The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the gift that keeps on giving. It has provided some of the greatest superhero films of all time. The movies have boosted the careers of those in need of a second chance while establishing rising stars as household names. They’ve given us a reason to keep our butts in our seats even after the credits roll, because the world-building in the mid and post-credit scenes is part of the canon. But, like Christmas morning, sometimes we get socks or a lump of coal. The MCU is guilty of giving us the cinematic equivalent we wish we could return to.
For every Iron Man and Black Panther origin story, we get a botched Bruce Banner that requires a recasting. For every groundbreaking new supergroup like the Guardians of the Galaxy, we’re stuck with a brilliant ensemble that makes up the Eternals, only for it to nearly tank the future of the MCU. And don’t forget about the sequels that are just complete and utter fodder. These six films represent the worst of the worst. Though we are grateful that they were made and have grown and learned what not to do, we fondly remember these flops for being 0/10 flops.
6
‘Thor: The Dark World’ (2013)
Thor, played by actor Chris Hemsworth, wields his mighty hammer Mjlonir in Thor: The Dark World.Image via Marvel Studios
The original Thor film established Chris Hemsworth‘s character as an important player in the broader MCU. There was always a theatricality to the character, but after Kenneth Branagh established that essence in Thor, Thor: The Dark World shot down the progress toward a truly different tone, becoming completely disjointed from anything already established. In the sequel, Thor (Hemsworth) teams up with his disgruntled brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), to save the Nine Realms. They battle Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), the vengeful leader of the Dark Elves, who seeks to harness a primordial weapon called the Aether to plunge the universe back into eternal darkness. Taking notes for a dark battle tone à la Game of Thrones, Thor: The Dark World was incredibly flawed, with numerous MCU inconsistencies. It’s a sequel that could have ruined the Thor trajectory.
Thor originally brought a mix of fish-out-of-water campiness that made the film fit into the greater MCU. Suddenly, with Taylor at the helm, a darker, grittier fantasy aesthetic was dropped in, which conflicted with the MCU mandate for humor. With a more cosmic approach this time around, when the comic relief was thrust in through Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård), it came off as forced. The MCU is known for one-off villains, but the scope and scale of Malekith should have been epic. Instead, the dark elf was an unmemorable antagonist. He was full-throttle, world-destroying from the start, with no room to craft anything compelling in backstory or growth. Thor: The Dark World was uninspiring, proving that it needed to shift gears for the subsequent Thor films.
5
‘The Marvels’ (2023)
Monica Rambeau, Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan stand side-by-side in The Marvels.Image via Marvel Studios
It became increasingly important for the MCU to give its female characters a chance to shine in the same light as their male counterparts. Captain Marvel proved that Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) was a great character for the future of the franchise, but somehow, its follow-up, The Marvels, was an unfortunate misfire. The Marvels follows Captain Marvel (Larson), her estranged niece Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and super-fan Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), better known as Ms. Marvel, as they find their light-based powers entangled. Whenever they use their abilities, they swap places across the universe. The trio must unite to defeat Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), a fanatic Kree revolutionary seeking to save her homeworld. With an inconsistent tone and a strong need for Disney+ knowledge for continuity, The Marvels halted all the momentum female-led stories were building.
One of the greatest gifts but biggest struggles that the MCU faces is now having to integrate the Disney+ shows into the greater blockbuster picture. For devoted fans, we don’t mind it as it’s part of our viewing experience. For those who only go to the theaters, The Marvels may have become confusing. With necessary character beats stemming from WandaVision and Ms. Marvel, if you didn’t see Monica and Kamala in their respective shows, the casual viewer was alienated. That said, if you did your homework, The Marvels was a delight. The biggest struggle of the film came from its tone, which shifted from overt comedy and musical moments to deeply serious stakes. The premise of the film’s power position swap was brilliant in concept, but the execution was dizzying, especially during the major battles. The editing felt far too rushed. There was so much potential in this film; it just needed some more finesse.
Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz
Which MCU Hero Are You?
Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
FIND YOUR HERO →
01
What drives you to do what’s right?
Choose the answer that feels most like you.
AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can’t protect themselves.
BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark.
CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I’ve learned that others depend on me now.
DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay.
EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms.
FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you?
Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood.
BRunning rooftops in Hell’s Kitchen, listening for trouble.
CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby.
DStaking out a target I’ve been tracking for three weeks.
ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand.
FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn’t sleep.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice?
Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again.
BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside.
CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins.
DMake sure they don’t escape a third time. Permanently.
EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end.
FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it’s hard.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity?
The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am.
BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face.
COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I’d do it again.
DI’m a ghost. The less people know about me, the better.
EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There’s no hiding it.
FI don’t hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that?
Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day.
BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting.
CI buried myself in work for years. I’m only recently learning to face it.
DIt transformed me completely. I’m not the same person I was before.
EWith warrior’s grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have.
FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
What’s your role when working with a team?
Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up.
BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most.
CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation.
DI don’t do teams. I’m more effective operating solo, on my terms.
EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle.
FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge?
The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
AClearly — I don’t kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly.
BI try to hold the line, but I’ve come terrifyingly close to crossing it.
CPractically — I do what’s necessary to protect people, including hard calls.
DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won’t admit it.
EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic.
FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like?
The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends.
BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets.
CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I’m sleeping enough.
DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions.
ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary.
FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly.
NEXT QUESTION →
09
What keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
AThe people I couldn’t save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow.
BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too.
CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough.
DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I’ve made my choices.
EWhether I’m truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect.
FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing.
NEXT QUESTION →
10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do?
This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything.
BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going.
CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan.
DI don’t accept that it’s lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore.
ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me.
FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it’s not over.
REVEAL MY HERO →
Your Hero Has Been Identified
Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ
4
‘The Incredible Hulk’ (2008)
Hulk roaring in rage in ‘The Incredible Hulk’.Image via Universal Pictures
The future of the MCU would have looked entirely different had Iron Man kicked off the long-running franchise. Especially if it was The Incredible Hulk that jump-started it all. It’s likely it would have been dead on arrival. The second iteration of the character in the early aughts, this time, it somehow was even worse. Directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Zak Penn, The Incredible Hulk follows scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) as he desperately searches for a cure to the gamma radiation in his cells that turns him into a green-skinned monster when enraged. On the run from the U.S. military, Banner is forced to battle a power-hungry soldier who transforms into the monstrous Abomination (Tim Roth). Ditching the original sequence of the Eric Bana version for a Banner on the run, The Incredible Hulk was a generic superhero drama with disjointed continuity that left a long-term impact on the entire MCU.
The stakes were exponentially high coming off the massive success of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. Instead, The Incredible Hulk was an incredible disappointment. Leterrier attempted to bring the essence of a shaky-cam action flick into the superhero realm. With a fugitive story as the central plot, it became a repetitive loop of ditching the military, only to be triggered again. And then, even in his comedown, he felt guilty about his actions. There was very little narrative and emotional depth, especially with Norton lacking any connection to the character. His performance was so dismal that his creative disputes with Marvel Studios became the easy out to let him go. He was ultimately replaced by Mark Ruffalo, who revitalized the character across various films, none of which were standalone Hulk solo projects. The Incredible Hulk remains a disconnected film compared to the rest of the MCU, even as it was tried to be integrated back into the aforementioned Captain America: Brave New World.
3
‘Eternals’ (2021)
Eternals MCU MovieImage via Marvel Studios
Let’s just begin with this: The cast of Eternals included Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. How did Marvel fumble with a flop! Directed by Chloé Zhao, Eternals was meant to jumpstart a new super team. Instead, it was an example of how a lesser-known IP of ten characters cannot be a film. The film follows the Eternals, ten superpowered beings— Ajak (Hayek), Sersi (Chan), Ikaris (Madden), Kingo (Nanjiani), Sprite (McHugh), Phastos (Henry), Makkari (Ridloff), Druig (Keoghan), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), and Thena (Jolie)—who are sent to Earth by the Celestials 7,000 years ago to protect humanity from predatory monsters called the Deviants. After seemingly eradicating their enemies, they disband but are forced to reunite in the present day when the Deviants mysteriously return. Beyond the typical superhero fare, Eternals was stuffed with themes of moral ambiguity, duty, and free will. You may not have pulled in this epic cast for a Disney+ series, but at least we’d still have Eternals in the MCU.
The truth about Eternals is that there was far too much to try to stuff into a single film. The characters, played by an iconic cast, were underdeveloped. Instead, the film tries to balance immense cosmic world-building, a deep philosophical twist about the creation of the universe, and the standard superhero formula in a single movie. Then, Zhao tried to bring subdued, artistic, and intimate moments into a big blockbuster, even though audiences just wanted bombastic action. Gone was the quippy fun established in the previous 25 films, replaced by a strangely toned-down sci-fi drama.
