7 most overrated Marvel movies of all time
Marvel has made of some of the best movies over the last 15 years, but some of those movies, like Avengers: Endgame, are a bit overrated
By Bryce Olin
For years, Marvel was cranking out movie hit after hit! For a stretch between 2008 and 2019 and even after that, Marvel had so many of the highest-rated and highest-grossing movies every year. Looking back, some of those Marvel movies were a bit overrated. We picked seven of the most overrated Marvel movies of all time for this list.
It feels like the pendulum swung back a little too far in the anti-superhero movie sentiment lately. While the quality might slipped recently, I think the fervor around these movies shifted.
I feel like I should preface this list with this: I don't think any of these movies are bad movies! I like all of them, but these are the movies where the discourse and praise outran just how good the movies actually are. That's all! We also included Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, along with the X-Men movies, for this list.
With that said, let's dive in and get the list started with the first MCU movie, Iron Man!
Iron Man
- Release Date: May 2, 2008
- Director: Jon Favreau
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb, Shaun Toub, and more
Iron Man is officially the first movie of the MCU. It's easily one of the most influential MCU movies when you look at the full scope of what has been accomplished. So much of what led to the MCU's success is on display in Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr. was the perfect person to usher in a new era of cinema, and he gave a lot of credibility to the franchise that I don't know would have happened with a lesser actor or star. He was ready for this moment, and it opened up a universe of possibilities, commercially but also from a story perspective.
With that said, there are some big flaws with Iron Man from a story and character development perspective. The movie is entertaining and well made, but is it one of the best MCU movies of all time? Looking back, it's probably in the Top 10-15 range for me! I love Tony Stark, but the movie just feels a little too cookie-cutter. It's not hard to see where things are going. There isn't much development beyond Tony Stark, which obviously sets the stage for where the MCU goes next. But, as a movie, it leaves a little bit on the table from a story and development perspective for me, especially when it's forming the basis of the MCU and is paid off in Avengers: Endgame.
Again, Iron Man is one of the better Marvel movies. At the time, it was a game-changer. Looking at the movie more than 30 MCU movies later, there are some things that could have been done differently. Is it the most overrated MCU movie? Definitely not!
Up next is the most controversial selection on this list!