3 Rotten Marvel Movies You Should Still Watch

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The digital release of “Captain America: Brave New World” broadens its reach, as more people can now access it beyond the movie theaters. Although it performed well in cinemas, it fell slightly short of $200 million domestically, suggesting that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) might be experiencing a dip in financial success. The upcoming MCU film, “Thunderbolts,” set to release on May 2, is expected to perform better. One key advantage for this movie is its improved appearance compared to “Brave New World,” which, except for “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Eternals,” holds the dubious distinction of being the lowest-rated MCU film on Rotten Tomatoes.

Admittedly, that ranking is quite fair. In general, “Brave New World” falls squarely into the mid-tier of the expansive franchise, with some below-par special effects. However, due in large part to Anthony Mackie and Danny Ramirez’s stellar performances, it’s a movie that doesn’t entirely lack value. What other Marvel movies are worth watching despite their “Rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes? Let’s explore that.

Blade

The Blade trilogy has a “Rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is somewhat unexpected, considering that both Blade and Blade II are quite close to being considered “Fresh,” with scores of 58% and 57%. These movies are definitely worth watching for Marvel fans (or action movie enthusiasts) who might have missed them. However, the final installment, Blade: Trinity, falls short due to its disorganized and inconsistent tone. Even die-hard Ryan Reynolds fans may find it hard to recommend this one, as its score of 24% is well deserved.

It’s puzzling to understand exactly what critics were expecting from the movies “Blade” and “Blade II.” Particularly the sequel directed by Guillermo del Toro stands out as it is skillfully made, filled with deep themes, and action sequences that are just as intense. Notably, Wesley Snipes delivers a powerful performance in both films, much like Hugh Jackman in “X-Men” and Willem Dafoe in “Spider-Man.” Snipes was a significant early casting choice for Marvel characters. Given the challenges the Mahershala Ali reboot has faced, maybe it’s worth revisiting what worked before. With the MCU seemingly regaining its quality footing, there could be an opportunity for Snipes’ Blade to embark on a solo adventure and potentially receive positive reviews.

Punisher: War Zone

Jon Bernthal continues to be an outstanding fit for the role of Frank Castle, aka The Punisher. It’s fantastic news that “Daredevil: Born Again” has formally integrated him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the three previous adaptations of the character may not have been perfect, they still hold merit. The late ’80s version featuring Dolph Lundgren (with a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) can be safely skipped, but the other two are more appreciated than their 29% Rotten Tomatoes scores might suggest.

2004’s adaptation featuring Thomas Jane comes close to earning that low score, yet it’s worth admiring for the fitting portrayal of the lead character by our main actor. Unfortunately, the movie itself isn’t engaging, and John Travolta as the antagonist appears disinterested. In contrast, Punisher: War Zone can be considered a 65% film – not flawless, but it doesn’t aim to be. The gritty atmosphere, another excellent casting decision with Ray Stevenson, and standout performances by Dominic West as Jigsaw and Doug Hutchison as Looney Bin Jim make it the superior Punisher movie. Sadly, it underperformed even more with regular audiences than critics ($10.1 million worldwide against a $35 million budget).

You can stream Punisher: War Zone on Pluto TV.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The 50% rating for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” on Rotten Tomatoes seems fitting. Similar to “Spider-Man 3” (with a 63% score, significantly lower than its predecessors), this film takes on too much and struggles to fit everything into one movie.

Given the crucial role of its third act in shaping the future MCU storyline for “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, it’s definitely a worthwhile choice to rent or stream this movie. However, Rhino might not be as effective as before, perhaps even less so than in “Kraven the Hunter”. Electro’s design may appear absurd, but there’s no denying that the chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone is electrifying, which only intensifies the emotional impact of the ending.

You can stream The Amazing Spider-Man 2 on Starz and Disney+.

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2025-04-20 14:42