Scarlett Johansson and The Walt Disney Company have been in business for quite some time now, with many of those dealings having to do with her work within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, in 2021, Johansson and Disney became engaged in a legal battle involving one of her MCU films, Black Widow. The lawsuit Johansson filed against the studio was eventually settled, and the two sides have collaborated since. Now, Johansson's opening up about the lack of public support she received from her peers at that time.

The specific reason Johansson filed suit against Disney was due to a reported breach of contract due to the studio simultaneously releasing Black Widow in theaters and Disney+. Disney made that move amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted moviegoing, though Johansson’s contract reportedly guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release window. At the time, Disney said the suit had no merit and that with the chosen release method, Johansson’s earning potential had supposedly grown.

At this point, comments that have been shared by the Jurassic World Rebirth star suggest she wouldn’t have done anything differently when it came to the legal action she took. She did admit to The Daily Telegraph, however, that she would’ve appreciated public support from some of her fellow actors:

Nevertheless, Scarlett Johansson noted that even when a person speaks out alone, it “can still be really effective” and, in her legal matter, that proved to be the case. Disney ultimately settled with Johansson two months after the lawsuit was filed and, while the specifics initially weren’t divulged, it was later reported that the settlement was worth $40 million. The situation, as a whole, represented the change in which films are being released due to the shifting entertainment landscape, and Johansson spoke to that as well:

Johansson has reflected on her lawsuit on multiple occasions since it was settled in 2021. While speaking about it in 2024, Johansson said she wasn’t one to “hold a grudge” and that she chalked the dispute up to “poor judgment and poor leadership at that time” on the House of Mouse’s part. One “good thing” Johansson believes came out of the situation is that she could “shoulder the burden” when it came to advocating for her desired pay within this period of transition in Hollywood.

Despite that spat, Scarlett Johansson and Disney collaborated on one of the MCU films that released amid the 2025 movie schedule – Thunderbolts*, on which she served as an executive producer. At present, Johansson and the entertainment conglomerate are also trying to get a Tower of Terror film off the ground and, earlier this year, she said she’s confident they’ll “crack” that film. It can’t be said for sure why other stars didn’t publicly back Johansson up during the lawsuit but, in any case, it seems she’s pleased with the result.

Avengers: Endgame already swings for the fences, especially when it comes to endings, but Hawkeye actor Jeremy Renner says one of the movie’s heaviest moments almost went even bigger. According to the star, Natasha Romanoff’s sacrifice on Vormir was first conceived and shot as a large-scale, “galactic” skirmish until changes had to be made. And, in a recent interview, the man behind Hawkeye explains why he’s glad they made the change.

Renner shared the behind-the-scenes nugget during a Space Con 2025 panel (via Popverse), saying that before Marvel reshot the sequence into the intimate, two-friends-on-a-cliff goodbye fans know, they planned for a whole lot more alien action. He explained:

If that sounds familiar, it’s because Marvel has flirted with an action-heavy Vormir cut before. When Endgame hit home release and later streaming for fans with a Disney+ subscription, viewers saw an alternate sequence where Thanos’ forces crash the party and Black Widow sprints through blaster fire before making the soul-for-a-soul leap. It’s cool, chaotic, and very MCU—but it also trades quiet devastation for spectacle. That version has circulated in special features and coverage since 2019–2020.

Renner says the simpler approach landed the emotional beat the filmmakers were chasing. He continued:

That tracks with how the Russos and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have talked about Endgame’s biggest deaths: when the movie goes quiet, it goes for the jugular. The theatrical Vormir sequence narrows to two friends wrestling—literally—over who gets to make the sacrifice play. No armies. No cavalry. Just Natasha and Clint, a final nod to the smallest-scale bond in Earth’s Mightiest roster.

It’s been a minute since longtime fans of all the Marvel movies have seen Jeremy Renner suit up as Clint. His last on-screen appearance was the Hawkeye series finale on December 22, 2021, which has fueled speculation about a surprise return in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Don’t ask the Mayor of Kingstown star for spoilers, though. As he joked to Brie Larson when pressed about a cameo: “No, girl.” Then again, in a universe where Andrew Garfield-level denials are part of the game, never say never.

If Jeremy Renner never returns (which feels unlikely), his legacy is secure. Moments like Natasha’s sacrifice on Vormir rank among the MCU’s most powerful—thanks in part to the Russo brothers knowing when to dial down the spectacle and let intimacy carry the scene.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, frequently putting out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will recall that the Black Widow movie was released both ways, inspiring Scarlett Johansson's lawsuit against Disney. Now the actress/producer/director revealed a "good thing" that came out of this conflict with the studio.

Johansson is an OG Avenger, who spent years in the MCU prior to Natasha's death in Endgame. She finally got her solo movie Black Widow afterward, which offered much-needed backstory on the mysterious hero. But the pandemic complicated things, and the movie was released in both theaters and Disney+ simultaneously, seemingly resulting in Black Widow's disappointing box office. In a conversation with Variety at TIFF, ScarJo reflected on this situation years later. In her words:

Talk about a healthy perspective. Rather than holding a grudge against The House of Mouse, it sounds like she's happy with how things were resolved related to Black Widow's release. The "business affair" was ultimately handled, and she still has a good relationship with the studio. Case in point: her developing Tower of Terror movie.

The main issue that inspire his lawsuit is that Johansson was entitled to part of the box office haul for Black Widow. But once the movie ended up on Disney+ early, that mean that she lost a ton of money. I mean, just look at how much Robert Downey Jr. made due to Endgame's box office. Luckily she had the means to pay for lawyers and reach an agreement with the studio.

Johansson had to advocate for herself here, and the Black Widow lawsuit was settled after a few months. She seems to have no ill-will toward the studio, especially as she's continuing to work with Disney properties. Of course, I have to wonder if this means we'll never see her in any more upcoming Marvel movies. That's certainly what fans are hoping for, especially in the next two Avengers movies.

As previously mentioned, Johansson is working on a Tower of Terror movie, which is having a long development process. She also recently celebrated her directorial debut Eleanor the Great, which has been making the rounds in film festivals like Venice and TIFF. Fans are hoping she pops up as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast list, but only time will tell if that actually happens.

Johansson's tenure in the MCU, including Black Widow, are streaming now on Disney+. Eleanor The Great is expected to get its wide release on September 26th as part of the 2025 movie release list.

Of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies released so far, one that has seemingly become surprisingly vital to the franchise’s future is Black Widow. While the movie didn’t make a massive splash upon release (for reasons that were largely out of its control), it ultimately was key to Thunderbolts* which in turn is likely to be important to Avengers: Doomsday. It’s also an important movie to its writer, who had an epic experience with star Scarlett Johansson on set.

One of the reasons Black Widow had a rough go was that it came out during the global pandemic. Screenwriter Eric Pearson recently told THR that his memorable ScarJo encounter only came about because another cast member was sick, likely with an early case of COVID. Pearson said…

COVID was brutal on Black Widow. The movie wouldn't receive a full theatrical release, instead getting a hybrid Disney+ release. That decision ultimately led to Johansson suing Disney, though the two sides would ultimately settle.

Most of the world wouldn’t go into full pandemic response until March 2020, so the Black Widow reshoots happened as they otherwise would have. However, since Fagbenle was unavailable, Pearson took on the job of running some lines with Scarlett Johansson in his stead. The writer says he tried to have some fun with the actress. It sounds like it was fun, but only because Johansson allowed it. He continued…

It would take a certain level of bravery, or at least a certain level of friendship, to try and intentionally trip up Scarlett Johansson. I can’t imagine a lot of people would even try it. I suppose at that point you would discover just how good a friend you are, because if you weren’t as good a friend as you thought, she would make you look like a fool.

It makes one all the more disappointed that we’ll likely never see Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow in the MCU again. While indications are that following Avengers: Secret Wars, we could see characters that have died come back to life, ScarJo has continued to insist Black Widow is dead. Even if the character comes back, she may be recast.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly offering the public new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. It's been a fascinating few years since Avengers: Endgame hit theaters, with some peaks and valleys. One of the first movies to arrive during this time was Cate Shortland's Black Widow, which featured actor Ray Winstone as the villainous Dreykov. And the actor recently got honest about his frustrations during filming, and asking for the role to be recast.

Scarlett Johansson famously filed a lawsuit over Black Widow, which offered more of the mysterious character's backstory. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were excited about this, but it turns out the movie's villain was originally handled much differently. In an interview with THR, Winstone spoke about how he originally developed the character with Shortland, saying:

While this was a plot point that as hinted at during Black Widow's theatrical cut, it sounds like Dreykov's relationship with the women of the Red Room was even more insidious originally. Alas, things ended up being changed during editing and reshoots.

During this profile, Winstone revealed that every one of this scenes would need to be reworked during Black Widow's reshoots. This was understandably frustrating for the actor, especially because he was so proud of the performance he gave during principal photography. As the 68 year-old performer put it:

Ouch. While reshoots are a normal part of making a superhero movies, it sounds like Winstone had to craft an entirely new persona for Black Widow. While he as contractually obligated to participate, he would have preferred to give someone his role. Now I'm especially curious to see the OG footage of Dreykov from filming.

The pressure was on for Black Widow to deliver after the wild success of Infinity War and Endgame, which might be why so much was changed during reshoots. In the end many fans didn't even see it in theaters, as it was also released on Disney+ in the midst of the pandemic.

Black Widow is streaming now on Disney+ alongside most of the MCU as a whole. The next installment in the franchise hitting theater is Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Scarlett Johansson has long been one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, known for both her dramatic range and her action chops. Recently, she took some time off from promoting her 2025 movie schedule of projects to give an interview, and the Oscar-nominated actress got refreshingly candid about the early years of her career, and how they were shaped by the male gaze and a constant pressure to prove her worth beyond surface-level roles.

