As the years pass and the Marvel Cinematic Universe expands, we looked to science to determine the top MCU films.
The 34th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Deadpool & Wolverine, appears to be a much-needed boost. This R-rated, cameo-filled, hyper-violent film is revitalizing a dwindling fanbase and performing well at the box office.
However, one may question if the MCU truly lived up to its initial hype. To answer this, we took on the task of calculating the average critic ratings and box office earnings for each MCU film, sparing you the effort, and arrived at a highly scientific conclusion regarding which ones can be deemed as “the best.”
Upon investigation, it became clear that the numbers are not as straightforward as initially thought. Out of the 34 MCU movies, only 8 surpass the average.
| Movie | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | US Box Office | WW Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Man (2008) | 94 | 79 | 318,604,126 | 585,366,247 |
| Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) | 92 | 76 | 333,176,600 | 772,776,600 |
| Black Panther (2018) | 96 | 88 | 700,059,566 | 1,346,913,161 |
| Avengers: Endgame (2019) | 94 | 78 | 858,373,000 | 2,799,439,100 |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) | 93 | 71 | 804,793,477 | 1,912,233,593 |
| Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) | 84 | 67 | 453,829,060 | 859,208,836 |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) | 82 | 64 | 358,995,815 | 845,555,777 |
| Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) | 79 | 56 | 280,529,906 | 590,629,906 |
It is truly enlightening to see all the data lined up in succession. While some MCU films receive high praise from critics, others dominate the box office, but only a few manage to achieve both. Interestingly, there have been eight films that have captured the world’s attention, revealing where the interests of fans truly lie.
Ultimately, the most unexpected entry on the list may turn out to be the first Iron Man film. Although it holds great significance in the current Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was considered only a modest achievement upon its release. It is intriguing to reflect on its simplicity in comparison to the current MCU, where Iron Man has evolved into a multiversal Doctor Doom.
At the other end of the spectrum is Deadpool & Wolverine, which finally delivered the Wolverine that fans had been anticipating for more than two decades. The film also featured a variety of lesser-known Fox Marvel characters, making for an exciting and successful combination. In fact, it is on track to reach the highly coveted $1 billion mark at the box office.
Despite all the information presented, the most significant piece of data is that everything is included. This shows that there is no one specific phase that outshines the others, demonstrating that the MCU is capable of surprising and delighting its fans even during its lowest moments.
The continuation of that trend will be revealed with the start of Phase 6 in 2026, which will kick off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
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