MCU Phase 5 vs Phase 4: Which Was the Real Superhero Flop?

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Over the last few years, there’s been a widespread feeling that the Marvel Cinematic Universe might have reached its peak. At best, it seems to be keeping its existing fans rather than drawing in new ones. In contrast, audiences are now craving fresh, original content instead of adaptations from existing sources that are part of an extensive cinematic universe, where understanding the current movie often requires watching at least one TV series and another film. *Thunderbolts* is a good example of this trend, being entertaining overall but requiring some prior knowledge to fully appreciate its storyline.

To fully grasp the concept of Thunderbolts, it’s essential to have watched shows like “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, “Ant-Man and the Wasp”, “Black Widow”, among others. Unfortunately, that’s not even half of what you should know. The issue is not only the specific requirement for these viewings but also the overall image of this intellectual property has been fading over time. However, was Phase 5, which culminates in the Disney+ series “Ironheart”, a turnaround from Phase 4 where the negative reputation began to grow? Let’s explore further.

Phase 4 Highlights and Lowlights

It’s indisputable that Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe lacked the strength of its predecessors. The primary problem was glaring: they were spreading themselves too thin. With eight series, two specials, and seven films from January 2021 to November 2022, it’s evident that they produced content at an overwhelming pace.

It was inevitable that even the most dedicated followers might overlook a project initially or decide it wasn’t compelling enough, as cramming too many projects together without giving them breathing room robs them of the excitement and anticipation that makes an event feel significant.

Among the 17 total projects under consideration, which ones can be considered valuable expansions to the cinematic universe that includes films like 2008’s Iron Man, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Avengers: Endgame? For the sake of clarity, let’s categorize them based on their overall reception by audiences: outstanding (success), moderate (middling), or less favorable (failure). Keep in mind that this is more about how audiences generally viewed these projects, rather than our personal opinions.

Let’s begin our discussion focusing on the hit shows, starting with Disney+’s “WandaVision,” which is definitely a success. The same goes for “Loki” Season 1 and “Hawkeye,” one of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s finest projects thus far. Additionally, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” are also doing well, earning their places in our success category.

Let’s examine the middle category now. Many people would concur that shows like “Werewolf by Night” and “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” belong here. They are entertaining, but not crucial to understanding the Marvel Cinatic Universe (MCU) as a complete entity. Shows such as “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Marvel’s What If…?”, “Moon Knight,” and “Ms. Marvel” also fit in this category, along with movies like “Black Widow” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Attorney at Law,” as well as the movies “Eternals” and “Thor: Love and Thunder.” To calculate a points value, successes are given three points, middling projects get two points, and failures receive one point. With 37 points in total (from 17 projects), this means each project is worth approximately 2.18 points. Moving forward to Phase 5…

Phase 5 Highlights and Lowlights

Phase 5 seemed to distribute events a bit more evenly, however, there was still a lack of ample spacing between movies and series for them to truly feel like standalone events. From February 2023 with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to May 2025’s Thunderbolts*, there have been 14 Marvel Cinematic Universe projects so far. As Ironheart has yet to air, we’ll classify Phase 5 as having 14 projects, rather than the 15 it will soon become.

In terms of notable hits, Disney+ featured shows like “Loki’s second season” and “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” with some contending that “Agatha All Along” was successful, although it didn’t quite reach the level of “WandaVision.” When it comes to movies, offerings included “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and a combination of “Deadpool” and “Wolverine.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d say these middle-tier picks include the second and third seasons of Marvel’s “What If…?”, the series “Echo”, the intriguing “Agatha All Along”, and the first season of “Daredevil: Born Again”. Oh, and don’t forget about “Thunderbolts*”, which also falls into this category.

In terms of complete flops, we’ve got “Secret Invasion,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (which laid the groundwork for something that ultimately didn’t materialize), “The Marvels,” and “Captain America: Brave New World.” Altogether, these add up to 28 points for Phase 5. If you divide that by the number of movies in Phase 5 (14), you get a score of 2.0.

Of course, opinions vary widely. Just as some folks enjoy “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” as much as others didn’t fancy “Deadpool & Wolverine”, it’s clear that taste is individual. However, when we consider the general consensus, Phase 5 appears to be a slight dip compared to the high standards set by Phase 4.

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2025-05-09 05:18