The star of the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth recently shared in an interview with The Times that her journey to creative freedom hasn’t exactly been smooth. The Black Widow actress opened up about how, early in her career, she was routinely cast for her looks and often found herself playing characters whose stories revolved around their desirability or place in a man’s narrative. She recounted:

And she’s right. The cultural conversation around female representation in film has shifted significantly in recent years. Johansson, who began acting at the age of nine and became a household name in her teens, says she has noticed the change, not just in Hollywood, but in the opportunities available to women. She continued:

That shift didn’t happen overnight. For much of her early career, the former Avenger was typecast and lauded for her sultry voice and looks, but offered limited roles that rarely tapped into her depth as an actor. She made a conscious decision to wait for more meaningful projects, even if it meant enduring some career anxiety in the process. The actress added:

That patience paid off. From the critically acclaimed Marriage Story to Her, Johansson has carved out a distinctive career path marked by bold and diverse roles. She even recently directed her first feature film, Eleanor the Great, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year to strong reviews. Up next she stars in Jurassic World: Rebirth, where she plays a former soldier on a mission to extract dinosaur DNA to cure human heart disease, and based on the trailers, it looks like it's bringing the dino action back to basics, and I’m here for it!

Johansson is also refreshingly open about the impact of AI and deepfakes in entertainment, especially following a recent controversy in which a voice assistant was launched that sounded eerily like hers. She, along with several other Hollywood A-listers, took legal action, and the company pulled the tool.

Scar Jo continues to prove waiting for the right role, the right moment, and the right message isn’t just smart. It’s powerful. Her latest movie, Jurassic Park: Rebirth, is set to hit theaters on July 2.

If you watch the Marvel movies in order, you’ll see Scarlett Johansson make her debut in 2010’s Iron Man 2, and then you will watch her final film many movies later with 2021’s Black Widow. She was an integral part of the MCU for about a decade, and after Endgame and her solo film that followed, she hasn’t returned. Now, she’s opened up about what it was like being “wrapped up” in the same franchise for so long and the challenges that came with it.

During a conversation with David Harbour for Interview Magazine, Johansson asked about Stranger Things Season 5 and if the Hopper actor was relieved that it was ending this year. He noted that “after 10 years, it’s like, ‘Okay,’” which came after he said that it can feel like you’re playing “the same beat” when you’ve worked on the same project for a long time. He then pointed out that his Black Widow co-star was in the MCU for a decade, too. In response, the actress said:

That’s a valid point to make. If you watch the films Johansson appeared in, her roles in them vary. She plays a massive part in some of Marvel’s best movies, like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Endgame, and she leads Black Widow. However, there are others, like Iron Man 2 and even Avengers, where she has less significant roles in the story.

However, no matter how big or small the part in the movie, she still has to be fully committed to the project and her character’s look. While the Lost in Translation actress said this seems like a “silly problem,” it can really impact your life, as she explained:

Harbour agreed with his co-star’s sentiments. While he dosen’t paint his nails, he could understand her point about not being able to change your look, because when he’s playing Hopper he joked that he “cant shave [his] freaking mustache."

With long-running television shows, it’s normal to see stars leave the projects after so many years. That happens for a variety of reasons; however, an urge to take on other roles and not play the same person over and over again can be part of it.

It makes sense, too, having the freedom to change your look and not be committed to one thing for so long has to be a relief, especially after playing the same character for years and years.

Now, Scarlett Johansson is in a place where she doesn’t have to think about shaping her life and look around a Marvel movie, and she’s able to take on whatever projects she wants.

Meanwhile, David Harbour is about to end his time on Stranger Things, but he is just getting his Marvel career started. That’s because starring in Black Widow and Thunderbolts*, he’ll appear in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday.

Overall, what these comments point out is the double-edged sword that is working on a very long-running franchise. While it has major benefits, it can also get repetitive and hard. So, I do get why Scarlett Johansson hasn’t appeared in a Marvel movie since her exit in 2021. However, you can always go back and watch her time as Black Widow with a Disney+ subscription.

It’s been a few years since Scarlett Johansson retired from her role as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. Still, the actress is asked whether she’ll reprise the role in upcoming Marvel movies. On that front, Johansson has been adamant about not playing the beloved character again. That subject came up again (albeit in a jokey way) when David Harbour humorously teased Johansson about Romanoff being a “secret character” in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, leading the actress to give a retort that I love.

The two Black Widow co-stars participated in a fun conversation for Interview Magazine, which saw Scarlett Johansson interview David Harbour about Thunderbolts* and more. Eventually, talk turned to the upcoming Avengers films, the first of which is currently filming in the UK. Johansson mentioned it, as some of her old buddies (like Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr.) are filming it now. After joking that she’s still keeping secrets even though she’s no longer under contract, Harbour dropped a funny quip:

Black Widow’s tragic death takes place in Avengers: Endgame (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription). Natasha ultimately sacrifices herself on the planet Vormir in order for her teammates to retrieve the Soul Stone. Ultimately, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are successful but at the cost of Nat’s life. Considering all of this, I was really delighted by the way in which Scarlett Johansson reacted to her friend and colleague:

Honestly, I have to respect a star who’s committed to continuity, and she’s absolutely right. It’s hard to say just what kind of damage could be done to the sacred timeline if Romanoff’s death were to be reversed. Half the population could indeed be killed all over again if her sacrifice is taken back. Of course, I don’t want to get too deep here as, above all else, I just can’t help but chuckle over the fact that the Oscar nominee reacted to her former co-star by dishing out Marvel Cinematic Universe facts like a fan would.

Scarlett Johansson’s commitment to Black Widow’s fate is admirable, considering many people’s desire to see her back in the fold. While she’s admitted to missing being with her “buddies” on set, Johansson also appreciates that her character’s story “is complete.” Of course, there are other ways in which Nat can return. Marvel is dabbling in the multiverse right now, and a Romanoff variant could definitely show up at some point in the upcoming Avengers movies.

That’s only a theory, though as, at this point, it seems that Scarlett Johansson truly has no plans to don her black, leather suit and stingers in an upcoming superhero movie. Chances are she’s still going to receive questions and comments – whether they be serious ones or non-serious ones like David Harbour’s. If that happens, I’d expect Johansson to simply point out the details of Endgame as necessary.

In any case, Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, 2026, while Avengers: Secret Wars drops on December 17, 2027.

It’s hard to believe, but Fantastic Four: First Steps is the only title left among upcoming Marvel movies before we get our first Avengers movie since Endgame, Avengers: Doomsday. And while I probably wouldn’t have believed you if you told me before seeing it, Thunderbolts* is my favorite MCU movie in years, and I have to say a lot of that is thanks to Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova. Never mind the actress already being some of my favorites in movies like Dune: Part 2 or Midsommar, her character is quickly rising in the ranks in the current superhero lineup. And when I rewatched her first appearance in Black Widow, it only made me appreciate her more.

I remember digging Black Widow when it came out, but I’ll be honest, I’ve kind of forgotten about it since I saw it. Of course, there’s the fact that it probably came out at the wrong time, given the COVID-19 pandemic was still heavily affecting theaters and Disney was experimenting with its Disney+ service, perhaps to the detriment of the movie’s performance. But, I need to talk about how seeing Thunderbolts* reminded me to go back to the 2021 release and deepen my love for Yelena Belova further. SPOILERS are ahead for Thunderbolts* and Black Widow.

As Soon As I Watched Thunderbolts* I Wanted To Revisit Black Widow Right Away

There’s a lot to love about Thunderbolts* in my opinion, but the biggest highlight of the movie for me is the relationship between Yelena and her “dad,” the Red Guardian. My favorite scene was definitely in the third act of the movie when Yelena gets honest with him about how she’s been feeling really alone and having a lot of regrets about her life. In response, Red Guardian tells Yelena that when he looks at her, he “doesn’t see” her mistakes. Instead, he remembers who she was as a kid, and how she wanted to be the goalie on her childhood soccer team in order to be the “person everyone relies on when they make a mistake.”

Without that scene in the movie, I just don’t think Thunderbolts* would be as good as it is. It had me thinking back to when Yelena and Red Guardian’s relationship was established in Black Widow. I remember the two actors being just as funny and grounded in the 2021 movie, and yet I hadn’t placed the movie high in my mind to realize this going into seeing Thunderbolts*. So I made it my mission to revisit Black Widow after seeing the latest Marvel movies.

I’m Happy I Did, Because It Made Me More Emotional About Yelena Belova Becoming An Avenger

When it comes to Marvel movies in order, I had actually forgotten that the movie takes place in 2016 in the MCU timeline, two years prior to the events in Infinity War and the events of Thunderbolts* takes place a little over a decade after Black Widow (with the five-year gap of the snap in between to think about). And after seeing Black Widow again, I think the movie does a good job of establishing an older Yelena who has dealt with a lot more life and loss, and having the context of her upbringing with the Red Guardian and Melina really helped me understand her better. It was so much fun to see how the character was introduced in the movie, because Pugh very much stays true to who Yelena is between them. Oh, and it slipped my mind how quotable Yelena was in Black Widow to the point of actually stealing the thunder off of Scarlett Johansson’s MCU sendoff.

But the one thing that really caught me off guard is how much Yelena clearly looks up to Natasha Romanoff throughout the movie, even if she’s always taking shots at her Avengers position and "posing". While I read it more as MCU banter the first time I saw it, this time I noticed how much that relationship really gives sister energy, and while Natasha kind of brushes Yelena off (as big sisters often do), Natasha means a lot to her. I realized getting to do a mission with her and reunite with their “parents” is kind of the best thing for Yelena, because she's spent a lot of time alone. Throughout the movie, you see how, while Natasha has kind of lost her respect for her parental figures, Yelena is still attached to them. As she says in one memorable line: "It was real to me."

It made me extra sad about the death of Natasha in Endgame, and how in Thunderbolts*, Yelena feels like she wants to make a difference like her sister did, but she’s having problems making the transition (inwardly and outwardly). So, when I finished Black Widow, knowing that her second MCU movie ends with her becoming a new Avenger, I found it especially poignant. She still clearly feels the loss of Natasha, now she’s going to get the chance to serve with the Avengers and be the person she has always looked up to: her sister! I’m not crying, you are.

