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe officially began in 2007 with the release of “Iron Man” Marvel has been in the movie business since 1986—with the release of the critical flop turned fan-favorite “Howard the Duck.”

Putting revenues aside, which heroes have been the most popular with fans? Has the dawn of the MCU given them more to celebrate or has the glut of superhero movies led to “Avenger fatigue?”

Using data from IMDb, Stacker has assembled a ranking of every live-action movie released by Marvel. This includes all MCU films the X-Men and Spider-Man franchises as well as one-off features like “Electra” and “Punisher: War Zone.” Each film is ranked according to its IMDb user rating with the total number of user votes considered in the event of a tie. Read on to find out which Marvel movies had fans flying high and which left them calling out for someone to save the day.

RELATED: Click here to see our 100 best action movies of all time

IMDb rating: 3.3

Director: Albert Pyun

Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

This direct-to-video release tells the origin story of Marvel’s most patriotic hero as he awakens from a frozen coma to battle the evil Red Skull. Despite being the first cinematic depiction of Captain America this film is most notable for its low budget and its star being the son of “Catcher in the Rye” author J.D. Salinger. The film’s poor reputation has not deterred its director Albert Pyun who continues to make low-budget action flicks in the same vein.

IMDb rating: 3.7

Director: Rod Hardy

Runtime: 2 hours

Before Samuel L. Jackson became known as the no-nonsense one-eyed leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. the eyepatch was donned by none other than former “Baywatch” star David Hasselhoff. In this TV movie the super-spy comes out of retirement for one last battle against HYDRA. Although this particular mission didn’t go over well with fans Hasselhoff would later make a return to the MCU—with a cameo as himself in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”

IMDb rating: 3.9

Director: Oley Sassone

Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes

Despite its low rating this attempt to make a movie about Marvel’s most famous family has garnered has garnered a great deal of publicity considering it was never meant for theatrical release. In what would become a recurring trend for Marvel this film famously failed to meet fans’ expectations of what a Fantastic Four origin story should be—to the point where a separate film has been made to document the demise of this secret project

IMDb rating: 4.0

Director: Brett Leonard

Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

This little-known horror take on the superhero film centers around the attempts of a Florida sheriff who must investigate the rumors of the titular murderous swamp creature. It premiered on the Sci-Fi channel (now SyFy) followed by a limited international theatrical release grossing less than $150000. In retrospect the film’s failure isn’t too surprising; even its creators were skeptical of the swamp monster’s potential during filming.

IMDb rating: 4.3

Directors: Mark Neveldine Brian Taylor

Runtime: 1 hour 36 minutes

The sequel to 2007’s “Ghost Rider” finds protagonist Johnny Blaze doing battle with Satan himself in order to exorcise his titular alter ego. Although the film’s box office failure spelled the end of the Ghost Rider series star Nicholas Cage has advocated for a grittier R-rated reboot in the vein of “Deadpool.”

IMDb rating: 4.3

Director: Josh Trank

Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes

Despite its star-studded cast the most recent attempt to revive the Fantastic Four franchise hasn’t done much better than any of its counterparts. In this instance the retelling of the Fantastic Four’s origin story was marred by disagreements between director Josh Trank and 20th Century Fox. It later cleaned up at the infamous Golden Raspberry Awards receiving awards for Worst Director and a tie for Worst Picture.

IMDb rating: 4.6

Director: Willard Huyck

Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes

The hero of Marvel’s first official theatrical release had neither a cape nor a mask—but he did have webbed feet and an orange bill. “Howard the Duck” follows the profane waterfowl from Duckworld as he struggles to save Earth from an intergalactic invasion. Although the film was a flop back in 1986 cameos in both “Guardians of the Galaxy” films have led to a renewed interest in the character—although Guardians director James Gunn has publicly dispelled rumors of a reboot.

IMDb rating: 4.7

Director: Rob Bowman

Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

This spinoff of 2003’s “Daredevil” follows female assassin Elektra (Jennifer Garner) as she tries to protect a father-daughter duo from rival mercenaries. The film has faded into obscurity in the wake of today’s superhero boom.

IMDb rating: 5.2

Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes

The 2007 origin story of Marvel’s fiery supernatural motorcyclist grossed almost $230 million at the box office which was enough to warrant a sequel in 2011. However the character’s appearance on Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” hints that Johnny Blaze won’t be returning to the big screen anytime soon.

