Every Marvel Multiverse Saga Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

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Reflecting on the past, it seems like just yesterday we were watching Avengers: Endgame. However, if you examine Marvel’s cinematic output, 14 movies have been released since its premiere in 2019! In just six years, that’s quite a feat, especially considering there was a year with minimal releases due to the pandemic. This post-Endgame era has made Marvel one of the longest-running film franchises in history.

According to common belief, the “Multiverse Saga” encompassing Marvel Cinematic Universe movies after “Avengers: Endgame,” doesn’t measure up to the initial “Infinity Saga,” which spanned the first three phases of MCU films. To determine if there has been a noticeable drop in quality, let’s analyze all 14 films within the Multiverse Saga so far — going as far as “The Fantastic Four First Steps” — and rank them from least favorite to most preferred.

It’s evident that in Marvel’s recent timeline, there have been some notable low points. However, there have also been high points, although perhaps not as many as there would be if we were only discussing the Infinity Saga films. Most of these movies fall into the middle ground; they’re not disasters or masterpieces, but rather average or good. They receive a rating of three out of five stars on Letterboxd.

It’s understandable that movie fans expect more than just “fairly good” from films they spend $15 or more to watch. While this list might not signal the end for Marvel Studios, it doesn’t quite match up to their previous successes before the release of Endgame. It seems we underestimated our luck back then.

Every Marvel Multiverse Saga Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

14. Eternals (2021)

In the past, I wouldn’t have anticipated that a Marvel film, helmed by an Academy Award winner and derived from some of Jack Kirby’s daring comics, would result in one of the least indispensable titles. Regrettably, the movie Eternals, unfortunately, didn’t gel as intended. It generally adheres to Kirby’s fundamental concepts with a handful of minor but bothersome alterations – such as transforming the malevolent Deviants into uninteresting monsters lacking purpose or motivation. The ensemble boasts commendable supporting roles from Kumail Nanjiani and Brian Tyree Henry, yet the principal characters – Gemma Chan as Sersi and Richard Madden as Ikaris – find it challenging to convey their alleged passionate relationship (their romance spans 6,000 years; they exhibit the awkwardness of a first date gone awry). The script occasionally delves into intriguing concepts concerning the bonds between superheroes, mythology, and faith, only to abandon them repeatedly for a succession of routine battle sequences involving uninspiring adversaries. It’s challenging to conceive a more tedious film about immortal extraterrestrial automatons striving to avert impending apocalypse than this one.

13. The Marvels (2023)

In simpler terms, “The Marvel movie in question isn’t the most dismal in their roster, but it’s arguably the most confusing and intense one. Three captivating Marvel characters – Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau – are thrown into a mix to prevent a Kree warlord from wreaking havoc for unclear reasons. Despite the actors delivering strong performances, the plot is disorderly and filled with questionable decisions that hardly make sense.

12. Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

In a simpler and more conversational style:

“A perfect hero, a less-than-exciting plot. This sentiment could be applied to several recent Marvel films, such as The Marvels, but it’s particularly relevant for Captain America: Brave New World. This movie finally gives Anthony Mackie’s charming character Sam Wilson his own storyline, only to burden him with a dull villain and a narrative overflowing with unnecessary references to The Incredible Hulk, leaving us all wondering why we were so eagerly anticipating updates on Betty Ross in the first place.

11. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

In the battle between Ant-Man and Kang the Conqueror, even Kang (played by the intimidating Jonathan Majors) acknowledges that Scott Lang is in over his head. This massive contrast in power can be seen as a metaphor for the movie itself: The relatable, low-key world of the Ant-Man series, known for its clever humor and lovable characters, struggles to keep pace with the grand, multiversal storyline unfolding during Marvel Phase 5. As a Marvel cinema experience, it does the job. However, as an addition to the Ant-Man saga, it falls short of expectations. Unfortunately, if you were hoping to see Michael Peña’s character Luis in this installment, you’ll be disappointed, as he is not featured in the film at all.

10. Black Widow (2021)

2021 saw Scarlett Johansson’s long-awaited solo outing, titled Black Widow, where she predominantly served as the straight character amidst a humorous ensemble of Russian superheroes, including David Harbour’s self-absorbed Red Guardian and Florence Pugh’s scene-stealing Yelena. Consequently, this movie might not have been the fitting farewell for Black Widow that one might expect. However, it remains another well-crafted Marvel blockbuster, boasting some impressive stunt sequences, and an intriguing villain in the form of Taskmaster, who has the ability to replicate combat styles of any adversary encountered.

9. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Experiencing Taika Waititi’s second Thor movie, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” can be likened to witnessing a magician performing the same trick twice in quick succession. The initial performance was breathtakingly amazing. However, while the second performance is still entertaining, it lacks the element of surprise. Christian Bale effectively portrays the chilling Gorr the God-Butcher, yet his intense and deeply emotional villain doesn’t quite harmonize with Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and his continual humor. Essentially, “Thor: Love and Thunder” retains all the components of Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarok,” but they don’t blend together quite as effortlessly this time around.

8. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

In this film, the extraordinary camaraderie between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is everything you’d expect. Their cameos are surprising, even shocking. However, the story pushes the limits of how much information a movie can provide without making much sense. It seems like each character has an unnecessary tragic backstory – in this case, at least two! If you can ignore whatever’s happening on screen for a moment, you’ll have a satisfactory experience. Jackman and Reynolds certainly deliver the expected dynamic between Deadpool and Wolverine, fighting together to save the Fox X-Men universe. You might wish, though, that the writers (including Reynolds himself) had provided a more solid plotline.

7. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Initially, let me clarify: The climax, featuring dragons and beasts clashing amidst thick gray fog, is a chaotic CGI disaster. However, prior to this point, Shang-Chi could very well be Marvel’s finest action movie, boasting several intense and intricate fight sequences. (The one on the San Francisco bus is particularly enjoyable.) Simu Liu heads up a cast that delves deeper into Marvel characters, with Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh delivering compelling supporting roles, while Ben Kingsley and Awkwafina consistently provide comic relief through their scenes. (Kingsley’s portrayal of former Mandarin Trevor Slattery, though not the most beloved Marvel villain initially, has been skillfully transformed into an endearing secondary character by Marvel.)

6. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

In the task of creating “Wakanda Forever”, director Ryan Coogler encountered an exceptionally tough predicament. Apart from producing a sequel that matched the greatness of the original “Black Panther”, he had to accomplish this feat without the vibrant lead actor, Chadwick Boseman, who tragically passed away in the summer of 2020, mere months before filming was set to commence. The movie shines brightest when it seamlessly integrates Coogler and the cast’s feelings of grief over Boseman into the narrative of Wakanda grappling with the loss of its monarch. Unfortunately, the remainder of the film falters slightly; it is a jumble of intriguing concepts, an excess of characters, and a somewhat confused antagonist, the aquatic ruler Namor.

5. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Marvel movie, “First Steps,” marks a clear enhancement over the four earlier attempts by Roger Corman and 20th Century Fox at establishing a cinematic Fantastic Four (FF) franchise. Given the subpar quality of those prior films, this upgrade is hardly surprising. “First Steps” excels in terms of production value and features an intriguing villain, Galactus, who seeks to devour Earth due to feelings of loneliness and hunger for a grand meal.

However, the film as a whole isn’t quite as enjoyable as expected. While the casting of the four lead roles appears spot-on on paper, in practice, it seems that none of the actors have fully embraced their characters yet. The script may have unintentionally diminished the vibrancy of the Fantastic Four, leaving them without a distinctive personality to explore. To put it another way, “First Steps” serves as a promising beginning, but there’s still room for growth and improvement.

4. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

In a straightforward and engaging rephrase: Jon Watts’ third Spider-Man movie is comparable to Sam Raimi’s third Spider-Man film. Both have a tendency to be overloaded with numerous villains. However, on the bright side, this film effectively encapsulates the charm of Peter Parker as a character – a man who consistently falters but never gives up on making things right in the future. Moreover, it introduces the multiverse into MCU films on a grand scale, thereby signifying an essential step forward in the ongoing storyline.

Or, more concisely: Jon Watts’ third Spider-Man movie mirrors Sam Raimi’s third film with its abundance of villains but excels in capturing Peter Parker’s character and showcasing the multiverse within the MCU for the first time on a significant scale.

The goal here is to maintain the original meaning while making it more readable and engaging for the audience, using simpler language and a conversational tone.

3. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Following a 15-year absence, director Sam Raimi re-entered the realm of Marvel characters, delivering an exhilaratingly chaotic tale that revolves around the struggle for the survival of the multiverse. Similar to his previous Spider-Man films, Raimi skillfully incorporated his unique style and visuals — including humor with a quirky edge, maniacal zombies, and shocking surprises — into the conventional Marvel template. (For additional details, read more here.)

