Top 10 WORST MCU Movies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Worst MCU Movies. For this list, we’ll be looking at the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that failed to live up to the hype and aren’t nearly as entertaining as many other entries in this long-running series. Which movie do you think missed the mark? Let us know in the comments.

#10: “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015)

The overarching narrative of the MCU truly kicked into overdrive with this film. Unfortunately, this meant that “Age of Ultron” is more preoccupied with setting up sequels like “Captain America: Civil War” and “Infinity War” than being its own thing. Throw in an underwhelming villain like Ultron, and you’ve got a film that excels in mediocrity. While certain elements like the chemistry between the characters and fight sequences are entertaining, the film is still more like a checkpoint before bigger and better things follow in later entries. “Age of Ultron” is also overstuffed with plot elements that go nowhere, such as the villain’s identity crisis and the romance between Bruce and Natasha. It’s a fun watch in terms of action but lacks a strong narrative punch.

#9: “Thor” (2011)

At the face of it, “Thor” is a sweet, smaller-scale movie that introduces the God of Thunder. But for a franchise as big as the MCU, the lack of scope isn’t in its favor. Apart from Loki, and Darcy Lewis more than Jane Foster, the supporting characters just don’t make an impression. This contrasts with “Iron Man” and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” two other origin stories where the entire cast shines. While there is character development for the protagonist, it’s not until late in the film that he sheds his unlikable traits. Veteran actors like Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba, and Rene Russo are also saddled with short screen times that don’t do them justice. “Thor’s” stirring soundtrack and eye-catching visuals remain impressive, but the film is overall easy to forget in the MCU’s sprawling landscape.

#8: “Black Widow” (2021)

Natasha Romanoff’s solo film is the right story at the wrong time. Released after fans had already seen her death in “Avengers: Endgame,” “Black Widow’s” plot doesn’t have much bearing. With a generic villain like Dreykov and a predictable twist of Taskmaster’s real identity, the stakes don’t feel particularly high at any point. And, while we all loved Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, her appearance in Disney+’s “Hawkeye” feels like it carries more weight than in this movie. Of course, it’s also hard to overlook the times when CGI quality is inexcusable as it pulls viewers right out of the action. Even with committed acting performances, “Black Widow” is presented as more of a side story, one that struggles to live up to its potential as a full-blown spy-thriller.

#7: “Captain Marvel” (2019)

Anticipation for “Captain Marvel” was sky-high after the character was teased in “Avengers: Infinity War.” But, what we got was a film that failed to take risks beyond the MCU’s tried-and-tested formula. With another Infinity Stone-fueled plot, bait-and-switch villains, and the customary MCU wisecracks in each scene, Carol Danvers’ origin story is a mixed bag. Characters like Ronan the Accuser, Phil Coulson, Mar-Vell, and Minn-Erva are pigeonholed to select scenes and traits without receiving the necessary room to develop further. Possibly the biggest letdown is its lack of relevance to the “Avengers” movies despite being positioned as a game-changer. Ultimately, the film is saddled by the weight of past MCU films and never manages to tell a story that feels original.

#6: “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022)

Director Taika Waititi was lauded for making “Thor: Ragnarok” a hilarious and energetic ride through space. Sadly, many felt Waititi overdid the comedy for “Love and Thunder.” So much so that it seems more like a “Ragnarok” parody. The film doesn’t go a few seconds before throwing another joke at viewers. This is particularly jarring since it deals with Thor’s loneliness and Jane Foster living with cancer. It’s hard to take things seriously with screaming goats and bad CGI popping up at such frequency. Fans were also disappointed that the Guardians only show up at the beginning of the movie, while Jane’s role as Mighty Thor is cut short. “Love and Thunder” should have dealt with the protagonist’s and villain’s inner turmoil with grace, but treated it all mostly as another punchline.

#5: “The Incredible Hulk” (2008)

“The Incredible Hulk” was expected to improve on 2003’s “Hulk,” but carries the same depressive outlook. The movie constantly shifts from one setting to another, following Bruce’s escape from General Ross’ clutches. Because of this, the Hulk himself isn’t seen as much as he should have been. It’s difficult to align it with the rest of the series since the tone and aesthetics don’t match the standard template of an MCU film. In retrospect, the Angry Green Giant’s rage was probably best represented in his debut “Avengers” appearance. However, keeping the tension steady comes at the expense of the sense of fun “The Incredible Hulk” needed. We’d rather see the Hulk’s signature smash than Bruce constantly stopping himself from turning into everyone’s favorite angry monster.

#4: “Eternals” (2021)

It’s always difficult to introduce a new story to an established franchise. Even more so for a bunch of characters the average moviegoer doesn’t know about. The MCU banked on brand value for “Eternals,’” but ended up with a rare critical and commercial failure. The film tries too much at the same time, featuring a large roster of protagonists, none of whom get their time to shine. It wastes its runtime on exposition elements, resulting in a largely bland film filled with talking scenes. The lack of a recognizable figure hurts its value further, as viewers have to follow characters they don’t care about – and don’t ever grow to care about in the film’s runtime. “Eternals” fails to balance its plot with action, and it’s a real task to sit through two hours of this before the pace picks up.

#3: “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023)

The “Ant-Man” series was best known for being heist-style films with a comedic twist. After all, who didn’t love Luis’ trademark recaps? But Scott Lang’s third adventure removes all of “Ant-Man’s” identity, leaving viewers with a by-the-numbers plot. The movie has a lot of weak points going for it. Things like Kang’s betrayal and Scott’s estrangement from his daughter are predictable parts of the story that the film centers itself around. Instead of setting Kang up as the next Big Bad, the antagonist never lives up to the hype. And despite sharing equal billing, Hope van Dyne doesn’t even feel relevant to the plot. “Quantumania” was meant to be the Multiverse Saga’s big setup, but fails to offer much depth at all.

#2: “Iron Man 2” (2010)

After the humdrum entry that was “The Incredible Hulk,” fans expected the MCU to bounce back with “Iron Man 2”. But, what we got was arguably an even bigger disappointment. Blatant sequel hooks do nothing to enhance its appeal, and they certainly don’t detract from the movie’s flaws. Its greatest criticism comes from the lackluster villain, who fails to be a real threat. Tony’s arc of dying from a slow-acting poison dominates the story, only to be solved lazily by the climax. “Iron Man 2” is filled with these stop-start moments, as other plot threads like Tony’s issues with Rhodey and Pepper are just as easily resolved. Although the humor and action are on point, weak storytelling and the flop antagonist can’t be ignored.

#1: “Thor: The Dark World” (2013)

It’s a stretch to call any MCU endeavor terrible, but “The Dark World” certainly comes close. The God of Thunder’s second solo adventure drags through its runtime with an unappealing dark palette and an equally dull tone. The villain’s lack of wit, emotion, and screen presence is abundantly clear, while the protagonist doesn’t do much other than react to events around him. More charismatic characters like Loki are relegated to smaller roles, leaving the movie with few memorable scenes. “The Dark World” expands on the Infinity Stones, but is so all over the place that it’s difficult to make sense of the lore. Even director Alan Taylor expressed his dissatisfaction with the choppy state of the film, claiming his true vision doesn’t appear in the final cut.