IMDb rating: 5.3

Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes

Despite arguably laying the groundwork for the current crop of Marvel movies Ben Affleck’s turn as the blind lawyer-turned-crime fighter has not been remembered fondly. Fortunately fans of Matt Murdock’s red-suited alter ego can get their fix for the character on the critically acclaimed Netflix series. 

IMDb rating: 5.6

Director: Tim Story

Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes

In this sequel to 2005’s “Fantastic Four” the superhero family teams up once again to prevent the mysterious Silver Surfer from destroying planet Earth. Although this film is the only sequel to any of the “Fantastic Four” movies it didn’t perform well enough to warrant a third film—signaling another bitter defeat for the Fantastic Four’s movie career.

IMDb rating: 5.7

Director: Mark Goldblatt

Runtime: 1 hour 29 minutes

Ironically Marvel’s first “superhero” movie centers on one of the company’s most violent characters. Similar to "Daredevil" the film’s reputation has been usurped by the Netflix show “Punisher” but some fans still wax nostalgic about this direct-to-video quintessentially '80s superhero drama.

IMDb rating: 5.7

Director: Ang Lee

Runtime: 2 hours 18 minutes

Director Ang Lee’s arthouse style led to a unique take on the superhero movie that still has fans polarized. Although the Hulk would be rebooted in theaters five years later in “The Incredible Hulk” no one was more disappointed that the film flopped than The Hulk himself.

IMDb rating: 5.7

Director: Tim Story

Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes

2005 saw the first Fantastic Four film to receive an official cinematic release. Although this origin story was the only Fantastic Four film to do well enough at the box office to warrant a sequel it was not a favorite of critics. The only hero to escape from the wreckage was actor Chris Evans who would later lead the Avengers as the MCU’s Captain America.

IMDb rating: 5.9

Director: David S. Goyer

Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes

In the final film of the “Blade” trilogy the no-nonsense vampire hunter goes toe-to-toe with Dracula while on the run from the FBI. Although “Blade III” failed to meet the critical and commercial highs of its predecessor it’s notable for the casting of Ryan Reynolds as Hannibal King. Reynolds would be no stranger to high-flying franchises in the years to follow starring in both the unsuccessful “Green Lantern” and the box office smash “Deadpool.”

IMDb rating: 6.0

Director: Lexi Alexander

Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes

This reboot of 2004’s “The Punisher” did little to help get Marvel’s violent veteran off the ground. At the time of release it was the lowest-grossing Marvel movie ever made returning only $10 million of its $35 million budget.

IMDb rating: 6.2

Director: Sam Raimi

Runtime: 2 hours 19 minutes

In the final film of Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy Peter Parker has to juggle his newfound celebrity with his developing relationship with Mary Jane Watson all while doing battle with three of the series’ most beloved villains: Sandman Venom and Green Goblin. While the film was mocked for its ridiculous plot at the time of its release some fans have come to applaud Raimi’s ambition if not his execution.

IMDb rating: 6.5

Director: Jonathan Hensleigh

Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes

“The Punisher” marked the first theatrical appearance of Frank Castle’s violent alter ego since 1989. Although Marvel planned to release a sequel it was scrapped after director Jonathan Hensleigh and star Thomas Jane left the project citing creative differences. The planned sequel became the 2008 reboot “Punisher: War Zone.”

IMDb rating: 6.6

Director: Gavin Hood

Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes

This first spin-off of the “X-Men” franchise tells the tale of how Hugh Jackman’s mutant got his iconic metal claws. Despite a successful box office gross and multiple sequels “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is most notable today for Ryan Reynolds’ appearance as Deadpool although Reynolds would later mock this cameo in the anti-hero’s 2016 film.

IMDb rating: 6.7

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes

In the sequel to 1998’s “Blade” the half-human half-vampire assassin battles a gang of vampire mutants who threaten to wipe out both humans and vampires. The film was directed by future Best Picture winner Guillermo del Toro whose success with “Blade II” led to later blockbusters like “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “Hellboy.”

IMDb rating: 6.7

Director: Marc Webb

Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes

Riding high off the success of 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” Sony planned to use this sequel to spawn a franchise based around Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of the friendly neighborhood superhero. However after this film become the lowest-grossing Spider-Man movie of all time this plan was scrapped. Through a deal between Marvel and Sony Spider-Man began appearing in MCU films this time with newcomer Tom Holland under the mask.