It Also Made Wish Natasha Romanoff Made A Cameo, But Oh Well, I Guess

While the Thunderbolts* director has suggested the movie isn’t a Black Widow sequel, I would argue the new Marvel film wouldn’t have worked for me as well as it did if it weren’t for the 2021 movie. If I hadn’t seen the scene where Yelena and Red Guardian sing “American Pie” together, I wouldn’t have bought into their continued father-daughter dynamic as much, and there’s a kind of twisted found family element in the Kate Shortland film that spiritually carries over into Thunderbolts*, I think.

The only thing that really bummed me out after seeing Black Widow is how the movie perfectly served Thunderbolts* the chance to feature Scarlett Johansson one more time through the shame rooms created by Sentry. I think it would have been really beautiful if she had shown up for a moment and allowed Yelena to get some closure or something. But, I also understand that Johansson is hesitant to return to the MCU after her long stint, and I was kind of into the fact that Thunderbolts* wasn’t packed full of cameos.

Because while Yelena Belova kind of sees herself as not as good as Natasha, the fact is she’s being given way more to do in the MCU already than her sister was. Sure, it was different times, but I’ve always felt so conflicted about how Black Widow was handled as a character. She’s very much in the center of things going into Doomsday, and I love that for her, but now I’m never getting out of my mind how the character will be constantly missing her sister as she becomes a hero in her own right.

The release of Thunderbolts* has caused a lot of people to take a look back at Black Widow, being the movie that introduced two of the major members of Marvel’s newest hero team, it’s an important piece of the larger story. The death of Black Widow weighs heavily on Yelena in the newest Marvel movie, but it’s a safe bet that Florence Pugh was also missing Scarlett Johansson during production.

An interview clip taken from the set of Black Widow was recently posted by ET, and it shows just how much the two actresses adored each other. ScarJo had nothing but great things to say about her co-star, and it looks like the pair got really quite close, literally, on set.

Scarlett Johansson Was All Praise For Florence Pugh On The Set Of Black Widow

Florence Pugh was one of the hottest up-and-coming actresses in Hollywood when she was cast in Black Widow. Roles in films like Little Women, which earned her an Oscar nomination, and Midsommar had shown just how capable a performer she was. Still, when ET asked Scarlett Johansson why people should “look out” for Pugh, the two-time Oscar nominee praised her co-star’s skills, saying:

Pugh is standing next to Scarlett Johansson as she says all this, and it’s clear the kind words touch her. The two then get all huggy, which, as it turns out, was apparently not an uncommon occurrence on the set of Black Widow.

The Adorable Way Florence Pugh Used To “Trick” Scarlett Johansson

We often hear about different celebrities who like to have a little fun with their co-stars. George Clooney is famous for pranking his friends. However, the sorts of “tricks” that Florence Pugh apparently got up to on the set of Black Widow were a tad different.

When Johansson is initially asked why people should “watch out” for Florence Pugh, she says that she needs to watch her co-star because Pugh is always trying to trick her. Pugh takes offense (comedically) and said she only ever tried to trick her:

To answer your next question: no, these two could not be more adorable.

Scarlet Johansson has continued to insist that, even though comic book characters rarely stay dead, her character is gone for good. While that may be the best choice from a storytelling perspective, seeing this makes me wish these two could work together in the MCU again. It was clearly a special experience for both of them the first time.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to be a vital part of the pop culture landscape, thanks to new titles arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. There are countless questions about the future, especially which legacy characters might return in upcoming Marvel movies. Chief among them is Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, although the actress recently explained whys he's hesitant to suit up as Natasha again. And despite my love for the character, I've got to admit that she makes a point.

Fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order remember how long ScarJo's tenure as Natasha was, starting back with 2010's Iron Man 2. Robert Downey Jr. is returning in Avengers: Doomsday as Doctor Doom, the Asteroid City actress spoke to Vanity Fair about why she doesn't want to play Black Widow again. In her words:

Why does she have to be so right? Black Widow offered closure for Natasha, following her tragic death in Avengers: Endgame. And because of that, she's seemingly not interested in playing the OG member of The Avengers anytime soon.

As fun as it would be to see Black Widow back for the multiversal adventures coming in Doomsday and Secret Wars, bringing the character back would likely cheapen the sacrifice of her death. Especially since her passing has also been a primary motivation behind both Hawkeye and her sister Yelena.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited thus far, but details about its cast are slowly trickling out. In addition to RDJ's Doctor Doom, Marvel's live stream Doomsday event announced a huge ensemble of characters. Scarlett Johansson was noticeably missing, and she seems passionate about not reuniting the legacy of her signature character. Of course, there could be a way around this. It is the multiverse after all.

Because while Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, he's not coming back as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Instead, he's playing a new character entirely thanks to the expanded rules of the multiverse. This allows Tonys' death in Endgame to remain intact, so maybe Johansson can be convinced by The Russo Brothers to come back as someone else entirely. Hey, a fan can dream.

While she's not expected to appear in any MCU projects, Scarlet Johansson stars in Jurassic World: Rebirth on July 2nd as part of the 2025 move release list. As for Avengers: Doomsday, that'll hit theaters May 1st, 2026.

Today marks a week since Thunderbolts* moved from the upcoming Marvel movies slate to an offering on the 2025 movies schedule. Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster is among the latest MCU flick’s title protagonists, though the way she’s used is… jarring, to say the least. But on top of still thinking about Antonia Dreykov’s role in Thunderbolts*, now there’s even more weirdness to ponder, as apparently we came close to getting a much different version of the character in Black Widow.

This comes to us from actor O-T Fagbenle, who played Rick Mason, one of Natasha Romanoff’s allies from her S.H.I.E.L.D. days, in Black Widow. However, that wasn’t the role he originally auditioned to play. While promoting the Hulu subscription-exclusive The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6, Fagbenle informed The Direct that he was in the running to play Taskmaster instead, saying:

A male Taskmaster hailing from somewhere in Africa… yeah, that’s a far cry from the Olga Kurylenko-portrayed version that we got. While the original Taskmaster from the comics is a mercenary named Tony Masters, it’s unclear if O-T Fagbenle would have been playing a version of this character or someone brand new. He also didn’t clarify if this Taskmaster was affiliated with the Red Room like Antonia Dreykov was, though unlike her, it doesn’t sound like he would have been a mind-controlled weapon.

Regardless, O-T Fagbenle said that by the time it came down to him or someone else for the role, Black Widow’s Taskmaster got overhauled, and he was instead offered the Rick Mason part. As the actor recalled:

Black Widow, which took place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, ended with Rick Mason giving Natasha Romanoff a Quintet so that she could off and help Steve Rogers save the incarcerated Avengers who sided against the Sokovia Accords. So within the MCU timeline, it’s been well over a decade since he was last seen. There’s no indication Mason will ever appear again, but as far as his version of Taskmaster goes, Fagbenle would welcome “another opportunity for me to pull that maniac out of the bag and put it on screen.”

Warning: SPOILERS for Thunderbolts* are ahead!

If the MCU still wants a Taskmaster around, it’s going to have to be a new version, whether they’re played by O-T Fagbenle or someone else. That’s because Olga Kurylenko’s version was killed off in Thunderbolts*, with Ava Starr, a.k.a. Ghost, shooting her in the head pretty early into the movie. While I enjoyed the Jake Schreier-directed movie for the most part, I wasn’t impressed with this creative decision, especially since in an earlier draft, Antonia played a larger role in the story.

Regardless, she’s gone now, so maybe Marvel Studios should hit Fagbenle back up about his Taskmaster. Otherwise, you can revisit Black Widow with your Disney+ subscription, which is also how you’ll be able to stream Thunderbolts* later this year.

The upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts* is in many ways a direct follow-up to 2021’s Black Widow. Three of the movie’s major characters, Yelena, Red Guardian and Taskmaster, debuted in that film, and this is the first time we’ve seen the latter two since then. It is, of course, not surprising that Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha doesn’t appear, but considering the rest of Black Widow’s “family” is here, it makes one wonder what happened to Melina.

Rachael Weisz joined the Black Widow cast as Melina, a Red Room operative who also played the role of mother to Natasha and Yelena during their days undercover. At the end of Black Widow, the family comes together, but Melina is nowhere to be found in Thunderbolts*. Speaking with THR, David Harbour is surprisingly open that he doesn’t know where Melina is, but he absolutely wants to see her back, and has even been talking to Marvel about making that happen. He said…

While Harbour's Alexei and Weisz’s Melina were only playing an undercover husband and wife in Black Widow, the movie reveals that there was real affection between the pair, and there’s even a Black Widow deleted scene (viewable with a Disney+ subscription) where the two kiss at the end of the movie. But Red Guardian is very clearly a bachelor during Thunderbolts*.

While Yelena and Red Guardian are not particularly close in Thunderbolts*, they have remained in touch. It’s unclear if the same is true with Melina. It could be that she is simply elsewhere during the events of the film, or there could be something else going on.

The fact that Melina isn’t anywhere in Thunderbolts* could be an indication that her story is simply seen as over, and the MCU will move on without her, as it has with so many other characters over the years. However, David Harbour thinks there’s a real chance we could see Melina again, and he thinks it would certainly make for some real drama for his character. He continued…

We know that David Harbour and the rest of the Thunderbolts* cast will be joining the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, and as long as Red Guardian and Yelena are a significant part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the door is likely open for a return for Melina. Florence Pugh was in the same interview with Harbour, and it seems clear that both of them would love to see Rachel Weisz return. Maybe it really could happen.

Scarlett Johansson is swapping spy gear for survival mode in the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth, the latest entry in the dino-fueled franchise. The former Avenger is ditching the red ledger for raptors, and as it turns out, her journey from upcoming Marvel movies to Isla Nublar (well, metaphorically speaking) wasn’t just fate. The actress is set to tango with dinosaurs on the 2025 movie schedule, and we can kinda sorta thank her Marvel fanbase for that.

