Let’s face it—scoring Marvel films is a big hobby now. Each new one sparks huge fan talks. Some fight over Infinity War, others back Thor: The Dark World as a lost gem. But what if critics pick the ranks? According to Rotten Tomatoes, here are 14 hot MCU films, from low to top score. Watch out: some ranks may sting.
14. Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Paul Rudd is still himself (that is, fun & cute), but not even he could lift this one out of its mess. It was to start a big new phase… then it just died. Critics did not like it.
13. Eternals (2021)
Chloé Zhao aimed high here. Great views? Yes. Big themes? Sure. But critics thought it was slow & too grim for a Marvel film. Not bad, just… not what folks hoped from the MCU.
12. The Marvels (2023)
Three girls, space mess, & cat-like chaos. The Marvels had its fun bits, but the whole vibe was so-so. Critics felt it was all over the place—even if the cast clicked well.
11. Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)
The goats made us laugh. Christian Bale was scary. But all else? A mix-up. Taika Waititi went full-on weird, & while some liked the fun, others thought the plot got lost in the jokes.
10. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The MCU’s odd one out. Edward Norton tried as Bruce Banner, but the film didn’t win big with fans. Critics were not fans, & soon Mark Ruffalo took the spot.
9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
It’s the film we all love to hate—but it’s not at the very bottom. That’s a win, right? Not topMarvel, but better than Quantumania.
8. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Sam Raimi sure brought the odd with this one. Some critics liked the scary feel & crazy views, while some felt lost in the mess. Still, it was a brave try.
7. Iron Man 2 (2010)
More suits! More bad guys! More… mess. This follow-up tried to do too much, & critics saw it. It had its fun (Sam Rockwell is great), but it didn’t match the first’s magic.
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Hopes were high after the first Avengers, & this one didn’t quite hit the same level. But, there’s good stuff here—Wanda and Vision’s start, creepy Ultron, & lots of cool lines.
5. Thor (2011)
Back when Marvel was still figuring it out, Kenneth Branagh brought us big Asgard drama with a stage-like twist. A bit over-the-top & not smooth, but it worked—& we met Hemsworth as the god of thunder, which we’re still happy about.
4. Iron Man 3 (2013)
The Mandarin twist? Yes, that got folks talking. Some are still mad, but critics liked it mostly. The film looked into Tony Stark’s fear & showed a less tough Iron Man. Not all liked it, but it’s a strong film.
3. Black Widow (2021)
Scarlett Johansson at last had her film—sadly, yet it was late. Still, critics liked the spy feel & action mix. Florence Pugh almost took the show, & let’s be real, Taskmaster should have had more.
2. Captain Marvel (2019)
Brie Larson’s start as Carol Danvers had ‘90s love, space cats, & high-action. It made big money, but critics weren’t blown away. Good, but not great.
1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
The top spot may shock you. Cap’s first was more old-time war tale than new hero show, but critics liked its heart. It showed a real, down-to-earth take on a lead who would run the Avengers.
So there it is—Rotten Tomatoes’ view on 14 MCU films that didn’t hit the top list. Agree? Not? Want to argue about Iron Man 3 once more? No matter your view, it’s clear that even Marvel’s “worst” still stirs talk.