Love it or hate it, Rotten Tomatoes remains a crucial tool in helping many moviegoers decide whether to check out the latest releases in theaters. However, in recent years, it's become every bit as important for TV shows, especially when there are so many options out there thanks to the rise of streaming.
Marvel Studios' first foray into television was with WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier in 2021. Since then, these shows have gone through some growing pains as Kevin Feige and company attempt to figure out how to tell MCU stories on the small screen.
Before that, it was down to Marvel Television and, following the launch of Echo, their Netflix offerings - featuring the characters who made up The Defenders - have now been made "canon" to the wider MCU. That's why they're now included in our ranking of Marvel TV shows according to Rotten Tomatoes!
We've taken a look at the score for each of them to bring you a definitive ranking...according to critics, at least. You'll also find our thoughts on each of them, so to see whether you agree with where they land, simply click on the "Next" button below.
12. Iron Fist
Score: 37%
Rotten Or Fresh? Rotten
Critics Consensus: Despite some promising moments, Iron Fist is weighed down by an absence of momentum and originality (Season 1) / Better action scenes and tighter pacing elevate Iron Fist's second season, but it remains a lesser light among MCU shows (Season 2).
Iron Fist isn't as bad as some would have you believe and there were signs of improvement in the second season. However, the series continued making far too many missteps; for example, just as Danny Rand mastered his powers, he lost them. Marvel Television never really got the character and Finn Jones did his best with poor material and nowhere near enough time to train for action scenes.
11. Secret Invasion
Score: 54%
Rotten Or Fresh? Rotten
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.
Does Secret Invasion deserve the dreaded green splat? We don't think so, though the finale definitely did. It was a complete mess and a disappointing end to a series which sadly ended up being all over the place following a strong start. The cast was phenomenal, however, and there were some solid twists. Still, between this and Captain Marvel, it might be time to move on from Skrulls.
10. The Punisher
Score: 65%
Rotten Or Fresh? Rotten
Critics Consensus: A rocky start can't keep The Punisher from pushing the boundaries of Marvel's TV universe with a fresh take on the comics-derived action thriller (Season 1) / The Punisher's second season leaves fans torn between the undeniably action-packed fun and the underwhelming portrayal of the charismatic Frank Castle (Season 2)
The Punisher presented Marvel Television with the perfect opportunity to move on from Daredevil season 2's overly complicated conspiracy theory subplot; instead, they doubled down on it and continued complicating Frank Castle's origin story. The second batch of episodes threw Jigsaw into the mix, but it didn't improve on its predecessor and sadly felt like more of the same.
9. Echo
Score: 73%
Rotten Or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: Alaqua Cox makes Echo's first season consistently worth watching, while hard-hitting action and fresh narrative elements suggest strong potential for this slow-building series.
The latest MCU TV series clearly went through a lot of big changes in the editing room and it shows. Inconsistencies aside, Alaqua Cox is nothing short of excellent in a series which also boasts an impressive supporting cast. Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin was another highlight and Echo's action scenes were stellar. We just wish Charlie Cox's Daredevil had more than 90 seconds of screentime!
8. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Score: 77%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
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.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law definitely wasn't for everyone, but it was entertaining. The finale, however, is likely to forever divide fans as the meta-commentary went well beyond what we'd seen in previous episodes. That aside, Jennifer Walters is a great character and this corner of the MCU has proven to be well worth exploring. The Daredevil cameo was worth the way, but the VFX remains a problem.
7. The Defenders
Score: 78%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Marvel's The Defenders further develops well-known characters in an action-packed arc whose payoff packs more than enough of a punch to offset its flaws.
When Marvel Television and Netflix announced their collaboration, it was made clear the plan was to build to an Avengers-level event with The Defenders. It was an enjoyable team-up, but one which struggled under the weight of trying to turn The Hand into a credible threat. We wish it had been better but, as things stand, there's plenty of fun to be had with the eight-episode spin-off.
6. Jessica Jones
Score: 83%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Jessica Jones builds a multifaceted drama around its engaging antihero, delivering what might be Marvel's strongest TV franchise to date (Season 1) / While Jessica Jones is a slower burn with less focus than its inaugural season, its enticing new character arc more fully details the most charismatic Defender (Season 2) / Even if it's not the most satisfying finale for an entire era of Marvel television, Jessica Jones' final chapter finishes strong by giving its complicated heroine the space to change -- and Krysten Ritter one last chance to work her sarcastic magic (Season 3)
The first season of Jessica Jones was magnificent and, while season 2 was good, it simply couldn't live up to the P.I.'s clash with Purple Man. As for season 3...well, the less said about those episodes, the better. On the plus side, Krysten Ritter was consistently brilliant and it would be a real shame if she doesn't get the opportunity to reprise this role in the MCU.
