Since the Infinity Saga ended, Marvel Studios has found itself facing a harder time of it from critics than it has previously been used to. While even pre-Avengers: Endgame titles sometimes earned the scorn of critics, it's only been since 2021 we've seen MCU movies and TV shows deemed "Rotten."
We've combed through Rotten Tomatoes and singled out the 10 worst-reviewed Marvel Studios' big and small screen projects.
However, rather than present them in the order you'll find on the review aggregator, we've ranked the movies and TV shows deemed the MCU's worst. Some of these weren't good, while others...well, we think they deserve a second chance. In some instances, even one of Marvel Studios' "worst" movies is considerably better than many of those from the Distinguished Competition.
To take a look through our ranking, all you guys need to do is click on the "Next" button below.
10. Thor: Love and Thunder (63%)
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.
We've had some time to think about it, and yes, we're going to single this out as the worst MCU movie. It's hard to find fault with Thor: Ragnarok, but this follow-up saw Taika Waititi take his unique stylings too far, delivering a film not even Chris Hemsworth gives the thumbs up to.
Jane Foster and Gorr the God Butcher were largely wasted and what should have been one of Marvel Studios' best blockbusters proved to be a goofy disappointment.
9. The Incredible Hulk (67%)
Critics Consensus: The Incredible Hulk may not be quite the smashing success that fans of Marvel's raging behemoth might hope for, but it offers more than enough big green action to make up for its occasionally puny narrative.
Opening in the same year as Iron Man meant the odds were always stacked against The Incredible Hulk. The movie is all over the place and doesn't fully seem to understand the Jade Giant's powers (having sex would apparently trigger a transformation).
We can't fault that action-packed final battle, though even that ultimately couldn't redeem many of the missteps which preceded it.
8. Thor: The Dark World (66%)
Critics Consensus: It may not be the finest film to come from the Marvel Universe, but Thor: The Dark World still offers plenty of the humor and high-stakes action that fans have come to expect.
When Alan Taylor was announced as the Thor sequel's director, we all thought the God of Thunder was about to get a Game of Thrones-style makeover.
The Dark World was anything but, and while we enjoyed seeing a deepening of the relationship between Thor and Loki, Malekith was an appalling villain. Randomly throwing an Infinity Stone into the mix also felt incredibly forced (why had it become the Aether again?).
7. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (46%)
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.
In some respects, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania gets a bad rap. Jonathan Majors' performance is terrific, while the premise that the villain has been trapped in the Quantum Realm all this time really helped deepen the mysteries of this Multiverse Saga.
Unfortunately, the decision to shoot the entirety of the threequel within The Volume was a major blunder and the movie largely wasted its other leads. It's time for this franchise to move on from filmmaker Peyton Reed.
6. Iron Man 2 (71%)
Critics Consensus: It isn't quite the breath of fresh air that Iron Man was, but this sequel comes close with solid performances and an action-packed plot.
Iron Man 2's primary job was to set the stage for The Avengers. It did so by throwing characters like Nick Fury and Black Widow into the mix, but attempted to balance that with a loose adaptation of "Demon in the Bottle" and Tony Stark's war with Justin Hammer and Whiplash.
A mess and a so-so follow-up to Iron Man, this sequel is by no means a disaster and is actually worth revisiting because there's a lot which does work.
5. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (77%)
Critics Consensus: Whether she's fighting bad guys, defending a client, or managing her messy social life, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law passes the bar for bingeworthy viewing.
There's a very specific reason She-Hulk: Attorney at Law received a lot of hate from certain fans and, unfortunately, it's because the show's lead is a woman. However, there were other valid reasons to like and dislike the series.
It was rushed in places, the VFX was hit-and-miss, and ultimately, the finale did not work. We'd go so far as to say it was a disaster, but that shouldn't overshadow the great moments which came before, including Daredevil's MCU debut.
4. Secret Invasion (55%)
Critics Consensus: A well-deserved showcase for Samuel L. Jackson, Secret Invasion steadies itself after a somewhat slow start by taking the MCU in a darker, more mature direction.
Some of you won't be happy to see Secret Invasion this high up on the list, but we maintain it received too harsh a response. While not as epic as the comic book it shares a name with, the show was compelling and delivered plenty of fantastic acting work (with Samuel L. Jackson and Don Cheadle as the MVPs).
It went off a cliff with the finale, but don't be surprised if it's ultimately appreciated more when watched in a single sitting as this is undeniably a story better suited to being a film.
3. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (74%)
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.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness didn't live up to expectations, but is that not because we all set them unrealistically high after all those rumours?
Okay, Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man didn't show up. We did, however, get the Illuminati and a really fun, horror-inspired adventure with a lot of Sam Raimi's signature flare. The mid-credits scene remains a head-scratcher but this is not a bad movie, even if it isn't a truly great one.
2. Eternals (47%)
Critics Consensus: An ambitious superhero epic that soars as often as it strains, Eternals takes the MCU in intriguing -- and occasionally confounding -- new directions.
Eternals did not deserve to be Marvel Studios' first "Rotten" movie and that score is still way too harsh. Yes, there were too many characters and Kro remains one of the MCU's worst villains, but the incredible visuals and some solid storytelling make this an adventure we'd very much like to see get a sequel.
With so much talk of this being an Oscar-worthy blockbuster, we can't help but wonder if too much hype beforehand meant it was always doomed to fail.
1. Avengers: Age of Ultron (76%)
Critics Consensus: Exuberant and eye-popping, Avengers: Age of Ultron serves as an overstuffed but mostly satisfying sequel, reuniting its predecessor's unwieldy cast with a few new additions and a worthy foe.
What the f*** is Avengers: Age of Ultron doing on a list of Marvel Studios' worst-reviewed movies? Yes, there are parts of this story which don't work; the conversation between The Hulk and Black Widow instantly springs to mind, as does Thor's subplot.
Beyond that, though, this is a great sequel with an even greater villain. Say what you will about Joss Whedon now, but he was firing on all cylinders at the time and this remains a true underrated gem in the wider MCU.