In a chat with Vanity Fair, Johansson admitted her childhood obsession with Jurassic Park ran deep, but it was the impact of Marvel fans, especially the little girls who idolized Black Widow, that pushed her to go after a role in the dino saga actively. She shared:

The "him" in question was Steven Spielberg. When the actress finally met the legendary director and producer, she wanted to keep things chill. Back in 2020, Scarlett Johansson got a sniff of her dino destiny but couldn’t grab it. While she was doing reshoots for Black Widow at Pinewood Studios in the UK, she found herself just a soundstage away from Jurassic World Dominion. She could hear the raptor screeches, but she wasn’t close enough to jump into the Jurassic Park franchise’s expansive universe.

But it wasn’t until a casual sit-down with Steven Spielberg, just a general meeting about future ideas, that she finally got to unleash her inner dinosaur nerd. She continued:

Roughly a month after chatting with Spielberg, Johansson had the script from David Koepp in her hands, and she wasn’t just reading it; she was workshopping it. She came in hot with character notes, not content to play another gun-for-hire.

Her character, Zora Bennett, started as a typical mercenary type, but with Scarlett’s input, she gained more depth and personality. This isn’t just another monster movie. The team behind Rebirth, featuring producer Frank Marshall and executive producer Steven Spielberg, is cranking up the tension. Gareth Edwards, who directed Rogue One and The Creator, is at the helm and is focusing heavily on the horror aspects that made the first movie so beloved.

Rebirth introduces freakish new dino-hybrids, less science fair and more fever dream. Think a T. rex crossed with a xenomorph, maybe a dash of Star Wars’ rancor thrown in. It’s not just bigger and badder, it’s built to unnerve.

And for Johansson, it all circles back to the fans. Years of meeting kids dressed as Natasha Romanoff left a lasting emotional impact. Now, she’s at the heart of what might be the scariest chapter yet. And if all goes well, little girls might soon be suiting up as Zora Bennett, too.

While we’re all waiting for more news on Rebirth, fans can dive back into the Jurassic series. You can binge the original trilogy with a Hulu subscription, and can catch the latest movies from the World trilogy with a Peacock subscription. It’s a great time to relive some of the best flicks from the ’90s and 2020s as we gear up for a summer packed with dinosaurs!

In the world of comic books, death is one thing that is almost never permanent, and the same has been proven true time and again in comic book movies. Having said that, don’t go looking for Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow to come back from the dead anytime soon, as the actress has a pretty strong feeling about her character’s MCU future, or the lack thereof.

Considering all the Marvel characters that have died and returned in the past, and the expectations that the two upcoming Avengers movies are likely to be chalked full of characters, it certainly wouldn’t be crazy to see Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow at least make a cameo, but ScarJo doesn’t mince words with InStyle, strongly indicating that won’t be happening. She said:

There isn’t a lot of wiggle room left here. Johansson says, quite plainly, that Natasha is dead three times in a row, just to drive home the point. While it’s still possible that somebody could find a way to bring Natasha back, thus necessitating a request for Johansson to return, it certainly doesn’t sound like she’s looking for an excuse to come back.

And honestly, that’s fine. While there’s an expectation that most comic book characters who die won’t stay dead, there have also been those characters, like Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, whose deaths have been of vital importance to the character and the story.

Natasha’s death in the MCU can, and perhaps should, be that for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the actress points out, her character’s death is basically holding the universe together, any attempt to undo it could potentially make the whole thing collapse. That gives the death a weight that will continue to make it important even down the road when the MCU has been watched by multiple generations, presumably with Disney+.

Scarlett Johasson's last official appearance was in the Black Widow movie which was released following the character's death in Avengers: Endgame, but told a prequel story that also introduced us to characters like the Red Guardians and her sister Yelena, who will both appear in the upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts*.

Of course, even all this doesn’t mean that Scarlett Johansson is absolutely done with the MCU. The other death, the one that also matters, has been undone sideways now that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the franchise, simply playing a different character. In an infinite multiverse, ScarJo certainly could do something similar. The actress could conceivably return, the character, it seems not.

Alright, we always end up loving the side characters. While they may technically be part of the main cast of movies and TV shows, they are not the main characters that we are all supposed to follow. And yet, somehow, we always end up liking them more than the person we are supposed to pick the most – and here are just some of the classics that I need to bring up.

Frozone (The Incredibles)

When it comes to the best Pixar movies, The Incredibles tops the list, but you want to know who’s even better than the titular family? Their best friend, Frozone, another superhero with ice powers. Granted, he only has a little bit of screen time in comparison to most, but it’s thanks to his hilarious nature, and Samuel L. Jackson’s excellent voice-acting that makes him a fan-favorite.

NoHo Hank (Barry)

I think there are a lot of characters in the Barry cast that you could like way more than Barry himself, but the best example is NoHo Hank. I wrote a whole article about why NoHo Hank became one of my favorite TV characters ever since I watched Barry, and I still think he’s utterly hilarious.

Megan (Bridesmaids)

The Bridesmaids cast is filled to the brim with comedic talent, but let’s be honest – when we think of Bridesmaids, we think of Melissa McCarthy, and when we think of her, we think of Megan, the character that made her famous. She’s hilarious, and because of her role, she earned an Academy Award nomination.

Mike (Breaking Bad)

The Breaking Bad cast is filled to the brim with characters that are morally grey in every sense of the word, but Mike is one of those that you can’t help but love way more than Walter. He’s calm under pressure, has this stoic thing going on about him, and has appeared in both the mainline series and Better Call Saul.

Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Do I even need to say it? Zuko is the most-loved character in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Zuko’s character arc is one of the best on television, and I have always been a Zuko lover because of it. Heck, I’ll rewatch the show specifically for him, not really for Aang anymore.

Amy (Pitch Perfect)

Amy, otherwise known as Fat Amy, felt like she was going to be a punching bag in the first Pitch Perfect film, but she ended up becoming one of the best parts. Rebel Wilson’s iconic performance, the hilarious singer showcased someone who was unashamedly herself and spoke her mind, and we loved her for that.

Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

There are so many side characters where, at first, they look like they are the epitome of “jerk” or could probably beat you up. Rosa is definitely the latter, but she secretly has the biggest heart of gold, and out of everyone on the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, she’s the person I connected to the most on the show.

Rizzo (Grease)

Grease is overrated, and I stand by that even now because I personally can’t stand Danny or Sandy. But you know who I can? Rizzo. She has depth, emotion, and the voice to match. Sure, the actress does not look like she belongs in high school, but who really does in this film?

Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Obviously, I had to put Daryl Dixon on here. I’m pretty sure that he became the entire show once Rick left the series. He has his spinoff now called The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. There was a whole campaign that said “If Daryl Dies, We Riot.” Heck, the character wasn’t even part of the main cast in Season 1 until Norman Reedus turned him into the loveable redneck that we all know him as today.

Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park)

Jurassic Park is a quintessential ‘90s film, but I’m going to be honest and say most of the characters in there, to me, are forgettable. You watch the movie for the fantastic dinosaurs and epic action. But you want to know who isn’t? Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum. But that’s not fair, because Jeff Goldblum makes every side character better than the main one.

Genie (Aladdin)

Arguably one of Robin Williams’ best movies, Aladdin is a great Disney princess flick, but every time I think of it, I think of the Genie. He’s hyper, hilarious, and a great friend to Aladdin, even when Aladdin treats him selfishly at one point. You can’t get enough of him.

Urkel (Family Matters)

There are certain iconic TV shows that you know about just from a particular character. Urkel is the definition of that with Family Matters. Sure, I loved the hilarious sitcom for years, but the first thing that comes to my mind whenever it pops up is Urkel’s famous catchphrase, “Did I do that?”

Emily (The Devil Wears Prada)

The Devil Wears Prada cast is filled to the absolute brim with stars, but when you watch it, it’s really Emily Blunt’s character, Emily, that steals the show and her absolute love of fashion and all things Miranda Priestly. It’s actually amazing to think back on this film because this is the movie that made Emily Blunt into a household name because of how amazing she was in this role.

Titus (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

I will always love Titus in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. There was just something about this fabulous man that I could not get enough of, and I wanted so much more from him. I will never forgive Netflix for canceling this show. Titus Burgess (the actor behind the character) portrayed him so well, and I just need to see more.

Brienne Of Tarth (Game Of Thrones)

The Game of Thrones cast is ridiculously huge, so it’s almost impossible to pick side-characters that outshone the core six – Daenerys, Jon, Sansa, Tyrion, Jaime, and Cersei, because those were the ones we cared about. But in terms of side characters that surrounded their stories, there’s no one better than Brienne of Tarth. She was strong, fought for what she believed in, and arguably had one of the best endings out of everyone on this show.

O’Ren Ishii (Kill Bill)

I am an avid lover of Kill Bill because I adore watching women kick butt. If we’re being honest, I always rewatch the fight between Black Mamba and O’Ren Ishii. She is just so awesome, and her fighting style gives me chills every single time.

Troy And Abed (Community)

The Community cast is excellent, but let’s be honest here - Jeff, as a main character, is pretty boring, but it’s all the side characters around him that make him great, and Troy and Abed are the definition of that. Their friendship is iconic, but it wasn’t the same when Donald Glover left the series.

Dwight Schrute (The Office)

There are plenty of side characters in The Office that could make this list, but I think the biggest one is Dwight Schrute. The weird office worker had a certain charm about him that everyone loved—and I think it’s really in part to Rainn Wilson’s great performance of him.

Fonzie (Happy Days)

He is the definition of a side-character-turned-fan-favorite. He was a side character until fans ended up loving him so much that the show turned him into a main character for Happy Days. Granted, they ended up doing too much, and it ruined his character – hence the phrase, ‘jumping the shark’ was born – but still. It’s a great example.

Lisa (Girl, Interrupted)

Girl, Interrupted is a very serious movie that is tough to watch, but there’s no denying the excellent performances. Winona Ryder is terrific as the main character, but let’s be truthful here – Angelina Jolie as Lisa stole the show and then some. There’s no beating her.

