Even the biggest fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have to admit that the quality of the films began to dip after Endgame, though not everything up to that point was exactly perfect anyway. Across the entire Marvel filmography, there are movies some would brand as awful.
Here’s the thing, though: some of those “awful” movies actually deserve a second chance. Plus, with the long wait between Marvel movies, what else are you going to do with that Disney+ subscription? With that in mind, here are the MCU movies on the streaming service that are worth a second chance.
10
Eternals
Most of the criticisms of Eternals boil down to two key elements: there are too many characters and not enough action, creating a movie that feels boring compared to other ensemble fests like Avengers: Infinity War. However, those characters all come with some fairly compelling stories, and for longtime comics fans, it’s genuinely cool to see such C-list characters getting the big screen treatment.
Plus, Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao gives us some truly sumptuous visuals. The script is introspective and actually intelligent, which is a great balm for people like me who don’t like the “every line is a joke” writing style popularized by Joss Whedon. Plus, considering how this film’s Celestial featured in Captain America: Brave New World, it’s worth rewatching Eternals to get important context for future plot developments in the MCU.
9
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has a lot of things going against it, including a messy script, dodgy CGI, and disgraced actor Jonathan Majors playing the Big Bad. However, if you can separate the art from the artist (not always easy to do), the truth is that Majors gives a powerhouse performance in this film. Watching Quantumania, it’s hard not to wonder what the MCU would look like now if movies and shows had continued to develop a future showdown between the Avengers and Kang the Conqueror.
Plus, while some would say this is damning the film with faint praise, Quantumania is arguably a masterpiece compared to the tepid Ant-Man and the Wasp. Paul Rudd is charming as always and has great chemistry with Evangeline Lilly. Throw in performances from Hollywood greats like Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, and even Bill Murray, and you have a cast that dazzles even when the script falters.
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8
The Marvels
The Marvels was a box office bomb, one serving as the canary in the coal mine when it came to detecting superhero fatigue among general audiences. And, of course, the focus on a trio of strong female characters led to one brainrot YouTube video after another about how Marvel’s gone “woke.” Beyond its bad box office and spate of negative online videos, though, The Marvels is solidly entertaining, delivering the kind of cosmic adventure rarely found outside of Guardians of the Galaxy films.
Plus, there’s something really special about all of Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson’s onscreen team-ups. The actors have an easygoing chemistry and are both capable of imbuing scenes with both gravitas and humor. At the end of the day, the Marvel empire was built on killer team-ups, and this girl power gala of a film proves just how entertaining these comic hero collaborations can be.
7
Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor: Love and Thunder admittedly has some major issues, including its thematic inconsistency. It’s downright weird to have wacky misadventures with Thor juxtaposed with serious stories about topics ranging from cancer to dead children. And the comedy never reaches the heights of Thor: Ragnarok, Taika Waititi’s superior earlier film.
With that being said, Love and Thunder brings a lot of cool stuff to the table. Christian Bale’s Gorr is possibly the scariest villain in the entire MCU, and Natalie Portman does a pitch-perfect job of bringing Jane Foster’s Thor arc to the big screen. Plus, Chris Hemsworth continues to dazzle in the title role, proving that he’s the god of humor as well as thunder.
6
The Incredible Hulk
Even though it’s the second film in the MCU, The Incredible Hulk has become something of a black sheep because Mark Ruffalo has firmly established himself as the titular green monster rather than Edward Norton. This, along with the fact that Marvel has largely ignored its events, has made this film seem irrelevant to many fans. That’s a shame, though, because it’s a genuine thrill ride from beginning to end.
Norton is truly captivating, giving Bruce Banner an intelligence and intensity that Ruffalo has always sadly lacked. His chemistry with Liv Tyler is great, and they might just be Marvel’s cutest couple (sorry, Tony/Pepper fans). Finally, the movie delivers a crowd-pleasing monster-on-monster fight climax, all while anchoring its CGI shenanigans with weighty performances from William Hurt and Tim Roth.