IMDb rating: 6.7

Director: James Mangold

Runtime: 2 hours 6 minutes

In the second installment of the trilogy of Wolverine spin-offs Wolverine travels to Japan in an effort to cope with the events depicted in “X-Men: The Last Stand.” Director Darren Aronofsky (“Requiem for a Dream” “Mother!”) was originally hired to direct the film but he resigned before filming began. James Mangold who would later direct the wildly successful follow-up “Logan” was hired to replace him.

IMDb rating: 6.7

Director: Brett Ratner

Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes

“X-Men: The Last Stand” closes out the original X-Men film trilogy with a war among the mutants following the discovery of a cure for their powers. Although the film was the highest-grossing entry in the franchise at the time of release its dual plot lines were the result of creative differences between its writers and the studio—resulting in a conclusion that left many fans unhappy.

IMDb rating: 6.8

Director: Louis Leterrier

Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes

In contrast to Ang Lee’s 2003 take on Marvel’s greenest angriest hero this 2008 film marks the first entry in the MCU after the success of “Iron Man.” However the film remains something of a dark horse among the MCU canon; Edward Norton did not reprise his role in any future MCU film and was replaced by Mark Ruffalo.

IMDb rating: 6.9

Director: Joe Johnston

Runtime: 2 hours 4 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 actor Chris Evans originally turned down the part three times.

IMDb rating: 7.0

Director: Bryan Singer

Runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes

“X-Men: Apocalypse” continues the time-bending series of X-Men films that started in “X-Men: First Class” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” At the time of release critics predicted this ninth film in the X-Men series could finally spell the end for the franchise but fans of Charles Xavier’s mutant students have nothing to fear. Another sequel “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” will hit theaters in 2019.

IMDb rating: 7.0

Director: Alan Taylor

Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes

In the 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 that Tom Hiddleston stole the show as the sly downtrodden Loki standing out among an all-star cast including Natalie Portman Anthony Hopkins and Idris Elba. Despite the mixed reviews “Thor: The Dark World” grossed nearly $650 million worldwide.

IMDb rating: 7.0

Director: Marc Webb

Runtime: 2 hours 16 minutes

Ten years after the premiere of Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” Andrew Garfield swung onto the screen to reinvigorate the franchise after the critical failure of Raimi’s “Spider-Man 3.” The film sparked a heated debate among fans as to whether Garfield’s portrayal of the wall-crawler from NYC surpasses Tobey Maguire's turn in Raimi’s series of films. This battle only got more complicated when Tom Holland entered the mix in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War” giving fans plenty to keep their Spidey-senses tingling.

IMDb rating: 7.0

Director: Jon Favreau

Runtime: 2 hours 4 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.

IMDb rating: 7.0

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Runtime: 1 hour 55 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 ensuring that Chris Hemsworth’s seat on the MCU throne would be secure for many sequels to come.

IMDb rating: 7.1

Director: Stephen Norrington

Runtime: 2 hours

The first film to feature Wesley Snipes’ grizzled vampire hunter was Marvel’s first cinematic success leading to two sequels and the emergence of the superhero genre as fans know it today. Although Blade has been absent from theaters since 2004’s “Blade: Trinity” Snipes has hinted that he would be open to picking up the sword once again to reprise the role.

IMDb rating: 7.2

Director: Shane Black

Runtime: 2 hours 10 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.

IMDb rating: 7.3

Director: Peyton Reed

Runtime: 1 hour 57 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 theaters grossing over $500 million worldwide and paving the way for this year’s sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”

IMDb rating: 7.3

Director: Sam Raimi

Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes

The sequel to Sam Raimi’s hugely successful “Spider-Man” showed Hollywood how a successful superhero sequel should be made. Depicting Peter Parker’s struggle to live a life of heroic responsibility while still maintaining his personal relationships the film was a critical and commercial smash upon its release in 2004. Even amidst the big-budget success of the MCU years later fans still consider “Spider-Man 2” to be one of the highlights of the superhero genre.

IMDb rating: 7.3

Director: Sam Raimi

Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute

Although this 2002 release now stands among a plethora of sequels and reboots “Spider-Man” was a blockbuster like no other at the time of its release becoming the first film to gross more than $100 million worldwide in its opening weekend. Tobey Maguire Kirsten Dunst and James Franco would lead the franchise through two more sequels but this 2002 outing is still remembered by fans as the film where the wall-crawling fun began.

IMDb rating: 7.4

Director: Bryan Singer

Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes

Twelve years before the Avengers would famously team up onscreen Bryan Singer brought Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters to life through this 2000 origin story. After two sequels and two spin-off series it’s easy to forget that at the time this super-powered drama starring English theatre actors Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen alongside a then-unknown Hugh Jackman was a radial twist on the genre.