Sam (The Lord Of The Rings)

While Frodo is the main character in The Lord of the Rings, everyone talks about Sam. He’s a great friend to Fordo, but he’s also kind, loyal, and utterly wholesome in comparison to everything else in the movies.

Bronn (Game Of Thrones)

There are so many side characters in Game of Thrones, but the one I have to point out that I love so much is Bronn. I feel like we always forget he’s there, but when he’s on screen, he just steals every scene he’s in. He’s hilarious, doesn’t hold back what he wants to say, and is a great fighter. You can’t help but love him.

Yelena (Black Widow)

Okay, so maybe this is a slight stretch, but I think when Black Widow came out, so many people had already moved past Natasha dying in Avengers: Endgame that it was hard to connect with her in this new film. But you want to know who people are really connected with? Yelena, Natasha’s adoptive sister, ended up becoming a tremendous character, and people wish to be back in the MCU. It catapulted Florence Pugh’s career.

Schmidt (New Girl)

The New Girl cast has so many great characters, but I’m going to be honest and say that Schmidt is undoubtedly my favorite. Jess is great and all but I don’t find myself laughing uncontrollably when she’s on-screen – I’m rooting for my man Schmidt and how he somehow comes up with the most hilarious moments that make me snicker.

Dionne (Clueless)

Clueless is a great ‘90s film, but Cher is one of those characters that you either love or hate because of how she acts. However, the one person I think we can all agree with is fantastic: Dionne, played by the impeccable Stacey Dash. She’s a fashionista who sticks by Cher’s side, and you have to respect that.

Grogu (The Mandalorian)

Alright, so I do love Din Djarin, and I will legit support anything that man does, but it wasn’t his face plastered everywhere after the first season of The Mandalorian – it was Grogu, who was first known as Baby Yoda. And, I mean, he is pretty cute, so I can’t really complain.

Darius (Atlanta)

Atlanta is a series that toed the line between drama and comedy during its four-season run, but one of the best characters that fit in with both of those was Darius. Played by Lakeith Stanfield, Darius is calm, if not a little weird, but does it so well and with a smooth nature.

Steve (Stranger Things)

It would be an absolute travesty if I did not include Steve Harrington on this list. He’s Steve—you know, the babysitter of all these kids, and will legit do anything to protect him? His character growth is impeccable, and I will stand by him until the end of this show. Joe Keery plays him so well.

Levi Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

There are so many side characters in anime in general that people love more than the main character, but my top pick has to go to Levi Ackerman in Attack on Titan. If you know, you know. But if you don’t, he’s literally coined Humanity’s Strongest Soldier and proves it several times throughout the course of the series, and yet, behind his stoic nature, he is a good (if not morally grey) man. And fans eat that stuff up -- including myself.

Lexa (The 100)

As someone who was a devout fan of The 100 for many years, I don’t think any other side character came along that changed the game quite like Lexa did. Not only was she badass, but she ended up becoming a love interest for the main character, which spawned an entire shipping war, which was a time to be alive. She was only in this show for a few seasons, but she made her impact.

April Ludgate (Parks And Recreation)

The Parks and Recreation cast is hilarious in so many ways, but of course, I have to point out April Ludgate, played by the hysterical Aubrey Plaza. There was just something about her deadpan responses and the way she reacted to everything that made her the best character on this show. I would watch a whole spinoff of her.

Negan (The Walking Dead)

While Negan is no doubt a very complex villain-turned-antihero by the end of The Walking Dead, there is no denying that people loved him. I swear, fans were rooting for him to win in that war during Seasons 7 and 8, and honestly, I think it’s because Jeffrey Dean Morgan portrayed him so well. And he continues to do so in The Walking Dead: Dead City. You can’t beat Negan.

There are so many great side characters out there that I might have missed, but these are certainly my favorites. Now, we have to have a little marathon to enjoy all of them in their splendor once again.

There are a surprising amount of films based on comic books and graphic novels that are directed by women. Traditionally women have been underrepresented in directing, and while there are still way more movies directed by men, we see more and more directed by female filmmakers. Here are some examples of movies based on comic books directed by women.

Tank Girl (1995)

Comic book movies were much rarer in the 1990s than they are today, much less movies based on an alt-comic like Tank Girl. Still, in 1995 director Rachel Talalay took the helm to make a movie based on the hit underground comic. Lori Petty starred as the titular character and while it's not the best adaption ever made, it has its moments and at least it's an early-sh example of a female-led comic book movie.

Captain Marvel (2019)

In 2019 one of Marvel's most powerful superheroes joined the MCU with Captain Marvel. Brie Larsen stars as the titular character and the film was co-written and co-directed by women, because it just had to be, right? Directing duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck teamed up to direct it and co-wrote the script with Geneva Robertson-Dworet.

Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

It's always good to remember that not every comic book was from Marvel or DC and not every comic book movie is about a superhero. 2001's Josie and the Pussycats is a great example of both and while it's not high art, it's still a really fun movie. Rachel Leigh Cook stars as Josie alongside Tara Reid, and Rosario Dawson as her Pussycats.

Wonder Woman (2017)

2017's Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins is the best installment in the now-defunct DCEU. Set during World War I, the movie follows the beloved DC character Wonder Woman as she does what she does best, save the world. Gal Gadot is wonderful as Wonder Woman, and it just wouldn't feel right to have anyone but a woman like Patty Jenkins direct it.

Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

As great as it is to see female superhero movies directed by women, it's even better to see a woman at the helm of a movie based on a male villain/anti-hero like Venom in Venom: The Last Dance. The 2024 movie was directed by Kelly Marcel, who also directed the two previous Venom films starring Tom Hardy as well, but has said that the 2024 installment would be the final film in the series.

The Old Guard (2020)

The underrated 2020 movie The Old Guard had the unfortunate luck of being released in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. The Charlize Theron-led movie, based on a comic by Greg Rucka (who wrote the movie as well), was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Prince-Bythewood is not shy about directing movies about powerful women, including the great The Woman King from 2022.

Batman: Year One (2011)

It's not just live-action films that women get in on the fun of. The excellent 2011 animated flick Batman: Year One was co-directed by Lauren Montgomery who has a long history in animated features and TV shows. She is also set to direct 2026's Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is fantastic news.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)

Appropriately, 2015's The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a true female-led project. Starring Bel Powley as the lead, with support from Kristen Wiig, and Alexander Skarsgård, the film is written and directed by Marielle Heller. It's all based on the graphic novel by Phoebe Gloeckner. The movie wasn't nearly as popular as it should have been and is definitely worth seeking out to check out if you've never seen it.

Madame Web (2024)

Writer and director S. J. Clarkson took the helm for 2024's Madame Web starring Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney. The movie took a beating from critics when it was released, but it didn't totally deserve the harsh comments. No, it's not the best superhero movie, but the piling on by critics started to feel a little like bullying. It was like each critic was trying to out-snark the last one with their reviews and it wasn't totally fair.

Radioactive (2019)

One of the most interesting graphic novels of the last couple of decades is Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss. The movie adaptation, called simply Radioactive starring Rosamond Pike and Anya Taylor-Joy and directed by Iranian director Marjane Satrapi is a mixed bag, but it's really cool story and one worth learning about.

Eternals (2021)

Hiring a director like Chloé Zhao for a movie like Eternals is a no-brainer and you'd expect it to be fantastic. Sadly, it doesn't quite live up to the expectations. it's hard to say exactly what doesn't work about it, other than the pacing being a bit of a mess. There are great things that happen in the story and the acting performances are great. We trust Chloé Zhao to make great movies, this one just missed.

Speed Racer (2008)

Based on a manga series from Japan in the 1960s, Speed Racer was also a beloved cartoon in the States in the 1980s after it was imported from its home country. In 2008 the Wachowskis adapted it for the big screen. Though it initially bombed with critics and at the box office, in classic Wachowskis fashion, over the years more and more people have come around to it and it is thought of much better today than when it first came out.

Birds of Prey (2020)

There is no way anyone could make a movie like Birds Of Prey and not have a woman direct it. In this case, that director was Cathy Yan. While the movie struggled as part of the overall disappointing DCEU, it's really not a bad movie by any means, especially from a "grrl power" point of view. The writer was also female, Christina Hodson.

The Marvels (2023)

Following in the footsteps of the first Captain Marvel movie, The Marvels also has a great female director, Nia DaCosta. DaCosta has made a quick name for herself in Hollywood with her first three films, Little Woods, Candyman (2021), and, of course, this one.

Superman: Doomsday (2007)

Superman: Doomsday kicked off the DC Universe Animated Original Movies in 2007. That series, a direct-to-video/streaming franchise has proven far more successful than the doomed DCEU. Based on the comic series The Death of Superman, Superman: Doomsday is a must see for any DC fan. Like others in the series the animated film is directed by artist Lauren Montgomery along with Bruce Timm.

American Splendor (2003)

Underground comic book writer Harvey Pekar was a different kind of writer than most and the movie based on his life and autobiographical comics, American Splendor is a different kind of movie. Paul Giamatti is fantastic as Pekar in this cartoon/live-action hybrid directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini.

Black Widow (2021)

The most famous female superhero in the MCU is Scarlett Johasson's Black Widow and when she finally got her own stand-alone movie, it made all the sense in the world to bring in a female director. Australian Cate Shortland was hired to make the movie with a screenplay by Eric Pearson.

Punisher: War Zone (2008)

it may seem a little weird to bring in a woman to direct a movie like Punisher: War Zone based on one of the most testosterone anti-heroes in comics. But director Lexi Alexander is no wallflower. The former stunt performer and martial artist isn't afraid to mix it up with the boys, and she was actually kind of perfect for this imperfect adaptation from the Punisher series.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)

Director Lauren Montgomery has been a mainstay in the DC animated universe, getting the call for some of its most ambitious works like Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths in 2010. She might just be the best animation director working on DC movies at this point.

