With 31 movies under the studio’s belt, it’s understandable as to how some of, if not many of the MCU’s superhero blockbusters would fall to the wayside. With the likes of Infinity War and Endgame holding their place at the top of the MCU’s barrel, and the likes of Thor The Dark World and Eternals falling at the bottom of many fans MCU lists, there are those few movies somewhere in the middle that many have forgotten about. Likewise, there are a surprising amount of MCU movies that receive a lot of hate; at least more hate than they deserve. Movies like Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Age of Ultron face a lot of criticism. However, these movies are certainly not as bad as people think.
By no means are we claiming these movies to be perfect, but these 10 MCU movies certainly deserve a rewatch under a new light, and deserve a little more love than they originally received. So, without further ado, here are some of the most underrated MCU movies.
10 Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel fell into a fairly tragic place in the MCU release schedule, with the movie releasing just before Endgame and two movies after Infinity War. This already put a dampener on the movie, as fans were expecting an Infinity War-level movie. However, Captain Marvel certainly deserves a rewatch, which may find some new love with fans. 2019’s Captain Marvel is a lot of fun. Is it the best MCU origin story? Absolutely not. Yet with the movie’s ’90s nostalgia, thrilling action, great de-aging effects, effective comedy, and compelling performances, Captain Marvel is certainly an underdog. Marvel’s 21st movie also served as the first female lead superhero epic in the MCU, and ultimately served as an empowering superhero flick.
9 Thor (2011)
There is an undeniable Shakespearean feel to the first movie in the Norse Gods saga. Perhaps that’s due to director Kenneth Branagh’s extensive theatrical and cinematic history with the playwright or perhaps due to the movie’s dialogue, Thor’s journey into becoming a true hero as well as showcasing a compelling love story between Jane Foster and Thor. Similarly, audiences spend the first few minutes of the movie in the jaw-dropping realm of Asgard before being thrown into a small town in the heart of the US desert.
Thor is better looked at as an epic romantic tale as opposed to a full-fledged superhero movie. The moments where the movie leans into its superhero nature are where the movie falls flat. However, the movie shines when it explores the romantic relationship between Jane Foster and Thor, which sadly fizzles away after this movie.
8 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
2012’s Avengers was an epic superhero flick that exceeded every expectation. Sadly, Age of Ultron couldn’t deliver the same experience. While it’s still not a perfect superhero flick, Age of Ultron is far better now than during its release, due to its context and importance in the MCU. The Avengers sequel introduced heroes like Wanda Maximoff and Vision; it set up Black Panther and the nation of Wakanda, as well as, and perhaps most importantly, diving into the lore of the Infinity Stones.
Aside from that, however, Age of Ultron does feel totally lackluster in comparison. Yet the movie showcases some of the best moments of action in the franchise, with Hulkbuster vs Hulk, as well as the battle of Sokovia. But most importantly, Age of Ultron delivered one of the best villain performances in the MCU, with Ultron. Ultron as a character does leave a lot to be desired, but James Spader’s breathtaking and terrifying performance elevates this MCU villain.
7 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
The First Avenger is a very underappreciated superhero origin film that showcased how Steve Rogers gained his abilities. The movie’s authentic World War II setting allowed for some spectacular action and set designs, as well as many amazing performances from the entire cast. What deserves the most praise however aspect to is the impressive CG used to create Skinny Steve, which saw Lola Visual Effects superimpose the face of the jacked-out Chris Evans onto the body of Leander Deeny.
Similar to Age of Ultron, The First Avenger introduced audiences to Red Skull played by Hugo Weaving in one of the most underrated MCU villain performances. Red Skull was a generic bad guy, but Hugo Weaving’s performance provided enough nuance to make his character memorable. The movie may lack the flashy scale of some other MCU flicks, yet it’s a unique superhero movie that deserves far more love.
6 Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Phase 4 is perhaps the most controversial and hated Phase of the MCU thus far, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness received far more criticism than it deserved. Yes, it may be a bit of a mess, and some of the CG may not be as polished as its predecessor, but Multiverse of Madness is nonetheless a ton of fun. Sam Raimi was the perfect choice for the horror-fueled MCU flick, displaying his overthetop horror direction, which works incredibly well for a film of this caliber. Understandably, this is not everyone’s cup of tea, but we applaud, and greatly appreciate Marvel for going in different directions.
