Love or hate it, Rotten Tomatoes has become a crucial tool in helping many moviegoers decide whether they want to watch a newly released movie. And, for studios, those "Certified Fresh" badges have become a huge part of pre- and post-release marketing campaigns.
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has delivered hit after hit since Iron Man was released in 2008, the Multiverse Saga has been a mixed bag. That's apparent from this Saga delivering not one, not two, but three "Rotten" movies.
Is the Multiverse Saga really as bad as some would have you believe? It's been a tad inconsistent, yes, but how does this era of storytelling stack up in terms of those all-important percentage scores on Rotten Tomatoes? Captain America: Brave New World didn't fare too well, but Thunderbolts* was rightly hailed as a return to form for Marvel Studios. The Fantastic Four: First Steps has proven to be another huge win.
To check out our updated ranking of how the Multiverse Saga's movies compare according to Rotten Tomatoes, click the "Next"/"View List" buttons below.
13. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
Score: 46%
Rotten or Fresh? Rotten
Critics Consensus: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania mostly lacks the spark of fun that elevated earlier adventures, but Jonathan Majors' Kang is a thrilling villain poised to alter the course of the MCU.
Peyton Reed said he no longer wanted the franchise to be a palate cleanser, but the filmmaker clearly isn't cut out for epic storytelling on this level. Despite being nowhere near as bad as the score above suggests, this wasn't a strong start to Phase 5, and the movie really let Jonathan Majors down. An over-reliance on The Volume and a lack of what makes the franchise so much fun hurt it.
12. Eternals
Score: 47%
Rotten or Fresh? Rotten
Critics Consensus: An ambitious superhero epic that soars as often as it strains, Eternals takes the MCU in intriguing -- and occasionally confounding -- new directions.
Given Marvel Studios' track record, we never expected them to have a "Rotten" movie, but this is one of three. It's hard to escape the feeling that some critics were too hard on Eternals, perhaps relishing the opportunity to take the studio down a peg or two. There's a lot to love here, with some incredible performances and lots of world-building. There are, however, waaaay too many characters.
11. Captain America: Brave New World
Score: 48%
Rotten or Fresh? Rotten
Critics Consensus: Anthony Mackie capably takes up Cap's mantle and shield, but Brave New World is too routine and overstuffed with uninteresting easter eggs to feel like a worthy standalone adventure for this new Avengers leader.
Captain America: Brave New World was a troubled production with extensive reshoots, creating a tonally inconsistent movie that still had its moments. Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford were undeniable highlights, and the Red Hulk battle was...incredible. This still fell short, though, and Marvel Studios needs to take a close look at what went wrong to make sure it doesn't happen again.
10. The Marvels
Score: 62%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: Funny, refreshingly brief, and elevated by the chemistry of its three leads, The Marvels is easy to enjoy in the moment despite its cluttered story and jumbled tonal shifts.
This sequel was lacking, but it didn't deserve to be a flop. The villain sucks, and it admittedly needed to be a little more epic, but with three terrific leads in Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani, there is fun to be had here. A jaw-dropping post-credits scene and solid humour combine with smartly choreographed action to result in a blockbuster that's better than some of Marvel Studios' weaker efforts.
9. Thor: Love and Thunder
Score: 63%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: In some ways, Thor: Love and Thunder feels like Ragnarok redux -- but overall, it offers enough fast-paced fun to make this a worthy addition to the MCU.
What a disappointment. While Thor: Love and Thunder wasn't a bad movie, an over-reliance on silly humour and a paper-thin bad guy means it ranks among some of Marvel Studios' most underwhelming blockbusters. We loved The Mighty Thor, but like everything else in this sequel, her arc was incredibly rushed. The movie had its moments, but it didn't live up to expectations.
8. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Score: 74%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness labors under the weight of the sprawling MCU, but Sam Raimi's distinctive direction casts an entertaining spell.
While Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange sequel wasn't top-tier Marvel Studios, it's still a little surprising to see it barely beat Iron Man 2. A vastly superior blockbuster to that sequel (and a few of the other movies you'll soon see here), this trip into the Multiverse admittedly wasn't anywhere near as mad as we hoped, possibly explaining this reaction. We did, however, love that pure Raimi horror vibe.