The Kitchen (2019)

It's really too bad 2019's The Kitchen from first-time director Andrea Berloff didn't work, because it's a cool comic and a great story. Unfortunately, Berloff's film missed the mark in a lot of ways. She will hopefully get another film because she's a great writer and deserves another chance to get one right.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

After the huge success of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins teamed up again for Wonder Woman 1984. The critical response was mixed and it's hard to gauge the success of the film with audiences as the movie was released simultaneously on streaming with its limited box office release due to the pandemic in December of 2020. It's not as good as its predecessor, but it's still a really fun movie.

The Demon Stirs (2005)

It's not often you see a rom-com come from a graphic novel, so we had to include the 2005 French film The Demon Stirs directed by veteran French director Marie Pascale Osterrieth. It turns out there are a few examples of rom-coms based on graphic novels, it's not all superheroes.

Gemma Bovery (2015)

French director Anne Fontaine helmed the 2015 comedy Gemma Bovery starring Gemma Arterton and Jason Flemyng. The movie is based on a graphic novel of the same name by English cartoonist Posy Simmonds.

Father Of Four (1953)

Way back in the 1950s, Danish director Alice O'Fredericks started a series based on a comic in Denmark called Father Of Four. Over the next eight years, O'Fredericks would write and direct seven more films in the series that have become staples for Danish kids for decades.

Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High (2018)

Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High may not be on your radar screen unless you are the parent of girls, but it was a pretty popular series for a minute there in the mid-teens. This movie, based on the series was directed by Elsa Garagarza.

Falcon Lake (2022)

In the English-speaking world, we don't often hear about French-Canadian films, but Falcon Lake is one worth seeking out. Directed by Montreal native Charlotte Le Bon, this movie, adapted from a graphic novel by French writer Bastien Vivès is a wonderful coming-of-age story that translates to any culture.

Aya of Yop City (2013)

Aya of Yop City is another kind of French animated feature based on a graphic novel Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie, who also directed the feature. It takes place in the Ivory Coast and tells a story of young love that anyone can understand,

Persepolis (2007)

2007's Persepolis, directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, and based on the graphic novel by Satrapi is a powerful autobiographical film about her life growing up in Iran during the turbulent 1970s. It's a movie from a female director with a strong voice and something to say.

Ninjababy (2021)

Norway may not be the first place you think of when it comes to graphic novels or, frankly, films, but Ninjababy might just turn you around on both. Yngvild Sve Flikke directed this fascinating take on a young girl's struggle with her unwanted pregnancy. It's a story only a woman could tell.

The Hunters (2013)

Did you know that the Hallmark Channel has dabbled in sci-fi? That's what they did in 2013 with the Nisha Ganatra-directed The Hunters based on the graphic novel Mirror Mirror by Joshua Williamson. It's about what you would expect, so if you love sci-fi/fantasy and Hallmark Christmas movies, this may be right up your alley.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one constantly putting out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Quite a bit has changed since Avengers: Endgame, which killed off characters like Black Widow. And Scarlett Johansson revealed the one thing she wishes she would’ve done as Natasha Romanoff.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order waited for ScarJo to finally get a solo movie, and Black Widow helped to say goodbye to the character, and offer context about her backstory. But that doesn't mean she doesn't have some regrets. When speaking with MTV UK, she revealed what she'd have changed for her run in the MCU. In her words:

There you have it. While Hawkeye and Black Widow are established as very close friends in the first Avengers movie, they ultimately had limited screentime. Those blockbusters had a lot of characters to service, and it sounds like Johansson would have loved more scenes with Jeremy Renner. Maybe this could happen with an upcoming Marvel movie? Fingers crossed.

Natasha and Clint's relationship took center stage during Avengers: Endgame, prior to the death of Scarlett Johansson's character. As the Time Heist was being developed, Black Widow travels to Tokyo to reach Hawkeye, who has become the murderous Ronin after losing his family to The Snap. She brings him back into the fold, and they travel to Vormir together to procure the Soul Stone. Their final scene is a heartbreaking, fighting to see who could sacrifice themselves. And ultimately Natasha won that battle and perished for the greater good.

That relationship between the two non-powered Avengers, as well as Clint's grief, got to be expanded a bit during Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye show. But Johansson wishes that relationship got more screen time while she was still starring in the MCU.

While Black Widow is dead, the 39 year-old actress Scarlett Johansson is an executive producer on Thunderbolts*, so she's still got ties to the MCU. Additionally, rumors claim that the OG Avengers might be back for a developing project within the shared universe. But if this chatter actually comes to fruition is a mystery at the time being. Still, fans would love to see Black Widow and Hawkeye share the screen again, even if its just for a flashback. After all, Jeremy Renner's hero is still very much alive.

The MCU will return to theaters with Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Oscar-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan has wowed audiences with her best movies like Little Women, Brooklyn and Lady Bird. While those films have gotten her attention during awards season, those are still considered small-scaled productions compared to the big-budget film franchises of Marvel, Harry Potter and Star Wars, among others. After addressing the casting rumors that surrounded her being offered the part of Yelena Belova in Black Widow, the Irish actress gets real if she’d consider joining an upcoming Marvel movie.

On the podcast Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz, the host sat down with the Foe star and addressed those Black Widow casting rumors. The Golden Globe winner wondered how he heard about that and awkwardly laughed as if she didn't know what to say about that. With that “non-answer,” as Horowitz described it, he asked her if she’d ever consider joining a Marvel movie, and here was her answer:

As all Marvel fans know, Florence Pugh was ultimately cast in the Black Widow movie as Natasha Romanoff’s sister, Yelena Belova. However, there was a rumor floating around that A-lister Saoirse Ronan turned down playing Yelena first, with Deadline reporter Justin Kroll claiming the reason being Marvel wasn’t Ronan’s “cup of tea.”

There’s no denying that Marvel would be a great way to get your name out there. After all, playing Iron Man in many of the Marvel movies in order truly shaped Robert Downey Jr.’s career, with the same happening to Tom Holland playing Spider-Man. At the same time, though, it doesn’t mean that the superhero realm is for every A-lister out there.

With that in mind, I can absolutely picture Saoirse Ronan in a James Bond movie. With her versatility and range, I'd love to see her kicking ass like when she was in the underrated action movie Hanna playing an assassin. But don’t expect the Atonement star to aspire to play the hero as she disclosed to Josh Horowitz how much she’d want to play the villain that gives off “Javier Bardem-vibes.” I’m already crossing my fingers that this moment will happen for her in the future.

The next 2024 movie release that Saoirse Ronan has out is the Sundance Film Festival premiere film The Outrun, where her performance is scoring early Oscar buzz. Even though Ronan can’t picture herself in a Marvel movie, she told Josh Horowitz it doesn’t mean that the talented actress doesn’t see herself starring in big films one of these days:

The BAFTA nominee was almost in Barbie through a cameo appearance. However, she had to turn it down in order to star and produce the drama film The Outrun. With Saoirse Ronan’s history of headlining movies before, I’m sure the time will come when she’ll be in a big mainstream movie that’ll put her name on the map even further.

Saoirse Ronan may not have any interest in doing Marvel films, but I’m confident her future movies will bring her the greatest success that any Marvel actress has experienced before. She’s already got the Steve McQueen WWII-drama Blitz that’s coming to your Apple TV+ subscription on November 22nd, and she's in the upcoming movie Bad Apples about a teacher facing disruption from one student. Even without a big-budget franchise, Ronan still fits the bill for a successful, accomplished actress of her time.

Not every secret agent in the world of cinema wears a tuxedo, enjoys martinis, and says their name as their catchphrase. This list of movie spies not named Bond are still pretty awesome though, and some of them are actual fixtures in the landscape of the James Bond movies! 

Austin Powers (Austin Powers)

Britain’s shagadelic man out of time knows a thing or two about fighting maniacs with a doctorate in evil. Mike Myers’ titular hero of the Austin Powers movies is a pretty awesome parody of 007, while also standing as a fantastic example of what a man of mystery should be.

Ilsa Faust (Mission: Impossible)

In the later run of Mission: Impossible movies, the introduction of Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust gave the world a female spy as steadfast as Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) himself. Introduced in Rogue Nation, with an unfortunate departure after Dead Reckoning, Ilsa’s loyalties may have been in question, but her skills never were.

Napoleon Solo (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.)

Leave it to Henry Cavill to land a sort of backdoor James Bond audition by playing another creation that owes its life to Ian Fleming. As Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E., the former Casino Royale hopeful found a stylishly comic role that proves why he could be Bond…if we didn’t want to see more of his Solo in action! 

Nomi (No Time To Die)

Not everybody gets to be called 007, but one of the two people that have had that distinction in No Time To Die was the agent we call Nomi (Lashana Lynch). The successor to James Bond (Daniel Craig) during his temporary retirement, her skills made even Commander Bond himself proud to observe; making them an effective team in the field.

Harry Hart (Kingsman: The Secret Service)

Manners maketh man, and Harry Hart (Colin Firth) is a firm reminder of the Kingsman oath in action. Charming and sophisticated, he mentors young Eggsy (Taron Egerton) in the ways of modern spycraft, with a patience that any parent would raise a glass to. Though when he has to stir the pot, Harry knows how to get exactly the reaction he’s hoping for, and nothing less. 

Olivia ‘M’ Mansfield (James Bond)

Not all spies leave the desk, but the woman known as M (Dame Judi Dench) has certainly proven why she ascended to the role of James Bond’s maternally-natured boss. Revealed to be named Olivia Mansfield during Spectre’s twisted adventure, her service to England is as invaluable as the blunt instrument she wields with calculated concern.

George Smiley (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

Most people would never return to work after being unceremoniously forced out during a regime change. But then again, not everyone is John Le Carre’s legendary George Smiley (Gary Oldman), the lead of the espionage ensemble film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. With a close-knit group of friends and a calculating mind, George helps oust a traitor and put himself back in the game with high class.

Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow)

One of, if not the best spy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) knows when to take people down and when to give them a talking to. Revisiting her solo antics in Black Widow shows just how cool of a spy she is…and her love of Moonraker kind of explains her use of wit and levity in the field. 

