These are the 8 best Marvel movies, according to science
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow year after year, we turned to science to determine the best MCU movies.
Deadpool & Wolverineisthe 34th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it seems to be something of a shot in the arm. The hyper-violent,cameo-packed, R-rated fiasco is lighting up the box office and reinvigorating a lagging fanbase.
But was the MCU actually that good in the first place? We did the hard math so you don’t have to, and averaged every MCU film by their critic ratings and box office earnings to make a very serious scientific determination as to which ones are “the best.”
In doing so, we found the numbers aren’t so cut and dry. In fact, a mere 8 out of the 34 existing MCU movies rise above the average.
It’s honestly kind of eye-opening when you put all the data back-to-back. Many MCU films will be well-reviewed or will clean up at the box office, but few will do both. However, eight films took the world by storm, and it’s a surprising list that highlights where fans’ interests lie.
In the long run, the only real surprise on the list may be the original Iron Man. It’s a hugely important piece of the puzzle today, but at the time, it was only a moderate success. It’s interesting to look at how quaint it seems compared to today’s MCU, whereIron Man is now a multiversal Doctor Doom.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Deadpool & Wolverine, which gave fans the Wolverine they’ve been waiting over two decades for, all while having him mix it up with a bevy of forgotten Fox Marvel characters. It’s paying off, too, as it looks like it’llcross the coveted $1 billion box officethreshold soon.
Highest grossing movies of 2025 so far
Best movies of 2025 so far, including Weapons
Every MCU movie ranked from worst to best, including Fantastic Four
But perhaps the only real relevant piece of data here is that everything is represented. There is no singular phase that blows the rest out of the water, proving that even when it’s at a low point, the MCU can find a way to surprise and delight its fans.
We’ll find out if that trend continues when Phase 6 officially begins in 2026 withThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Until then, check out our rundown ofevery upcoming Marvel and TV showor our rundown of everyDeadpool & Wolverinecameo.