The action set pieces were epic and well directed; the cameos were jaw-dropping (even though we wish Professor X wasn’t spoiled in the trailer) and Wanda was a terrifying villain. Elizabeth Olsen delivers one of the best performances in the MCU and helps make The Scarlet Witch such a formidable and scary villain. Multiverse of Madness is an underrated superhero gem, which may not be for everyone, but that doesn’t warrant the hate it receives.
5 Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)
Following in the same vein as Captain Marvel, Ant-Man and The Wasp had an impossible task of following up one of the biggest movies of all time, Infinity War, and to no one’s surprise, the “little” (no pun intended) MCU flick didn’t deliver the same experience as the gigantic Avengers movie that came before it. But that doesn’t matter as Ant-Man and The Wasp is a hilarious superhero romp that stands on its own two legs just fine. Sure, the movie’s villain holds the movie back, but it’s thrilling action set-pieces and gut-busting humor provide for a great time.
Ant-Man and The Wasp is also an incredibly important movie in the grandiose of the MCU, and served as a gateway for helping the Avengers save the universe in Endgame by providing them with a form of time travel.
4 Ant-Man (2015)
The first Ant-Man may be one of the most inconsequential MCU movies on its 31-movie roster, but it’s still an undeniably good time. Paul Rudd shines as Scott Lang, and his supporting cast is dynamite. Ant-Man plays with scale in fascinating ways, which paves way for some truly incredible moments with the ant sized superhero. Again, Ant-Man falls flat in terms of its villain; however, after watching Ant-Man and The Wasp Quantumania we have grown much more respect for Darren Cross.
3 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Disney
James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy was a colossal success that made fans fall in love with the obscure Marvel team. But Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 didn’t receive as much love as the first. Many fans argue that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is actually slightly better than its predecessor, and we have to agree. James Gunn dives more into his colorful and retro-directorial style, which provides for many jaw-dropping planet and creature designs. Guardian’s 2’s soundtrack is electrifying and adds to the movie’s fun and style. Likewise, Guardian’s Vol. 2 delivers so much more comedy, which hits far more than it misses.
The cast is once again on point, with the addition of Kurt Russel as the movie’s incredibly powerful villain Ego, the Living Planet. This Guardian’s sequel certainly isn’t hated, but we would definitely edge it slightly above its predecessor.
2 Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi was a colossal success upon release, but has since felt like a forgotten Phase 4 MCU movie. Most famously, Shang-Chi presented some of the best fight scenes in the entire MCU, displaying impressive martial arts and incredible camera work. The exceptional martial arts movie also features poignant themes about family dynamics in a compelling story, with Shang-Chi battling his father, Wen Wu. This created a tense yet heartwarming relationship that allowed audiences to resonate and fall in love with the movie.
Speaking of Wen Wu, Tony Leung delivered a powerful performance as the leader of the Ten Rings, layering his character with his brutal physicality, endearing heart, and terrifying ferocity. Simu Liu’s undeniable charm made fans quickly fall in love with Shang-Chi, and his extensive martial arts training deserves more praise. Shang-Chi is without a top tier MCU movie.
1 Doctor Strange (2016)
The superhero origin story of everyone’s favorite ex-sorcerer supreme, is without a doubt the MCU’s most visually stunning MCU movie to date. The way the movie plays with physics and the laws of nature is increasingly impressive upon every rewatch. So, why does Doctor Strange not receive more love? Sadly, we can’t answer that, as Doctor Strange is a phenomenal superhero origin movie that we think is wildly underrated.
Doctor Strange’s action is thrilling, the performances are sensational, and the final act is simply breathtaking. Unfortunately, the movie’s story and villain once again hold Doctor Strange back from making it a top tier MCU movie. But even with its visual spectacle alone, Doctor Strange certainly doesn’t deserve to be placed so low on many MCU fans’ rankings.