IMDb rating: 7.4

Director: Joss Whedon

Runtime: 2 hours 21 minutes

The second Avengers movie finds the team battling amongst 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.

IMDb rating: 7.5

Director: Jon Watts

Runtime: 2 hours 13 minutes

Tom Holland’s first outing as Spider-Man picks up where “Captain America: Civil War” left off with the young webslinger 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 leading the film to gross more than $800 million at the box office worldwide.

IMDb rating: 7.5

Director: Ryan Coogler

Runtime: 2 hours 14 minutes

After Black Panther’s appearance in “Captain America: Civil War” fans were clamoring for more of Chadwick Boseman’s Wakandan monarch. Fortunately 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 black director and majority-black cast were lauded by critics as a major step forward for minority representation in film.

IMDb rating: 7.5

Director: Scott Derrickson

Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes

“Doctor Strange” tells the story of Dr. Steven Strange as he goes from arrogant surgeon to reality-bending wizard. Although the film grossed over $650 million at the box office worldwide and received an Oscar nomination for special effects controversy surrounded the film’s casting.

IMDb rating: 7.5

Director: Bryan Singer

Runtime: 2 hours 14 minutes

In the second film of the now-ubiquitous “X-Men” franchise the mutants must work together to stop the evil Colonel William Stryker from eradicating all of Earth’s mutants. This highly anticipated sequel was a milestone for the genre: its 93-country debut was the largest international opening ever at the time of release. 

IMDb rating: 7.7

Director: James Gunn

Runtime: 2 hours 16 minutes

The sequel to 2014’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” sees Peter Quill 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. 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.

IMDb rating: 7.8

Director: Peyton Reed

Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes

Scott Lang, played by the hilarious Paul Rudd, gets a second movie after the comedic success of "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 her daughter. 

IMDb rating: 7.8

Directors: Anthony Russo Joe Russo

Runtime: 2 hours 27 minutes

The friendships forged among the heroes of the MCU are tested in this film as Captain America and Iron Man lead separate factions against each other in response to governmental legislation of superheroes. In addition to massive success at the box office—it would become 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.

IMDb rating: 7.8

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Runtime: 2 hours 11 minutes

After the epic battles of the original X-Men series and the deep character work of its Wolverine spin-offs there was only one direction for the franchise to go: backward. The film follows Charles Xavier and Magneto during the Cuban Missile Crisis of the '60s as they begin the complicated friendship that will lead to the events of the first three X-Men films.

IMDb rating: 7.8

Directors: Anthony Russo Joe Russo

Runtime: 2 hours 16 minutes

This second film of the Captain America series marked the first MCU film directed by Joe and Anthony Russo; the brothers would later helm the 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 will run for a grand total of nine films.

IMDb rating: 7.9

Director: Taika Waititi

Runtime: 2 hours 10 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—which was largely attributed to New Zealand director Taika Waititi.

IMDb rating: 7.9

Director: Jon Favreau

Runtime: 2 hours 6 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.

IMDb rating: 8.0

Director: Bryan Singer

Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender do the time warp again in this sequel to both “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “X-Men: First Class.” In order to prevent an apocalyptic attack on present-day Earth Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine travels back in time to the 1970s where he encounters younger versions of Charles Xavier and Magneto.

IMDb rating: 8.0

Director: Tim Miller

Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes

Although Deadpool’s on-screen debut occurred in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” audiences wouldn’t get to see the origin story of Marvel’s infamous Merc With a Mouth until this 2016 film. Ryan Reynolds’ fourth-wall-breaking take on the superhero story was a hit at the box office where it became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.

IMDb rating: 8.1

Director: David Leitch

Runtime: 1 hour 59 minutes

The sequel to 2016’s “Deadpool” finds the wise-cracking hero trying to become more responsible. Unfortunately his mission to protect a young mutant is complicated by the arrival of Cable a cybernetic soldier with a grudge against Deadpool’s young charge.

IMDb rating: 8.1

Director: James Mangold

Runtime: 2 hours 17 minutes

Hugh Jackman gives his last performance as Wolverine in the conclusion to the metal-clawed mutant’s trilogy of spin-off films. With a dark violent tone inspired by old Western films “Logan” made history as the first superhero film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

IMDb rating: 8.1

Director: James Gunn

Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute

This intergalactic adventure film was a breakout role for former “Parks and Rec” 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 charts.

