For nearly two decades, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has reigned as a pop culture juggernaut, dominating box offices, reshaping superhero storytelling, and fueling endless debates about which film truly stands at the top. While opinions vary wildly, there’s one metric that always gets fans and critics talking: Rotten Tomatoes.
Yes, the Tomatometer isn’t perfect—between review-bombing and the all-or-nothing nature of scoring, it’s hardly ideal—but it’s still the most widely cited scoreboard when discussing Marvel’s film heritage. Now that Phase 5 is in the books and Thunderbolts on the way, here’s how all 14 MCU movies measure up based on their Rotten Tomatoes scores, from lowest to highest.
14. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) – 46%
Phase 5 began with Quantumania, but rather than splashing down, it splashed down to a dull thud. Although Jonathan Majors’ Kang was praised and the visuals provided lots of spectacle, critics found the film bogged down in cringeworthy humor and disjointed focus. It ended up being one of Marvel’s worst critically received endeavors despite its aspirations.
13. Eternals (2021) – 47%
Director Chloé Zhao went big or went home with Eternals, hoping to revamp the Marvel model with a grand, existential epic. But its glacial pace, gigantic cast, and lofty concepts divided critics in half. While respected for its scope, it ended up being the first MCU movie to receive a “rotten” rating.
12. The Marvels (2023) – 62%
With a cast that included some of Marvel’s most popular heroines, The Marvels had a lot to work with. Too bad that critics felt it was all over the place and messy, with too many storylines and not much emotional depth to make a lasting impact.
11. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) – 63%
Taika Waititi’s follow-up to Ragnarok leaned heavily into irreverent humor, but this time, the formula didn’t click. While Christian Bale’s performance as Gorr the God Butcher stood out, the film’s chaotic tone and lack of balance left audiences and critics divided.
10. Thor: The Dark World (2013) – 67%
Long one of the MCU’s weakest entries, The Dark World is remembered more for Loki than for Thor himself. It’s a textbook case of Marvel’s early growing pains—efficient, but generally forgettable.
9. The Incredible Hulk (2008) – 67%
Edward Norton’s lone appearance as Bruce Banner is now an odd footnote in the MCU. Though The Incredible Hulk has good action, its isolation and subsequent lead recasting left it feeling apart from the larger franchise.
8. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) – 74%
Sam Raimi brought his horror sense to this dimension-hopping sequel, and although some fans enjoyed the dark tone and cameos, critics felt the movie’s story did not quite match its crazy concept. Visually daring, narratively confusing.
7. Iron Man 2 (2010) – 72%
Being one of the initial movies responsible for broadening the scope of the MCU, Iron Man 2 attempted to balance world-building with its storyline, and failed. Mickey Rourke’s antagonist did not work, but the movie introduced major characters such as Black Widow, so it became significant in the long run.
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – 76%
Despite being jam-packed with big moments and scene-setting for the next few installments, Age of Ultron is still the most underpraised Avengers film. Its grand ambitions tended to overwhelm the story, and Ultron himself didn’t quite connect as hoped.
5. Thor (2011) – 77%
Kenneth Branagh added a Shakespearean touch to the introduction of Thor, God of Thunder. Though Thor did well in introducing Asgard and establishing key groundwork, it lingered a tad too long on Earth and failed to reach its full epic potential.
4. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – 80%
Chris Evans’ initial work as Steve Rogers provided a genuine, throwback superhero origin in the context of World War II. Solid but sincere, the movie’s no-frills style kept it from going higher than subsequent Captain America tales.
3. Ant-Man (2015) – 83%
Ant-Man demonstrated that smaller in scope didn’t have to mean smaller in impact. Paul Rudd’s natural charm and the movie’s creative action set pieces provided a welcome palate cleanser in a franchise where big-stakes battles are a normal occurrence.
2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) – 84%
In the wake of Chadwick Boseman’s heartbreaking passing, Wakanda Forever faced an almost insurmountable challenge—and succeeded in meeting the moment. Critics admired its performances and emotional heft, if not quite repeating the lightning-in-a-bottle miracle of the first one.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – 85%
James Gunn doubled down on the heart and humor in this energetic sequel. Though not as revolutionary as the original, Vol. 2 expanded its characters and leaned into themes of family, making it a worthy sequel in the cosmic saga.