Nathan Muir (Spy Game)

Aspiring spies could learn a thing or two from Spy Game’s Nathan Muir. Played by the legendary Robert Redford, this Tony Scott-directed hero shows strength under pressure, as he works against a ticking clock that could kill his former student (Brad Pitt). His lesson on obtaining information through mere conversation is enough to put him on this list.

Major Anya Amasova (The Spy Who Loved Me)

One of the many James Bond women who are 007’s equal, The Spy Who Loved Me’s Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) is a KGB agent who knows how to get under the skin of the good Commander. Luckily for Mr. Bond, the good major really is interested in preserving peaceful relations by foiling a crazed shipping magnate (Curt Jurgens) and his plot for world domination.

Harry Palmer (The Ipcress File)

Technically, Michael Caine’s heroic spy in The Ipcress File doesn’t have an official name. But most seem to agree that Harry Palmer is the closest thing we’ve got to an actual moniker for author Len Deighton’s answer to James Bond. A working-class gourmand who’s rough around the edges, Harry is the sort of guy that can handle pretty much anything you throw at him; even severely psychedelic brainwashing techniques.

Lorraine Broughton (Atomic Blonde)

The Cold War has its fair share of espionage heroes, and Atomic Blonde’s Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) just might be one of the most brutal. Then again, one can’t be “too effective” in sealing a leak that could expose double agents vital to East/West relations, just as the Berlin Wall is set to come down. 

Ethan Hunt (Mission: Impossible)

 Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is an expert on having his back against the wall. What separates him from most spies is that when the chips are down, he isn’t afraid to scale the wall and dive into some ridiculous stunt to escape. It’s what makes the Mission: Impossible franchise a consistent hit among its fans, and it’s one of the many skills Ethan possesses that have saved humanity over so many missions. 

Eve Moneypenny (Skyfall)

Breaking the mold of what the Moneypenny character typically represents, Naomie Harris’ variant during the reign of Daniel Craig’s James Bond showed the future right hand to M (Ralph Fiennes) as a capable field agent. Reintroduced in Skyfall, one can only hope that the future of the Bond franchise keeps this action-ready Ms. Moneypenny in the mix for years to come.

Jack Ryan (The Ryanverse)

In the Marvel movies, Steve Rogers is the ultimate boy scout who believes in due process, and justice above all. However, in Tom Clancy’s Ryanverse, analyst Jack Ryan personifies that ethos without a hint of super soldier powers at his disposal. No matter which actor you prefer in the role, at his best Mr. Ryan is someone who will get the intel, and wade into action to deliver it if he has to. 

Yelena Belova (Black Widow)

As headstrong as her sister Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is another well-trained “Widow” who rebelled against the system that created her. Black Widow offered her character a fantastic platform to launch from, as her place in the MCU has been well enforced with films like Thunderbolts* and series such as Hawkeye giving her more time to shine while avenging her fallen sibling. 

Courtland Gentry (The Gray Man)

Ryan Gosling’s charm truly knows no boundaries, and Netflix’s would-be franchise starter The Gray Man still has us wanting more. An expert assassin being chased around the world, author Mark Greaney’s Courtland “Court” Gentry character is as quick with his trigger finger as he is with his quips. Don’t worry: if he doesn’t like you, he’ll tell you before the next explosion goes off.

Paloma (No Time To Die)

No Time To Die’s fresh CIA agent Paloma (Ana de Armas) only had three weeks of training before she jumped into action with James Bond (Daniel Craig). Those three weeks definitely paid off though, as her assistance in breaking up a SPECTRE party gone horribly wrong helped 007 stay alive, at least for that evening. 

Harry & Helen Tasker (True Lies)

At the start of True Lies, Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a lone clandestine agent who is having problems at home with his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis). But by the time the two of them foiled an international terror plot together, they became quite the team. It’s never too late for a sequel, Mr. Cameron. 

Gary "Eggsy" Unwin (Kingsman)

Gary Unwin (Taron Egerton) was a rough around-the-edges delinquent who ultimately wanted to do right by his family legacy. Through his adventures in the Kingsman movies, the young man known as “Eggsy” grew up to become a paragon of spying, thanks to the tutelage of the stoic but friendly Harry Hart (Colin Firth). 

Ilya Kuryakin (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.)

Ilya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) is a hothead who’ll tear down an entire bathroom if you bad mouth his already tarnished family legacy. But he’s also quite a good friend to have in a pinch, especially when the pinch is smuggling nuclear arms. This Russian wrecking machine has his soft spots, but he’s loyal to the cause, and the friends he serves. 

Melina Vostokoff (Black Widow)

Sometimes the responsibilities of being a spy and a parent are equally matched in difficulty. But never once does anyone question the abilities of Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz) to handle either side of that coin. A brilliant scientist, despite her initial allegiance presented, 

Evelyn Salt (Salt)

Both in the interest of clearing her own name, and also preventing a devastating attack on the American political infrastructure, Salt’s main spy Evelyn (Angelina Jolie) is someone who could give Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt a run for his money. That much is especially true when considering how she neutralizes the threat at the heart of this would-be franchise starter.

Luther Stickell (Mission: Impossible)

Though Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) is technically an IMF field agent in the Mission: Impossible movies, his specialty is as a “man in the chair.” A formerly disavowed operative who was enlisted by Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) to execute the “Mount Everest of hacks,” Luther became more than the flavor of the month; he became one of the most loyal and resourceful people in Ethan’s life.

Agent 99 (Get Smart)

Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) would never have survived his tangle with KAOS if it wasn’t for the skills of Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). One of CONTROL’s star players, her tradecraft made Max a better agent, while also allowing Ms. Hathaway to display her deadpan comedy chops all throughout the movie adaptation of Get Smart. 

John Clark (Without Remorse)

If Jack Ryan is the Captain America of Tom Clancy’s Ryanverse franchise, then Without Remorse’s John Clark (Michael B. Jordan) is The Punisher of that same series. Losing his wife and unborn child to a tragic case of operational blowback, Clark survives to become an avenging angel of righteousness; while also forming the Rainbow Six organization to combat international acts of terror.

One (6 Underground)

With a character name like Magnet S. Johnson (Ryan Reynolds), it’s kind of hard not to root for the head of 6 Underground’s undercover network of do-gooders. Though it definitely helps that he’s got some impressive weapons training and infiltration skills, as well as the cool codename of “One,” seeing as he’s the leader of the entire outfit. 

Celia Harrison-Favreau (All The Old Knives)

Celia Harrison-Favreau (Thandiwe Newton) is a spy who seems to have studied at the George Smiley School of Mole Hunting. Exposing the nefarious party at the heart of a terrorist attack that’s reopened for investigation almost a decade after it occurred, all it took was one dinner for her to identify and neutralize All The Old Knives’ surprising traitor.

Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez (Spy Kids)

Spy Kids’ Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) are one of those movie couples you’d love to watch, even if they weren’t spies. However, when Robert Rodriguez’s family classic rounded out the ranks with their equally impressive kids (Daryl Sabara and Alexa PenaVega), the argument for how perfect this couple was became even stronger.

Sarah (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre)

It takes a special kind of person to stand up to someone like Jason Statham, no matter what character he may be playing. So when Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre made it the job of Aubrey Plaza’s Sarah to bust his chops to the fullest extent, it was a dream-given form. Ms. Plaza’s character is also a fantastic hacker and a great field operative who keeps even the most neurotic action star (Josh Hartnett) mission-ready. 

Derek Flint (Our Man Flint)

Much like James Bond, Derek Flint (James Coburn) loves retirement. At least, that was until  Z.O.W.I.E. brought him out at the beginning of Our Man Flint. A master linguist and inventor, on top of being an expert spy, Mr, Flint helped write the blueprint for Austin Powers to pick up during his time in the pop culture sun. 

Matt Helm (The Silencers)

Dean Martin has always been known as the king of cool, so you can see exactly why he’d lead the cinematic adaptation of author Donald Hamilton’s books. While able to carry himself with distinction in the field, Matt Helm knows when to crack a joke; especially when Frank Sinatra comes on the radio.

Timing is everything, no matter what the subject at hand may be. Releasing a potential blockbuster is certainly one of those fields where strategy is key, and when it comes to the movies we’re about to discuss, it just was sadly a case of wrong place, wrong time.

Watchmen

If co-writer/director Zack Snyder’s adaptation of Watchmen had been released at any point other than the start of the MCU’s boom, it might have seen better box office returns. While the movie still holds up, one has to wonder if an era with larger IMAX capacity would have done this movie better.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

2015 was a good year for spy movies, with Kingsman: The Secret Service and Spectre both doing rather well at the box office. So maybe Guy Ritchie’s beloved The Man from U.N.C.L.E. should have thought about releasing in early 2016 instead, as the film’s breezy antidote to Daniel Craig’s James Bond arc could have been better appreciated.

The Rocketeer

The Rocketeer is one of the classic examples of a movie that had too much competition. With summer 1991 offering the likes of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Terminator 2: Judgement Day, there was little room in people’s hearts for an underrated Disney take on comic book heroism. 

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

It was almost instantaneously decided that Edgar Wright’s cinematic adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World would eventually be a cult classic. Flopping in theaters, the people who actually saw it kept the torch lit for future fans to discover. Perhaps Inception had better legs than Universal had thought. 

Alita: Battle Angel

There’s still a dedicated fan base who want to see a sequel to Robert Rodriguez’s adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel. This would-be blockbuster’s debut saw it as the final 20th Century Fox movie to be released before the 2019 Disney/Fox merger’s completion; an event that would see various projects cancelled, sold off, or get lost in the shuffle.  

Tron

Nobody knew just how white hot E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial was going to be in the summer of 1982. Dominating the box office for a stretch that’s unheard of in the current market, Disney’s experimental sci-fi movie Tron was a casualty during that reign. Moved from a Christmas slot staked out in that same year, the arcade game wound up making more money than this cult classic would take at the movies.