5. Moon Knight
Score: 86%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Its entertainment value may wax and wane a bit, but Moon Knight ultimately settles into a mostly enjoyable -- and refreshingly weird -- spot in the MCU firmament.
We hate to say it, but Moon Knight is among the most disappointing series on this list. There was nowhere near enough superhero action in the show, and the messy final couple of episodes pointed to those scenes in the asylum being heavily reshot. Still, we loved Khonshu and there's no denying that Oscar Isaac's trippy performance kept us hooked from start to finish.
4. Luke Cage - TIE
Score: 87%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: An immersive, socially conscious narrative and a confident, charismatic lead performance make Marvel's Luke Cage a stellar sampling of the new Marvel/Netflix universe (Season 1) / In its second season, Marvel's Luke Cage delivers a satisfyingly complex narrative and a solid ensemble cast led by Alfre Woodard's standout performance as the archvillainess Black Mariah (Season 2)
Luke Cage was nothing if not inconsistent. The first season was flawless until Cottonmouth was killed and we were left with a lousy villain in the form of Cottonmouth. Season 2 was good and continued to touch on some incredibly important topics; however, we're still not over that ending because having Power Man become a crimelord left a bad taste it's been hard to wash away.
4. Loki - TIE
Score: 87%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: A delightful diversion from the MCU as we know it, Loki successfully sees star Tom Hiddleston leap from beloved villain to endearing antihero -- with a little help from Owen Wilson -- in a series that's as off-kilter, charming, and vaguely dangerous as the demigod himself (Season 1) / Loki's dizzying, dazzling second season may rely on sleight of hand to distract from its slightly less satisfying storyline, but the end result still contains enough of that old Marvel magic to entertain (Season 2)
The first season of Loki was superb and the second was just as good, if not better. The show's deep dive into the Multiverse meant the show wasn't overly accessible to non-hardcore fans, explaining why the lore-heavy season 2 didn't strike a chord with at least some critics. Still, it's in good company this high up on our list and Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson are fantastic from start to finish.
3. WandaVision
Score: 91%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Part loving homage to TV history, part off-kilter mystery, WandaVision is a wonderfully weird and strikingly bold step into the small screen for the MCU - and a perfect showcase for Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany.
An argument could be made that the theories surrounding this show, such as Mephisto being the big bad, got out of hand and somewhat lessened the experience. Putting that aside, though, it was a blast speculating each week and seeing the mystery in Westview unfurl; emotional, action-packed, and compelling, this show was superb, though we do wish they hadn't wasted Pietro.
2. Hawkeye - TIE
Score: 92%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Hawkeye starts slowly, but the street-level action is a refreshing change of pace for the MCU -- and the chemistry between its leads sparkles even when the plot lags.
Hawkeye ended up massively exceeding expectations, and the friendship between Clint Barton and Kate Bishop was another of those MCU relationships it was a delight to get caught up in. The Kingpin's debut was a welcomed surprise, while the Christmas setting also felt like something new from Marvel Studios. Swordmaster's arc was a tad disappointing, but that's our only gripe.
2. Daredevil - TIE
Score: 92%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: With tight adherence to its source material's history, high production quality, and a no-nonsense dramatic flair, Daredevil excels as an effective superhero origin story, a gritty procedural, and an exciting action adventure (Season 1) / Bolstered by some impressive action, Daredevil keeps its footing in season two, even if its new adversaries can't quite fill the void left by Wilson Fisk (Season 2) / The Man with No Fear returns to top form with a third season that begins tediously slow but gradually generates comic book thrills, immeasurably helped by the welcome return of Vincent D'Onofrio's menacing Kingpin (Season 3)
Not everything about Daredevil worked throughout its three seasons on Netflix but when the show was good, it was great. Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio were amazing, as were many of the action scenes. The series typically faltered by spending too much time on its supporting cast and we're still not over how poorly Elektra was handled. For the most part, though, this one ruled.
1. Ms. Marvel
Score: 98%
Rotten Or Fresh? Certified Fresh
Critics Consensus: Ms. Marvel is a genuinely fresh addition to the MCU -- both stylistically and substantively -- with Iman Vellani ably powering proceedings with her super-sized charisma.
There's no denying that there was a steep decline in quality in Ms. Marvel's third, fourth, and fifth episodes, but they were still very good, and the first, second, and sixth chapters were among the best hours of television we've seen from Marvel Studios. Iman Vellani is a megastar, we're in love with her family, and can't wait to see more of this hero in The Marvels next month.