7. Deadpool & Wolverine
Score: 78%
Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Ryan Reynolds makes himself at home in the MCU with acerbic wit while Hugh Jackman provides an Adamantium backbone to proceedings in Deadpool & Wolverine, an irreverent romp with a surprising soft spot for a bygone era of superhero movies.
78%? Really? This score makes no sense to us, particularly as Deadpool & Wolverine is easily one of Marvel Studios' best movies. Pure fan service but full of heart, humour, and some of the MCU's best action scenes, this is a very special team-up and one we think will only become even more well-regarded as time passes. And c'mon, they gave us Hugh Jackman in the suit, mask and all!
6. Black Widow
Score: 79%
Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Black Widow's deeper themes are drowned out in all the action, but it remains a solidly entertaining standalone adventure that's rounded out by a stellar supporting cast.
Hit by multiple delays due to COVID-19, Black Widow finally arrived in theaters in 2021, and certainly didn't disappoint...well, mostly. Some have argued that the movie wasn't wholly necessary, but after introducing characters like Yelena Belova and Red Guardian, it's hard to agree. A fitting farewell to Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff, even if it was perhaps too little, too late in some ways.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Score: 82%
Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: A galactic group hug that might squeeze a little too tight on the heartstrings, the final Guardians of the Galaxy is a loving last hurrah for the MCU's most ragtag family.
After originally hitting the site with 78%, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's score later increased and the threequel obtained "Certified Fresh" status with ease. While we'd argue that this is, in fact, one of the best MCU movies ever made, it makes for difficult viewing at times and that could be why it didn't score higher. Regardless, it's a worthy, beautiful conclusion to James Gunn's trilogy.
4. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Score: 84%
Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: A poignant tribute that satisfyingly moves the franchise forward, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever marks an ambitious and emotionally rewarding triumph for the MCU.
While not quite as good as Black Panther, Wakanda Forever is still an emotional and powerful tribute to Chadwick Boseman with terrific performances from its cast (Angela Bassett was, without a shadow of a doubt, Oscar-worthy). Throw in some great work from Letitia Wright and a phenomenal villain in Tenoch Huerta's Namor, and we're very pleased to see this sequel rank this highly.
3. Thunderbolts* - TIE
Score: 88%
Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Assembling a ragtag band of underdogs with Florence Pugh as their magnetic standout, Thunderbolts* refreshingly returns to the tried-and-true blueprint of the MCU's best adventures.
We didn't have high hopes for Thunderbolts*—a non-comic-accurate take on the team featuring characters from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Black Widow...seriously?!—but the movie massively exceeds expectations. Emotional, soulful, and thoroughly refreshing, it's packed full of excellent performances and proves that the MCU still has plenty to say, superhero fatigue be damned.
3. The Fantastic Four: First Steps - TIE
Score: 88%
Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Benefitting from rock-solid cast chemistry and clad in appealingly retro 1960s design, this crack at The Fantastic Four does Marvel's First Family justice.
What a phenomenal first outing in the MCU for Marvel's First Family. The Fantastic Four: First Steps does right by its leads, and despite being very fast-paced, it's packed full of heart, emotion, and the types of dynamics that make these characters special on the page. Each actor is perfectly cast (Vanessa Kirby is amazing), and Galactus is a true sight to behold on a giant-sized IMAX screen.
2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Score: 92%
Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings isn't entirely free of Marvel's familiar formula, but this exciting origin story expands the MCU in more ways than one.
Who could have guessed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings would be one of Marvel Studios' best movies? It's not that we didn't have faith in all those involved, but like Iron Man before him, Shang-Chi was elevated from his C-List status in the comics to become a true silver screen superhero. A visual delight with a strong emotional core, this was an action-packed stunner of a blockbuster.
1. Spider-Man: No Way Home
Score: 93%
Rotten or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: A bigger, bolder Spider-Man sequel, No Way Home expands the franchise's scope and stakes without losing sight of its humor and heart.
Honestly, this easily deserves the top spot here. An emotional rollercoaster with a career-best performance from Tom Holland, the sight of those three Spider-Men swinging into action was awe-inspiring and iconic, while the return of those familiar villains (particularly Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin) blew us away. This was a great use of the Multiverse and remains this Saga's undeniable highlight.