IMDb rating: 8.1

Director: Joss Whedon

Runtime: 2 hours 23 minutes

This ensemble superhero film was an unprecedented hit for Marvel bringing in over $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.

IMDb rating: 8.8

Directors: Anthony Russo Joe Russo

Runtime: 2 hours 29 minutes

The most recent Avengers film has already become Marvel’s biggest success having earned the title of the 4th 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 even know the complete plot.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has officially entered Phase Four. From “Iron Man” to “Avengers: Endgame,” 22 movies and a decade of interconnected storytelling comprised Phases One, Two, and Three. While some people may lament that this new phase means closing the door on several of the most beloved characters in the MCU, nostalgia shouldn’t cloud your excitement of what’s to come. 

On the horizon are sequels including “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “The Marvels,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” And that’s not even counting all of the original series that have been or are slated to be released in Phase Four. 

With the most recent releases, we have seen groundbreaking new visions within the context of the MCU, including two films focused on female superheroes, the first deaf, openly gay, and Asian superheroes, and the first Marvel film with a predominantly Asian cast. 

Although the MCU officially began in 2008 with the release of “Iron Man,” Marvel has been in the movie business since 1986, with the release of the critical flop-turned fan-favorite “Howard the Duck.” Revenues aside, though, which heroes have been the most popular with fans? Has the dawn of the MCU given them more to celebrate or has the glut of superhero movies led to “Avenger fatigue?”

Using data from IMDb, Stacker assembled a ranking of every Marvel feature that’s been released since “Iron Man,” the inaugural MCU film. Films are ranked according to their IMDb user rating with the total number of user votes considered in the event of a tie. Read on to find out which Marvel movies had fans flying high and which left them calling out for someone to save the day.

You may also like: 50 best space movies of all time

- 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 entry in the MCU after 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 future MCU film afterward and was later 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 part origin story, part solo mission, set along the timeline between “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” The film follows Natasha Romanoff, portrayed by 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 would sue 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, which stated her compensation would be based in part on the film’s exclusive performance in theaters. The lawsuit was settled in October 2021 but the terms of that settlement were not disclosed.

- Director: Chloé Zhao

- IMDb user rating: 6.8

- Metascore: 52

- Runtime: 156 minutes

The Eternals arrived on Earth in the year 5000 BC 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 a number of 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.

- 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, also called Vers, portrayed by Brie Larson, is an elite, rebellious warrior from the planet Hala who sets out on a mission to end the Kree-Skrull War, and in the process, 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, though, “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 the mixed reviews, “Thor: The Dark World” grossed nearly $650 million worldwide.

You may also like: Worst movies from the last decade, according to critics

- 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: Peyton Reed

- IMDb user rating: 7.0

- Metascore: 70

- Runtime: 118 minutes

Scott Lang, played by the hilarious 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: Jon Favreau

- IMDb user rating: 7.0

- 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: 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, ensuring that Chris Hemsworth’s seat on the MCU throne would be secure 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.

You may also like: 100 best John Wayne movies

- 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 over $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 were clamoring for more of Chadwick Boseman’s Wakandan monarch. Fortunately, 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. In a devastating turn of events, however, Boseman passed away following a private battle with cancer in August 2020.

- 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: 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 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,” played by Jake Gyllenhaal. The film, which grossed $1.13 billion worldwide, received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. 

- 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.

You may also like: 100 best movies of all time

- Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

- IMDb user rating: 7.5

- Metascore: 71

- Runtime: 132 minutes

In this film, the titular character Shang-Chi 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, lauding 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: Scott Derrickson

- IMDb user rating: 7.5

- Metascore: 72

- Runtime: 115 minutes

“Doctor Strange” tells the story of Dr. Steven Strange as he goes from arrogant surgeon to reality-bending wizard. Although the film grossed over $650 million at the box office worldwide and received an Oscar nomination for special effects, controversy would follow 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 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. 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: 7.7

- 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 would later helm the 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 will run for nine films.

- 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 and Iron Man lead separate factions against each other in response to governmental legislation of superheroes. In addition to massive success at the box office—it would become 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.

You may also like: 111 monumental movies from film history and why you need to see them

- 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—which 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 over $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.

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

- IMDb user rating: 8.4

- Metascore: 68

- Runtime: 149 minutes

This Avengers film has already become Marvel’s biggest success, having 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 even 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 this 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. 

You may also like: Best Meryl Streep movies