5 Early Marvel Movies That Deserve Just As Much Credit As The MCU

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe dramatically changed how the world sees Marvel, bringing its characters to a huge mainstream audience. It began with *Iron Man*, a film many considered a gamble for Marvel’s first movie, and quickly became one of the most successful superhero movie franchises ever. While the MCU is a major reason superhero films are so popular today, it’s not the only studio to make great comic book movies. Before Marvel started making its own films, there were already some excellent releases. Though some early attempts, like a previous *Captain America* movie, didn’t quite hit the mark, and expensive films like *Fantastic Four* and the original *Daredevil* disappointed, there were still some real standouts.

Before Marvel Studios dominated the superhero movie scene, several fantastic films – including some genuinely scary ones – paved the way. Here’s a look back at those earlier, often overlooked, comic book adaptations that deserve recognition.

5) Blade (1998)

Before 1998, Marvel hadn’t found much success with movies. Their previous attempts, like *The Punisher* starring Dolph Lundgren and the critically panned *Howard the Duck*, along with a few films based on the *Incredible Hulk* TV series, hadn’t resonated with audiences. That changed with *Blade*, which quietly became a hit. Starring Wesley Snipes as a half-vampire vigilante, *Blade* was a gritty, R-rated horror film made by the team behind *A Nightmare on Elm Street*, and it marked a turning point for Marvel movies.

For comic book fans, Blade has been a Marvel character since the 1970s, originally appearing in horror comics. While he wasn’t always like the movie version, Marvel updated him to match the film’s portrayal. The movie really made Blade popular, as he initially started as a minor character in the *Dracula* comics. It launched the first Marvel movie franchise, with three films released – and many fans believe the second, directed by Guillermo Del Toro, was even better than the original.

4) Spider-Man (2002)

Before 2002, Spider-Man was well-known from many TV shows, cartoons (even some with the Avengers!), and a memorable appearance on the children’s show *The Electric Company*. But when Sony released the movie *Spider-Man* starring Tobey Maguire in 2002, it truly launched the character into a new level of popularity.

As a critic, I remember when Sam Raimi’s *Spider-Man* swung onto the scene – it wasn’t just a good movie, it was a game-changer. Earning over $825 million, it proved comic book adaptations could *actually* make serious money. It kicked off a trilogy, yes, but even more impressively, it led to *two* separate film universes for the character. First, we got the Andrew Garfield years, and then the incredible partnership between Sony and Marvel with Tom Holland. Honestly, without Raimi’s original, none of those subsequent Spider-Man movies – and their success – would have happened. It truly laid the foundation for everything that followed.

3) X2 (2003)

I remember when the first X-Men movie came out in 2000 – it felt like a turning point! It was the first time Marvel Comics really took a chance on the big screen. Before that, it was mostly DC with Superman and Batman. X-Men showed everyone that people *wanted* superhero movies, and wanted them badly. Then, when the sequel came out just a year after Spider-Man, it really solidified that – audiences were hungry for more!

With *X2: X-Men United*, the franchise saw a significant boost in earnings, exceeding the first film’s revenue by over $110 million, and offering a stronger narrative. This sequel solidified the X-Men’s position as the most popular Marvel team among movie audiences, building on their long-held status with comic book fans. The success of *X2* propelled Fox to great heights with the franchise, resulting in a total of eight X-Men team movies, one spin-off (*The New Mutants*), and three dedicated *Wolverine* films – more movies than any other Marvel property.

2) Hulk (2003)

The Hulk is a unique challenge for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While he’s appeared in several MCU films, including *Avengers* and *Thor: Ragnarok*, and even had his own movie, Marvel doesn’t fully control the character. Universal Pictures holds the rights, which limits what Marvel can do with a solo Hulk film. Interestingly, the 2003 *Hulk* movie was remarkably faithful to the comic books when it first came out.

I remember when Ang Lee’s *Hulk* came out – it was so interesting because he really tried to make it *look* like a comic book, with shots framed like panels. It didn’t really work for most critics or fans at the time, and it got a lot of negative reviews. But honestly, I thought it was a pretty cool way to bring the Hulk to life on the big screen. Some even argue it holds up better than the later *Incredible Hulk* movie that Marvel made with Universal.

1) The Punisher (2004)

The early *Punisher* film from the 1980s, with Dolph Lundgren, wasn’t very faithful to the comic book version of Frank Castle. While *Punisher: War Zone* (2008) came the closest to capturing the character as seen in Marvel Comics, many fans consider the 2004 movie, *The Punisher*, to be the strongest adaptation overall.

Thomas Jane played Frank Castle in a film that included popular characters from the comic books, like Spacker Dave, Joan, and Bumpo, who were originally featured in the Garth Ennis series. Although it didn’t immediately win over all fans, the movie has since become a cult favorite. Jane even directed a short film, *The Punisher: Dirty Laundry*, that fans really loved. While Jon Bernthal is now widely known as the Punisher in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, many believe Thomas Jane perfectly captured the essence of the character.

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2025-10-19 23:12