In addition to changing the cinema landscape, the MCU redefined the comic book movie. Before the MCU came into existence, people branded comic book movies as trivial—despite their viability at the box office.
One of the reasons superhero films carried this stigma was because of Marvel movies themselves. In the '90s, Marvel took several stabs at bringing their properties to the big screen, and—barring entries from later in the decade—most can't hold a candle to their MCU equivalent. That doesn't mean that '90s Marvel films don't do some things better than the MCU ever could.
10 '90s Movies Are Better: Marvel Movies Were More Experimental Than The MCU
Marvel films of the '90s focused on appealing to the broadest possible base of potential fans. As a result, movies from the era took interesting chances with the source material. All of the revisions—like filmmakers turning the Red Skull Italian in the 1990 version of Captain America—didn't always land, but they did provide a level of entertainment themselves.
Fans never had any idea what would be modified and what elements made the cut. '90s Marvel still carries an unpredictable aspect the MCU doesn't.
9 MCU Movies Are Better: The Accuracy Of '90s Marvel Movies Can't Hold A Candle To The MCU
The freewheeling revisions to the classic mythos of characters carry its entertainment value, but films that accurately represent ideas presented in beloved comics are vastly superior. The MCU is successful because of its ability to please casual audiences and hardcore fans. Finding success with the latter bracket of fans is the MCU's primary concern.
By altering subtle aspects of their films to streamline the experience, MCU films greet hardcore comic fans with pleasant surprises on opening day instead of strange revisions to the source material.
8 '90s Movies Are Better: Not Having An Interconnected Universe Allowed '90s Marvel Movies More Freedom
Keeping up continuity in the MCU, while fun and rewarding, is somewhat of a chore. Marvel Studios even understand this—as Disney + has multiple playlists for Marvel films for casual fans. '90s Marvel movies present a version of superhero movies that's noncommittal.
Instead of the daunting, elaborate web of characters and events in the MCU, the '90s, Marvel movies offer stories designed to be accessible within a single viewing. This style of filmmaking allows every film to have the finality of an Avengers: Endgame.
7 MCU Movies Are Better: The MCU's Universe Is What Fans Of '90s Marvel Movies Wished For
Marvel movies from the '90s can be frustrating. Due to different studios possessing the rights to many of Marvel's most prestigious characters, '90s Marvel movies offer no connectivity between characters. Part of what makes superheroes such a fascinating genre is how many characters inhabit a universe.
This notion is even more applicable to Marvel superheroes since most of the characters in the comics live in New York City. When watching a '90s Marvel film, comic fans can't suppress their desire to see disparate characters interact.
6 '90s Movies Are Better: They Could Focus On Darker Subject Matter
Disney has helped the MCU tremendously since the House of Mouse acquired Marvel in 2009. Providing the financial backing to realize the grandest vision of the MCU, Disney is one of the most potent pieces in Marvel's secret formula. Disney does come with some downsides.
Being associated with a brand inextricably linked to children prevents MCU films from reaching their full potential. On the page, Doctor Strange and the horror genre are synonymous. In the MCU, Doctor Strange gets into quipping contests with his cape.
5 MCU Movies Are Better: The MCU Has The Bigger, Better Budget
In the '90s, Marvel films forced fans to make several concessions. Chief among the list of concessions was the quality of costumes and special effects. Film fans of the '90s witnessed spectacles like Jurrasic Park realize previously unfathomable levels of realism in special effects, whereas Marvel fans got Roger Corman's Fantastic Four.
The film is infamous for the multitude of shoddy special effects that riddle the film. The film attempts to replicate Mr. Fantastic's stretching powers with a broom and rubber glove at the end.
4 '90s Movies Are Better: They Didn't Carry The Burden Of Living Up To Other Films In The Genre
At the end of the decade, Marvel movies upped their game in the '90s. The level of subversion that Blade and X-Men were able to achieve correlates with the low expectations that audiences had for superhero films.
In contrast, MCU films have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best films of the franchise. The MCU's prestige is so ubiquitous that every movie tries to top itself with diminishing returns. For fans of '90s Marvel films, just getting a good film was cause for celebration.
3 MCU Movies Are Better: The MCU Can Turn Obscure Heroes Into Household Names
No one saw Guardians of the Galaxy coming—not even comic fans. With the level of branding that the MCU possesses, Marvel is free to anoint of their most underrated characters at their leisure. '90s Marvel films only focused on the most prominent names the publisher had to offer.
Now the MCU can take chances on crafting properties with more representation by focusing on obscure characters to revise. Also, by concentrating on obscure characters, Marvel can highlight the frequently lesser-known creators responsible for their creation.
2 '90s Movies Are Better: They Didn't Turn Every Property Into An Action Comedy
There's a unique and influential blend of action-comedy that defines the MCU. However, not every property should boast the action-comedy that is Marvel's current calling card. In the '90s, Marvel movies were allowed to be tonally divergent to one another, offering closer versions of the source material than the MCU.
As of writing this list, the MCU is preparing to adapt Blade—a property defined by its gritty, horror violence. Under the MCU banner, Blade will be a tame action-comedy with more quips than kills.
1 MCU Movies Are Better: The MCU Has Created More Fans Of Superhero Films
Despite its flaws, The MCU's status in pop culture is helpful for every comic fan, creator, and publisher. Having Hollywood and the public look at comic characters with reverence allows industry heavyweights like Robert Kirkman—creator of The Walking Dead and Invincible—to have an easier time adapting their work.
'90s Marvel films could never bring the opportunities or acclaim that even the weakest MCU movie does. If Marvel stuck with their formula from the '90s, the current superhero renaissance sweeping pop culture wouldn't exist.