2. Thunderbolts* (2025)

In many ways, the Marvel projects released after “Endgame” seem like they’ve been cobbled together from leftover pieces of various comics, movies, and lore, resembling a Frankenstein monster in terms of their creation. However, “Thunderbolts” stands out as a genuine film; it offers an engaging narrative with several intriguing characters, particularly Florence Pugh’s portrayal of the new Black Widow. Similar to many of us, her character finds her life monotonous and unfulfilling until she is thrust into a group of like-minded mercenaries, including Wyatt Russell as the arrogant U.S. Agent and Hannah John-Kamen’s captivating Ghost. With its exciting action sequences and powerful allegory about overcoming despair and apathy through action and camaraderie, “Thunderbolts” serves as a reminder of Marvel Studios’ potential when it operates at its peak.

*Note: The original text includes an asterisk (*) next to “Thunderbolts”, implying that it may be a fictional or hypothetical title, rather than an actual film or show.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

James Gunn skillfully concludes his Guardians trilogy with a movie that offers the perfect Marvel blend – action on a grand scale, quirky science fiction visuals, and characters who we grow deeply attached to, making their emotions feel incredibly genuine. By the end of Volume 3, Rocket Raccoon transforms from a secondary character in Marvel’s universe into one of the company’s most intriguing and heartbreaking heroes. After a series of less-than-stellar films, Gunn makes it seem effortless. It’s too bad he’s moving on to DC now.

The Evolution of the Marvel Logo

1. “MC” (1961-3)

Originally, the company currently known as Marvel Comics went by different names in the early years of the comic book industry. Although their first publication was titled “Marvel Comics,” the company initially operated under the name Timely Comics. Later, the owner of Timely changed the name to Atlas Comics. Eventually, Atlas Comics transformed into Marvel around the time the company experienced a significant surge in popularity in the early 1960s due to a new trend of superhero comics.

In those days, the term “Marvel” was not found on the company’s publications at all. For instance, on the first issue of Fantastic Four, there is only a small box with the letters “M” and “C” arranged vertically. Unless you were aware of what that stood for, you wouldn’t have known which company had published this unusual-looking new series.

2. Marvel Comics Group (1963-6)

In the mid-1960s, as Marvel started gaining popularity, its brand name grew significantly in value. Consequently, it was prominently displayed on all its publications. This was done by placing the name in a distinctive box located in the corner of each cover, which showcased images of the main characters for easy identification of Marvel comics.

3. Marvel COMICS GROUP (1966-71)

The initial appearance of the box at the upper left corner on Marvel comic book covers included both the price and Marvel’s logo. Over time, the cost was moved to a different location, and “COMICS GROUP” expanded to fill the vacant space. It was during this period that the tall, boxy letters which would eventually be recognized as Marvel’s trademark first emerged, although they were not yet in their signature bright red hue.

4. Banner Logo (1971-83)

During the 1970s’ early phase, Marvel underwent a design makeover. The title was prominently displayed in large, bold letters within a colorful banner spanning the top of each cover. For this period, the tall and blocky “MARVEL” logo was replaced with an all-caps font. Additionally, during that time, the Comics Code Authority seal, which appeared on every book, found its home within this banner.

5. Bold Block Letters (1983-7)

In the wake of their successful years, Marvel made changes to their comic book covers and logos from the late ’60s. They reintroduced, with slight modifications, the chunky “MARVEL” logo, now displayed in black text.

6. Bold and Italicized Block Letters (1987-90)

A while afterward, Marvel revised its logo once more, inclining the “MARVEL” in italics (Italics were extremely popular during the late 1980s, appearing virtually everywhere).

7. Marvel Comics (1990-2002)

In an unusual turn of events, the phrase “Marvel Comics” (excluding the additional term “Group”) didn’t become a regular fixture on the company’s monthly publications until 1990. This logo showcased the same tall, block-like letters, now sculpted from the top of an oversized “M,” with the words “COMICS” written in large, bubbly script as a secondary color above it. Red and yellow were frequently used together for this design. Notably, this logo graced some of Marvel’s bestselling comics, such as X-Men #1 and X-Force #1, and is still strongly associated with the company even two decades after its official retirement.

8. THE Logo (2002-12)

Back in 2002, as Marvel ventured into a contemporary series of “Ultimate” comics, they simultaneously unveiled a revamped logo. This iconic emblem, which has graced every movie since then, making it the most widely recognized symbol of Marvel. The sleek white-on-red “MARVEL” font was ingeniously crafted by Cyrus Highsmith and Tobias Frere Jones.

9. THE Logo (Tweaked)

Approximately ten years after, Marvel subtly adjusted their now-recognizable logo once more, thanks to designer Rian Hughes. He made minor adjustments to the spacing and arrangement of the letters, changes that are hardly noticeable but crucial. You can observe his meticulous work in a graphic on his website. To this day, the updated version designed by Hughes is the one you’ll find on Marvel comics.

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2025-07-22 22:58