After a decade of storytelling, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally reached the moment virtually all of its movies have been building to. Avenger: Infinity War is the epic culmination of multiple cameos by Thanos, and the answers to nearly every mystery surrounding the Infinity Stones, the endgame for years of story beats that created the likes of Ultron and Vision, while shaping the destinies of every member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Each film in the franchise was a wild ride... but they weren't all equally received, a fact that becomes extremely apparent when you look at the aggregated critic scores each one was given. And that's exactly what we'll be doing here; using review aggregates like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, we've ranked all 19 -- yes, nineteen -- MCU films according to how the critics rated them. Now, some of these may surprise you, but just remember that critics don't always see eye to eye with the average moviegoer. Their job is to critique a film, and they don't always allow their love for certain characters or franchises to get in the way.
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And with that, let's begin with the worst reviewed Marvel Studios movie to date:
19. Thor: The Dark World - Average Score: 60
Thor's second solo film expanded on the relationship between the Avenger's god of thunder and his half-brother Loki, and introduced the Reality Stone, which as we now know, would become important to the overarching plot of the MCU. It was riddled with flaws such as its main antagonist and the quality of the plot and special effects.
While many critics expressed a shallow contentment with the film, such as Christopher Orr of The Atlantic, who stated that it "gets by thanks to its heady pace and good-natured charm," other critics were far less impressed. Critics such as Kyle Smith of the New York Post stated simply that it was "low-stakes, low emotion, lowbrow." The film currently holds a critic score of 66% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic score of 54.
Thor: The Dark World (directed by Alan Taylor) currently holds an audience score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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18. The Incredible Hulk - Average Score: 64
The Hulk's first and only solo MCU film focused solely on Bruce Banner's character, skipping the majority of his origin story to expand on his struggle with the Hulk. Due to its reception, The Incredible Hulk (directed by Louis Leterrier) is constantly referred to as the MCU's weakest film to date. It currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 67% with a Metacritic score of 61.
Critics often cited the over-reliance on massive fight scenes. Roger Ebert for example, stated that he felt the film "sidesteps the intriguing aspects of Hulkdom and spends way too much time in, dare I say, noisy and mindless action sequences," comparing it unfavorably to Ang Lee's 2003 film, Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk currently holds an audience score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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17. Iron Man 2 - Average Score: 65
Tony Stark underwent deeper, personal changes in his second superhero outing. Iron Man 2 (directed by Jon Favreau) was, in many ways, bigger than its predecessor, but that's not always what fans or critics look for in a sequel. That much is evident from the critical reception of this film. It holds a critic score of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 57.
Reviews for Iron Man 2 were mixed. Some critics, such as Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "everything fun and terrific about Iron Man, a mere two years ago, has vanished with its sequel." Others such as Roger Ebert described it as a "not as good as the original, but building once again on a quirky performance by Robert Downey Jr." If nothing else, it's a testament to how vital Robert Downey Jr. was to the establishment of Marvel's entire franchise.
Iron Man 2 currently holds an audience score of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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16. Thor - Average Score: 67
Thor (directed by Kenneth Branagh) introduced the Norse god of thunder and his entire mythological world while trying to make it blend with the rest of the MCU which, up until that point, had been relatively grounded in a more traditional sci-fi reality. Thor brought with it an element of fantasy, but while the film may have received less than stellar reviews, that's not to say some critics didn't enjoy it, at least in part. The film holds as critic score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 57.
Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, for example, stated simply that "it's not art, but it's mighty fun." Other reviews were a bit more scathing. A.O Scott of The New York Times described it and its financial success as a "triumph of commercial calculation over imagination." One thing most critics agreed on was the talent of the film's cast -- Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston in particular, both of whom would go on to feature prominently in future MCU films.
Thor currently holds an audience score of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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15. Avengers: Age of Ultron - Average Score: 70.5
While it's no secret that the Avengers sequel was not as well received as its predecessor, Avengers: Age of Ultron (directed by Joss Whedon) was arguably more impactful in the grand scheme of the MCU, with its climactic end setting the stage for films such as Captain America: Civil War. Critics cited its antagonist, Ultron, as one of its major flaws. The film currently hold a critic score of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic score of 66.
Some critics praised Avengers: Age of Ultron as a "surprisingly touching and even romantic adventure with one kinetic thrill after another," as Richard Roeper wrote in his review. Other critics such as Anthony Lane of The New Yorker criticized the overall plot of the film, writing, "if there was anything to understand, it wasn't worth the sweat."
