From Iron Man to VisionQuest: Every single MCU movie and TV show ranked by varied reactions

A franchise with varied responses

The MCU began with “Iron Man” in 2008 and has since become a major box-office force. Its releases include films and television series, with reactions ranging from strong reviews to harsh criticism.

This year’s first MCU film, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” received strong reviews and performed even better at the box office, according to the article. “Avengers: Doomsday,” described as the studio’s most anticipated film of 2026, is still ahead.

Television earns positive reviews

Marvel’s two television releases this year, “Wonder Man” and “VisionQuest,” both fared well with critics. The article also points to contrasting responses across the wider group of shows.

“Secret Invasion” drew severe criticism despite a cast that included Samuel L. Jackson, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, Don Cheadle, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Cobie Smulders and Martin Freeman. By contrast, Vulture’s Jen Chaney praised “Echo” for its character-based approach to female, Indigenous and disabled identities.

Films divide critics and audiences

One film set in the Quantum Realm received a tougher response from critics, while its 81% audience score indicated that fans enjoyed the adventure featuring Scott, Hope, Hank, Janet and Cassie. In another story, Sam faces President Thunderbolt Ross, played by Harrison Ford after William Hurt’s death in 2022. Ross becomes Red Hulk. Other critical reactions included Slant Magazine’s Ed Gonzalez criticizing Chloé Zhao’s film for turning a space opera into repetitive character drama.

Reviews capture different moods

Empire Magazine’s Helen O’Hara described one film as a return to a fast, funny MCU style, while noting it lacked the impact of “Endgame” or “Guardians 3.” Wall Street Journal critic Kyle Smith said Chris Hemsworth enjoyed his title role, but the surrounding film strained to deliver excitement and laughs. The AV Club’s Jarrod Jones wrote that the heroes in Marvel’s zombie apocalypse story seemed less lively than the zombies. Metro’s Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, meanwhile, likened another project to an expensive “Doctor Who” episode, adding that this was meant positively.