5
Iron Man 2
Iron Man blew everyone away when it kick-started the MCU in 2008. Unfortunately, Iron Man 2 landed with more of a thud, collapsing largely under the weight of this burgeoning cinematic universe. We get major plots involving Tony Stark, Rhodey, Black Widow, and even Nick Fury. Throw in a baffling villain performance from Mickey Rourke, and you have a sequel far less coherent than the original.
With that being said, there’s still a lot to love in Iron Man 2. Sam Rockwell oozes both scum and charm, doing a great job of playing a kind of evil Tony Stark. Don Cheadle and Scarlett Johansson only have limited screen time, but you can quickly see why they became Marvel mainstays. And we even get some background about Howard Stark that becomes more relevant (and certainly more entertaining) after we learn more about him in future movies and films.
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4
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness features our titular hero trying to stop the Scarlet Witch. The film is admittedly cluttered with too many extradimensional shenanigans, and even the fan-favorite cameos from Captain Carter and Professor X couldn’t help this story fully stick the landing. But it’s worth watching largely because Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen give it their all, even when the script lets them (and us) down.
This movie helps audiences unpack Marvel’s brief fascination (for better or for worse) with all things multiversal. It also gives the Scarlet Witch a more definitive ending after the events of WandaVision. Plus, if I’m being completely honest, I think it’s always worth re-watching MCU films or shows featuring Benedict Wong, whose sorcerous sidekick steals the scene every time.
3
Thor: The Dark World
Thor: The Dark World is a disappointing sequel, and that’s being charitable. It really wastes Christopher Eccleston as the villain, giving him a goofy mask and goofier ambitions. Plus, if you like Chris Hemsworth’s comedic chops in movies like Thor: Ragnarok, you’re likely to be bored by a movie that still makes him sound like someone who made Shakespeare in the Park his entire identity.
The film is rough, but that helps its diamonds shine that much more. Tom Hiddleston gives us our first look at a more nuanced Loki, while Anthony Hopkins helps give Asgard the level of regal sophistication worthy of mythology. Stellan Skarsgård, meanwhile, makes a meal of every scene. And I’d be remiss not to mention the hilarious charms of Kat Dennings, the once and future comic powerhouse of the MCU.
2
Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3 has been controversial pretty much from the beginning thanks to several factors. Some fans dislike the fact that Tony Stark spends so much time out of the armor, and other fans hate that he picked up a kid sidekick (admittedly, the most played-out trope in Hollywood history). Throw in the reveal that the Mandarin was just a drugged-out actor than a real threat, and you have a movie designed to rub countless fans the wrong way.
However, writer/director Shane Black (who so capably directed Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) delivers a whip-smart script full of hilariously quotable scenes. The film also delivers insight into Tony Stark’s past while showcasing that he’s just as dangerous without the sci-fi gadgets. Plus, fans of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts will love a film that fleshes out her relationship with Tony while giving her the kind of heroic moment no MCU film before or since has.
1
Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World came with some baggage. The movie had to sell Sam Wilson as the new Cap on the big screen while establishing Harrison Ford as “Thunderbolt” Ross, replacing the late, great William Hurt. This would have been difficult enough, but the endlessly rewritten script also fails to deliver iconic moments or a memorable climax, which is why most folks left the theater talking about how weird the Red Hulk was.
Still, it’s worth rewatching to appreciate the little things. Anthony Mackie is dripping with charisma that this weak script can’t keep down, and Giancarlo Esposito is great as a cool and calculating villain (though I still miss the earlier films’ rise of Hydra). The return of Liv Tyler to the MCU is way overdue, and the presence of Tim Blake Nelson turns this into an Incredible Hulk reunion that gave me a gamma-powered grin by the time the credits rolled.
These MCU movies are a bit like the Thunderbolts: discarded, degraded, and dismissed. But like that misfit team, each of these Disney+ films deserves a second chance, and you may be surprised at how well they aged!