Avengers: Age of Ultron currently holds an audience score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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14. Iron Man 3 - Average Score: 71
Tony Stark's final solo film, Iron Man 3 (directed by Shane Black), took Stark's story in a different direction and told it with a slightly different tone. That, coupled with the film's villains, left some hardcore fans feeling slightly disappointed and some critics felt the same. It currently holds a critic score of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 62.
The difference in opinion surrounding the film is clear when looking at the actual reviews.There were those who enjoyed the film, such as Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian, who called the film "smart, funny and spectacular," and there were some who criticized the film's less-than-creative premise and execution such as Ann Hornaday who wrote, "this branch of the Marvel franchise tree feels brittle and over-extended enough to snap off entirely."
Iron Man 3 currently holds an audience score of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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13. Captain America: The First Avenger - Average Score: 72.5
There were doubts about the adaptation of Captain America before it hit theaters in 2011. While it definitely didn't please everyone, it was certainly better than many were expecting from its premise and star spangled costumes. Captain America: The First Avenger (directed by Joe Johnston) currently holds a critic score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic score of 66.
Almost everyone agreed that the concept was going to be somewhat silly, but overall, reviews praised the film as a fun little adventure for fans. David Denby of The New Yorker, for example, wrote, "it doesn't try too hard for irony or style; the comic-book sensibility remains pure, square and happily stupid."
Captain America: The First Avenger currently holds an audience score of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes.
12. Ant Man - Average Score: 73
Bringing an end to Phase 2 of the MCU was Ant-Man (directed by Peyton Reed), which brought more humor to the franchise and completed the roster for Captain America: Civil War. The film holds a critic score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 64.
Critics such as Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times praised the tone and characters and said that Ant-Man was "light on its feet the way standard issue Marvel behemoths never are." That same humor was a cause for complaint for others. Richard Roeper described it the film as a "cliché-riddled origins story that veers between inside-joke comedy, ponderous redemption story lines and admittedly nifty CGI sequences."
Ant-Man currently holds an audience score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 - Average Score: 75
There were huge expectations for this film after the unprecedented success of its predecessor. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (directed by James Gunn) delivered more intergalactic action and '80s music than the previous volume while expanding on the stories of its principle cast. The film currently holds a critic score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic score of 67.
The film received many reviews that showed that some critics enjoyed the sequel just as much as the first film, such as Peter Travers' review for Rolling Stone which read, "hanging with Quill and his mercenary space misfits is still everything you'd want in a wild summer ride." Other critics felt that the film was less impactful than the others. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that the film "doesn't have the same sense of weird urgency and point that the first film had."
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 currently holds an audience score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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10. Avengers: Infinity War - Average Score: 76
This may come as a surprise to some, given the attention and praise currently surrounding the record-breaking film, but critics did not enjoy the MCU's climactic film as much as other instalments. While fans continue to flock to the emotional roller-coaster of a film, critics were not impressed by its dizzying scale. The film holds a critic score of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic score of 68.
Critics applauded the Russo brothers for their work. As Helen O'Hara of Empire put it, "this time the Russos achieved the impossible. Not only did they bring all these disparate characters and stories together, but they made it look effortless." Of course, some weren't nearly as pleased. A.A Dowd of The A.V Club wrote of the film that, like so many crossovers, the film placed "quantity over quality."
Avengers: Infinity War currently holds an audience score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Average Score: 79.5
Steve Roger's second solo film took Captain America away from the patriotic binds of his origin story and placed him in a slightly more relatable world, where questions about security and freedom need answering as we see in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (directed by Joe and Anthony Russo). The film currently holds a critic score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic score of 70.
Many critics praised the fresh story and the blend between superhero action film and spy thriller. Richard Roeper called it, "just the right balance of superhero fun, nods to the greater Marvel Universe and genuine dramatic tension." Few described the film as being void of real depth and creativity, most notable being Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times writing that the film was a "machine-made, assembly line product."
Captain America: The Winter Soldier currently holds an audience score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
8. Doctor Strange - Average Score: 80.5
Up until Doctor Strange (directed by Scott Derrickson), the Marvel Cinematic Universe was mostly comprised of sci-fi based stories and characters. With Stephen Strange, audiences were introduced to a different side of that universe, one filled with magic. It had its share of controversy and flaws but fans seemed to enjoy it nonetheless. The film currently holds a critic score of 89% and a Metacritic score of 72.
Though audiences were split, the film managed to satisfy some critics. "One of the pleasures of Doctor Strange is the way it both wholly embraces and gently mocks the unapologetic geekiness of the enterprise" wrote Justin Chang for The Los Angeles Times. Other critics expected more from the franchise's 14th film. Angelica Jade Bastien, writing for RogerEbert.com wrote, "for all its wondrous world-building and trippy effects, Doctor Strange isn't the evolutionary step forward for Marvel that it needs to be storytelling-wise."
