Avengers: Endgame has been named the best Marvel Studios project in a new ranking published by Variety, while Secret Invasion was rated the lowest among 54 Marvel films and television series.
The list spans the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), from its beginning with Iron Man in 2008 to recent and upcoming releases. The rankings were based on critical reviews, audience feedback, and cultural influence.
At number one, Avengers: Endgame (2019), directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, was praised for its emotional depth and epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga. It was followed by Black Panther (2018), known for its cultural impact and strong storytelling, and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which stood out for its humor and heart. WandaVision (2021) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) completed the top five, celebrated for their innovation and gripping narratives.
At the bottom of the list, Secret Invasion (2023) ranked last, criticized for its confusing plot and disappointing execution. Other low performers included Thor: The Dark World (2013), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), and Moon Knight (2022), which were faulted for weak storytelling or inconsistent tone.
Recent titles like Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) earned praise, landing at number 17 for its humor and action. The animated X-Men ‘97 (2024) made a strong impression at number six, reviving a fan-favorite series with modern appeal.
While TV shows like Loki and WandaVision were highly ranked, others such as Echo, She-Hulk, and What If…? received more mixed reviews. The list also showed cautious optimism for upcoming projects like Thunderbolts and Daredevil: Born Again, both ranked in the middle.
Full Marvel Studios Ranking by Variety (54–1):
- Secret Invasion
- Thor: The Dark World
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
- Moon Knight
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- Echo
- Eternals
- Captain America: Brave New World
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
- What If…?
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Werewolf by Night
- Thor
- She-Hulk
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- The Fantastic Four
- Black Widow
- Iron Man 3
- Captain Marvel
- The Marvels
- Ms. Marvel
- Ant-Man
- Ironheart
- Doctor Strange
- Thunderbolts
- Daredevil: Born Again
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
- Hawkeye
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Agatha All Along
- The Avengers
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Captain America: Civil War
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Loki
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Iron Man
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- X-Men ‘97
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- WandaVision
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Endgame
The ranking offers a snapshot of Marvel’s evolution over 15 years and highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining quality across a growing cinematic and streaming universe.