Perhaps the biggest confusion tied to the MCU’s continuum was why these powerful beings did not get involved in some of the franchise’s significant moments. The answer? Well, allegedly Eternals did not interfere in past human tragedies because they were told not to. Their ultimate, hidden mission was to ensure that Earth’s population reached a specific threshold, enabling the emergence of a new Celestial. This plot point, which could have been resolved with an answer of “different timeline,” garnered such disdain that they were stuck in a hole of their own making. The brilliance of the MCU are the credit scenes. You know who we got? Starfox, an Eternal and the brother of Thanos (Josh Brolin). Why was it devastating that the film failed? It meant Harry Styles‘ cameo was all for naught. Certainly there’s a timeline we can visit to fix this flop, right? Such potential gone, and not even due to the Snap.
2
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ (2025)
Harrison Ford as Red Hulk yelling in Captain America Brave New World.Image via Marvel Studios
Passing the baton from Chris Evans to Anthony Mackie should not have been controversial. Especially since the new Captain America brilliantly carried the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. But for some reason, the writers of Captain America: Brave New World had no faith in Mackie. They overstuffed the script with superfluous content, rendering Mackie’s new Cap weak. And that is far from who Cap is. In this brave new era, the new Captain America, Sam Wilson (Mackie), and Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), the new Falcon, attempt to stop an illegal Adamantium sale in Mexico. Newly elected President “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford) invites Wilson to the White House to discuss governing this new metal, where mind-controlled individuals, including Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), suddenly attempt to assassinate the President. Rather than furthering the legacy of the beloved character, Captain America: Brave New World cemented the new iteration in utter bewilderment.
There was so much going for this film. With Ford taking on the part of Thunderbolt, there was so much excitement to see the legend in the MCU. Then, add on the infamous Red Hulk, and the hype was high. The result was a massive letdown. The film was marketed for the highly anticipated arrival, but it was brief and poorly handled. Just like many other underdeveloped plot points and characters, namely villains Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) and the wasted opportunity of Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito). The film also faced significant pushback over Shira Haas’ character, Ruth Bat-Seraph, since the character in the comics was an Israeli superhero and Mossad agent. Coupled with the ongoing Gaza-Israel conflict, boycotts overwhelmed the prospect of the film’s potential. Marvel reworked the character, but it still faced pushback. At the end of the day, the film was bogged down by a disjointed narrative and convoluted conspiracy plots, which made Sam Wilson a bland hero.
1
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ (2023)
Kang the Conqueror looking serious in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.Image via Marvel Studios
Bringing Paul Rudd into the MCU was a major but worthwhile risk. The original film was brilliant. The follow-up was fine. But once the character and his friends were forced to launch the multiverse, it was clear that they were not only done dirty, but it gave us no faith in the new direction in the MCU. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was cringey all the way through. After the events of Avengers: Endgame, the film watches Scott Lang (Rudd) and his family— Cassie (Kathryn Newton), Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lily), Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) — as they are accidentally pulled into the subatomic Quantum Realm. There, they face Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), a powerful, time-traveling villain who forces Scott to help him escape in exchange for Scott’s daughter’s safety. Toss in the abysmal CGI of M.O.D.O.K. (Corey Stoll), and you end up with a visual mind melt and a convoluted story that becomes a necessary bridge narrative rather than a string of standalone projects.
The first Ant-Man films balanced the typical MCU fare with humor brought by Rudd’s charisma. That was essentially washed away. Instead of watching Ant-Man engage in a size-mechanic while navigating the real world, the story was moved into the artificial Quantum Realm, where it became a weak sci-fi thriller meant only to introduce Major’s major villain as the new baddie of the phase. But when his off-camera allegations halted all forward momentum, the film became almost a futile waste of ensemble talent. Because the film was set almost entirely in a digital world, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania felt like a green-screen extravaganza, with backgrounds that felt flat or distracting. And when it came to flat, poor Corey Stoll, whose face was so distorted you might have believed it was scraped content from a botched ‘80s film. The film was lazy at best. The highly-contested “Deus Ex Machina” third act, where a massive army of ants effortlessly defeats the film’s ultimate villain, was particularly frustrating. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was a cartoonish misfire that deserved better.