Doctor Strange currently holds an audience score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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7. The Avengers - Average Score: 80.5
The shared cinematic universe was a fresh concept for cinema back in 2011. Joss Whedon's The Avengers was the culmination of several years of big budget solo films introducing one of several superheroes. It was a big moment for cinema, one that both fans and critics could enjoy it having seen nothing like it before; recognizing its significance to the industry. The film holds a critic score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 69.
Keith Phipps for the A.V Club wrote that Whedon had set "new expectations for what a big superhero movie ought to be" which perfectly described film's effect as almost every major studio with the rights to a superhero began attempted a shared universe of their own. There were some that remained unimpressed. A.O Scott wrote for The New York Times that the film was filled with "grinding, hectic emptiness."
Marvel's The Avengers currently holds an audience score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
6. Spider-Man: Homecoming - Average Score: 82.5
Within the span of a decade, the audiences had been given three different version of Spider-Man. Keeping him fresh for the MCU was no easy task, but Spider-Man: Homecoming (directed by Jon Watts) managed to exceed expectations for both fans and critics by foregoing the origin story almost everyone had memorized. The film holds a critic score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 73.
Many critics praised the film for its fresh take and gave credit to its success in part to star Tom Holland, whose performance Sara Stewart of the New York Post described as feeling "like a real teenager and a genuine throwback to the comic book."
Spider-Man: Homecoming currently holds an audience score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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5. Captain America: Civil War - Average Score: 83
Far from being the typical superhero film, Captain America: Civil War (directed by Joe and Anthony Russo) centered on the epic confrontation between Iron Man and the titular Captain America. The film was well received by fans and critics alike. The film holds critic score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic score of 75.
Critics praised the conflict between the characters for occurring organically. As Robbie Collin wrote for The Telegraph, "they're not wrangled into standing for anything other than who they are, with no gloss or reinterpretation or reach for epic significance required" though not all critics saw it that way. Stephen Whitty of New York Daily News, for example, described it as, "a super-sized Avengers picture-- overstuffed to bursting."
Captain America: Civil War currently holds an audience score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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4. Thor: Ragnarok - Average Score: 83
Notably different in tone compared to its predecessors, Thor: Ragnarok (directed by Taika Waititi) was a surprisingly humorous look at the story of Asgard's destruction as well as the journey of the Hulk. The film holds a critic score of 92% on Rotten Romatoes and a Metcritic score of 74.
Many critics praised the new characters such as Valkyrie and Hela and the fact that the film was so different from the other Thor movies. Even the film's harshest reviews gave Waititi credit for that. Steve Rose, in his negative review for The Guardian, wrote, "Thor: Ragnarok is almost an admission that you can't play this material straight. This is probably the wisest strategy with Thor."
Thor: Ragnarok currently holds an audience score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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3. Guardians of the Galaxy - Average Score: 83.5
James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy was arguably the first film in the MCU to bring subversive humor to the forefront. It drastically changed the tone set by the films that came before, introducing a more lighthearted atmosphere to universe it helped to expand. The film currently holds a critic score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic score of 76.
The balance of both comedic and emotionally touching moments was cited by many as a point of praise. Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post described it as "exciting, funny, self-aware, beautiful to watch and even, for a flickering instant or two, almost touching.
Guardians of the Galaxy currently holds an audience score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
2. Iron Man - Average Score: 86.5
It was 2008's Iron Man (directed by Jon Favreau) that started it all. The film was a huge risk as, at the time, Iron Man was still relatively obscure to general audiences but the film managed to rocket Tony Stark to the height of popularity and by extension, introduce the film industry to the concept shared universes. The film currently holds a critic score of 94% with a Metacritic score of 79.
Regardless of differing views on the plot of the film, a majority of critics praised the performance of Robert Downey Jr. Roger Ebert commended the dimensions of Downey's portrayal and said that by using the actor's strength, "Favreau found his movie, and it's a good one."
Iron Man currently holds an audience score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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1. Black Panther - Average Score: 92
Though the film's story generally follows the typical Marvel beats, Black Panther (directed by Ryan Coogler) boldly tackled different themes from a fresh perspective. It's take on identity, culture and national duty easily distinguishes it from other MCU films. Black Panther is near-universally acclaimed with a critic score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 88.
Leah Greenblatt, writing for Entertainment Weekly, wrote that Coogler "infuses nearly every frame with soul and style, and makes the radical case that a comic-book movie can actually have something meaningful-- beyond boom or kapow or America-- to say," a sentiment with which most critics, professional or otherwise, seem to agree.
Black Panther currently holds an audience score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.