Since 2008, Marvel Studios has been developing its Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Launched with Iron Manthis connected universe has become an absolute reference in the superhero genre in cinema. At the time of writing, 34 MCU films have already seen the light of day, Deadpool & Wolverine being the latest one. Among these 34 films, there are some very good ones, like Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War or even Doctor Strangethere are some nice ones like the trilogy Spider-Manbut there are also some duds. Here we’ll focus on the 10 worst MCU movies in our opinion:
10) Shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings
Shang-Chi is an ultra-formatted product of the MCU. A proposition that never goes off the beaten track and that serves up the same inconsistent soup to the spectators. Asian culture is only a pretext to sell cinema tickets and is never fully put forward. The story is extremely clichéd, and takes up the same usual clichés of family belonging, heritage, paternal opposition, family secrets, etc. Everything is sewn with white thread, and the final climax is a messy and soulless fight. The fact remains that Destin Daniel Crettonthe director, has managed to produce quite simply the best hand-to-hand combat scene in MCU history. And it’s still fair to point this out.
9) Avengers: Age of Ultron
It is the unloved of the quadrilogy. Avengers. Through overconfidence, Joss Whedon fails to reiterate the feat of the first Avengers. A pastiche of the first part, this sequel never manages to find the balance of its predecessor. Bigger, louder, more ostentatious, Age of Ultron fails to find its cruising speed. One of the film’s major weaknesses is also Ultron himself. An iconic character in comics, the killer robot is never fully iconized or developed here, and his potential for wickedness and madness is barely touched upon. Too bad. And then, We’ll avoid discussing Quicksilver’s completely stupid death…
8) The Marvels
Released in 2023, The Marvels holds the record for worst MCU film in terms of box office receipts. With only $206 million box office revenue, it is the worst score in the entire history of Marvel Studios. It must be said that The Marvels is an extremely classic, highly codified proposal, which is content to fill a lazy specification. A work which never leaves the usual framework of the firm, and which never takes no narrative or visual risk. A generally insignificant film, like its villain. In fact The Marvels is a film that doesn’t matter, quickly seen, quickly forgotten.
7) Ant-Man and the Wasp
This sequel is above all a copy and paste of the first part. Peyton Reed takes no risks and decides to replaying the same clichés than in the previous opus. Unfortunately, we feel that the footage lacks creativity, particularly in the expression of variations in scale, between gigantism and minusculewhich are nevertheless the character’s own identity. The filmmaker does not renew the formula, and the story is weighed down by a botched antagonist.
6) Iron Man 2
A sequel that is far too classic compared to the slap of the first part. A final climax rough drafta less polished aesthetic, a digital mush that announces the malaise that will later take hold of the MCU. Without being a shame (especially compared to some recent opus) this Iron Man 2 is especially extremely disappointing compared to the quality of the first part.
5) Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
This new Ant-Man had the mission of Launch MCU Phase 5 and to introduce a new big baddie: Kang the Conqueror. Unfortunately, the film of Peyton Reed is weighed down by an aesthetic that is eye-popping, and by a disjointed epileptic montagewho makes vain movements to mask an inconsistent plot… A slightly wiser cousin of Thor : Love and Thunder, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is above all a almost assumed wish version of Star Wars. The filmmaker thus offers an artificial work, where references accumulate, in which it is difficult to believe in the stakes and to feel concerned by the hackneyed wanderings of the characters. And then, now that Jonathan Majors has been ousted from the equation, and that Fatal go to replace Kangthis movie doesn’t even have no more reason to exist…
4) Black panther : wakanda forever
We’re probably going to get hit. However, here, we don’t like it too much Black Panther : Wakanda Forever. Still made by Ryan Cooglerthis endless sequence is ultimately a anecdotal proposition. And 2h40 is long. The director gets bogged down in a long-winded plota fairly boring one that repeats the usual clichés of MCU films. We thus find a not-so-villain villain, who seeks to defend his people against the supposed threat of Wakanda. A worthy heir to Killmonger, this Namor doesn’t live up to its comic book eccentricity and ambiguity. But the film’s biggest problem lies in the Shuri treatment. A strong female character who seeks to assert herself and gain authority in the face of a patriarchal world, we have the impression, given the post-credits scenethat his quest has no goal. A downright shameful additional sequence, in which the audience discovers that T’Challa has an heir. A way of saying: “newly born young heroine, you will not be queen, since the king has a male heir.” Or how to maintain a patriarchal society…
3) thor : love and thunder
After the success of Thor : Ragnarok, Taika Waititi re-enlist for Thor : Love and Thunder. Unfortunately, It’s a cold shower. Heavy comedy, Thor : Love and Thunder pushes the flaws of its predecessor to their paroxysm. Stupid scenario (at the same time it is co-written by Waititi’s son), heavy jokes, aesthetics sometimes unacceptable for this kind of production, this fourth part is a long, very long, bad jokewho takes his audience for idiots. The perpetual “I don’t care” attitude is a hindrance to the good development of the story. Above all that Gorr and Jane Foster’s arc in Thor, written by Jason Aaronis exciting, extremely mature and dramatic, addressing themes of heritage, sacrifice, and introspection that are fascinating. And this paper gold is transformed into a work that annihilates all suspense, seriousness and ultimately all dramatic tension…
2) Black Widow
This is arguably the most outdated MCU movie. Black Widowwhether in its writing or its aesthetics, is a superhero movie that is ten years behind its time. A work that does not bring much additional to the overall mythology of the MCU, and which is content to propose ultra classic and outdated stakes. An atmosphere that is never helped by a as clichéd an antagonist as possiblea Machiavellian villain without depth, without soul, without trajectory. It is an inconsistent and impersonal film that never does justice to the character of the Black Widow. It is ugly, without rhythm, without much interest, see almost opportunistic. We sometimes have the feeling that the film only exists on the pretext of offering an adventure about a superheroine. The only thing left is David Harbour et Florence Pughwho, newcomers to the MCU, still have the verve and the desire to offer good things.
1) Thor: The Dark World
Second part of the quadrilogy dedicated to Thor, The World of Darkness is undoubtedly the weakest opus (the first one wasn’t great already…). Directed by Alan Taylor in 2013, This second chapter is above all a transitional film. A work that allows the introduction of a new infinity stone: l’Ether. And apart from this desire to introduce Thanos a little more in the meantime Infinity Warthe plot doesn’t have much else to tell. The twists and turns are pretty boring, and the interpretation of Christopher Eccleston as Malekith doesn’t live up to its paper counterpart. An underused iconic villain, Malekith never really gets time to exist or be a proper threat. The whole thing is wrapped up in a draft action processing which reaches its climax in a soporific climax. Fortunately remains Loki, always a fascinating, impactful, iconic character, masterfully embodied by the immense Tom Hiddleston.
Source: hitek.fr