The Last Voyage Of The Demeter

If you’re trying to craft a horror hit, even if you’re uncertain about the IP, a Halloween release date is your best chance at success. While director André Øvredal’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark bucked that trend with its well played August 2019 release, 2023 would see his film The Last Voyage of the Demeter crash into the rocks of misfortune.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Six years can make a difference when you’re trying to follow the next big thing. Gremlins 2: The New Batch taught the world that lesson as it failed to capture its 1984 predecessor’s box office bonanza in 1990. Between a crowded year at the box office, and the arrival of so many imitators throughout that stretch of time, it was hard for this actually well-liked picture to last past midnight.

The Thing

Maybe a major studio with two alien-centric movies should be a bit careful in how they release them. As if John Carpenter’s The Thing wasn’t disturbing enough on its own, the fact that the movie shared cinematic air with E.T.: the Extra-terrestrial not only buried the picture, it made it look even more frightening. Lucky for the world The Thing found its feet on VHS, and all was right with the world. 

Blade Runner

Sometimes a classic needs to give the world a little more time to catch up. Thanks to the meteoric rise of E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial in 1982’s box office calendar, director Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner seemed destined to obscurity. However, when the picture landed in rental stores quicker than Steven Spielberg’s cinematic phenomenon, people were ready to dive in. 

The Last Action Hero

Believe it or not, heading into the theatrical release of The Last Action Hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s meta action/comedy was being touted as “the big ticket for ‘93!” And then a scrappy upstart student film called Jurassic Park was unleashed, just two days earlier, and the rest was history faster than you could say “Big mistake.” 

Doctor Sleep

November 2019 didn’t do many movies favors when it came to cashing in on existing IP. While Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep had a good head of steam heading into its release into multiplexes, its arrival was met by the surprising box office victory of Midway. If only it had gone toe to toe with Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, perhaps the Halloween season could have booked more butts at The Overlook. 

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a movie that underperformed so horribly, it closed Square Pictures’ doors not that long after they first opened. While one could debate when the right time was to release an ambitious video game tie-in flick, it certainly wasn’t in the same stretch where Legally Blonde was conquering in pink and Shrek was making its name. 

Surviving Christmas

Long before the Hallmark Channel somehow convinced people it’s ok to watch Christmas movies year long, the Ben Affleck-led holiday comedy Surviving Christmas was a huge example of releasing a movie way out of season. Opening on October 22nd, 2004, the only defense this forgotten flameout has is that it was probably trying to beat The Polar Express and Christmas with the Kranks to the punch. 

Black Widow

Marvel’s Black Widow should have been the massive homecoming for the MCU that the early pandemic world was looking for. Unfortunately, this was also the time that Disney+’s short-lived Premier Access program was tested, in order to entice audiences to enjoy the film at home. Scarlett Johansson’s eventual lawsuit was only the beginning of the fallout, as the film performed nowhere near the level the MCU brass expected.

Turning Red

A week after 2022’s The Batman crushed it at the early pandemic box office, Disney/Pixar’s Turning Red tried to make a savvy pivot as a Disney+ streaming original. Though the film had an eventual theatrical re-release, the picture still failed to make a proper stamp on the box office.

Tenet

Literally the first movie that reopened movie theaters after the 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet became a champion of post-shutdown cinema. It also did as well as it could in the earlier, much more limited market that was available to theatrical titles; which only made it an eventual IMAX 70mm repertory favorite. 

Jersey Girl

Gigli was a theatrical bomb that was so devastating that its effects weren’t only felt by Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s ill-advised rom-com. With fears that Kevin Smith’s Jersey Girl would also crater as a result, the picture was tweaked to limit the appearance of Bennifer 1.0 in the film. It didn’t matter, because Smith’s heart on its sleeve family dramedy still tanked. 

The Village 

There’s a case to be made that M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village should have either been his first project, or a later career release. Riding the wave of “twist” laden movies like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs, the film was marketed as a spooky, twisted movie…which hides the actually sweet nature of its cerebral drama. 

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

In a more traditional period of release, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar could have been a surprise hit that raked in box office gold. But as a 2021 release that was eventually turned into a PVOD exclusive debut, Kristen Wiig and Anne Mumulo’s sunny fun seekers weren’t given the spotlight they truly deserved. 

Crossroads

Ok, get all the jokes out now. No, Crossroads isn’t a movie that never should have been released. While it was a decent hit at the 2002 box office, this could have been a white-hot hit if it was produced and released earlier in Britney Spears’ career as a pop princess.

Haunted Mansion

20 years after the Eddie Murphy starring spin on the same Disneyland attraction arrived, Haunted Mansion was the reboot that hoped to get it right. But with a critical drubbing, and a non-Halloween release date, director Justin Simien’s new tale in an old haunt was barely a ghost by spooky season.

Tron: Legacy

When all was said and done, Tron: Legacy actually did pretty well for itself in a December 2010 release slot. However, in the era where Pirates of the Caribbean, and eventually the MCU, would become Disney’s preferred ATMs, the legacy-quel would act as a minor point of light before another franchise dark age.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

While Star Wars started as a summer-based franchise, the Sequel Trilogy era saw The Force Awakens relocate the series to its current Christmas holiday tradition. So by the time 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story became a reality, its attempt to return to the May release slot of its youth was seen as a massive misstep. 

Star Trek: Nemesis

In 2002, Star Trek’s movies were on a bit of a roll. At least, the franchise was in a comfortable enough position that Paramount Pictures brass decided that releasing Star Trek: Nemesis against The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was a calculated risk worth taking. It was not, even with the presence of baby Tom Hardy playing a clone of Patrick Stewart.

UHF

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Batman, Ghostbusters II, and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids all came out in the summer of 1989. Weird Al Yankovic’s UHF…also happened. That pretty much sums up how audiences reacted to the cult classic in its initial release phase, but history only went on to prove that maybe Al should have sold his bologna in another space on the calendar.

Brightburn

Points have to be awarded to Brightburn, as the James Gunn-produced mashup of The Omen and Superman not only predated superhero fatigue, it actually happened before both of those franchises would make resurgences in popular culture. If only this R-rated thrill ride had opened with a little more distance from Avengers: Endgame’s debut almost a month prior.

The Core

It was bad enough that 2003’s The Core was unceremoniously delayed from its original release date in late 2002. But when the Columbia shuttle disaster killed all seven astronauts aboard roughly a month before the movie actually made it into the world, the timing couldn’t have been worse. 

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Between The Matrix Revolutions and Return of the King was a window that should have worked for potential 2003 blockbusters. Yet between potential Russell Crowe fatigue, and inflated production costs, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World saw the wind unjustly robbed from its sails. 

The Matrix Resurrections

The Matrix Resurrections was a curious prospect from day one, as The Wachowski’s original trilogy seemed pretty open and shut. That unexpectedly meta approach, meshed with a controversial day-and-date streaming debut in 2021, marked a supposed low point in a once-dominating franchise. 

West Side Story

December 2021 was a bloodbath when it came to the glut of movies released in that very month. With the Disney/Fox empire pushing a lot of movies out in this early pandemic season of cinema, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake found itself crushed up against The King’s Man, Nightmare Alley, and Spider-Man: No Way Home…and that was just the competition from its siblings.

Steve Jobs

Part of Steve Jobs’ struggles manifested early, as a David Fincher-directed/Christian Bale-starring version of the Aaron Sorkin scripted biopic fell apart, despite holding great promise. The movie that resulted, with Danny Boyle directing an all-star cast led by Michael Fassbender, is a magnetic opus that deserves more love than it got.

Unfortunately, the ill-advised Ashton Kutcher vehicle Jobs may have played a part in sinking this beaut; along with an odd awards season release strategy…rolled out in the month of October. Which, just like a lot of the films we've just discussed, is prime proof that a movie at the wrong place in time can be unjustly seen as a failure. 

While Marvel Cinematic Universe fans are still going bonkers over the confirmation that Robert Downey Jr is returning to the franchise, a few other movies are still taking place between now and then that we shouldn't ignore. SDCC also gave fans in attendance a peak at other upcoming Marvel movies, such as next year’s Thunderbolts* which has a release date less than a year away. Florence Pugh now has us even more excited for the new team-up movie as she got emotional discussing the movie and her co-star David Harbour.

Florence Pugh and David Harbour played a surrogate family when their characters were introduced in Black Widow. It turns out that was the case for the actors as well. CinemaBlend caught up with Florence Pugh at SDCC following the big Marvel panel and she talked about the experience of reuniting with David Harbour for Thunderbolts* and the relationship the pair now have. She even got emotional when discussing how he “protected” her while on set. Check out her full comments from Instagram below.

It’s quite touching to hear Florence Pugh talk about her relationship with David Harbour. It sounds like they enjoyed the experience of working on Black Widow as they quickly started talking about potential futures for their characters.

The two certainly had expectations to possibly appear in the MCU again while making Black Widow, though they likely had no idea exactly when that might happen, or even if they would appear together. It sounds like making the new film was quite special for them both. Pugh compliments both Harbour's talent, as well as who he is as a person.

Black Widow was designed to be a story for Scarlett Johansson’s character, so while the movie explored the relationship between Natasha and Yelena and Natasha and Red Guardian, there wasn’t time for the film to dig deeper into the relationship between Red Guardian and his other daughter. It sounds like Thunderbolts* will give us that, which Florence Pugh appreciated.

Thunderbolts* is practically a Black Widow sequel as no less than three characters from that film are part of the Marvel anti-hero team. Florence Pugh Yelena, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, and Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster are all part of the Thunderbolts* cast. They will be joining up with Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, and Hannah John-Kaman as Ghost. The first Thunderbolts* trailer for the film was shown at Comic-Con to attendees but the rest of us will have to wait to see what the movie is all about.

2024 gave us just one MCU movie, the already smash hit that is Deadpool & Wolverine. The 2025 movie schedule will give us three, and while many are likely focused on Fantastic Four, the most emotional of the new MCU movies may be found elsewhere.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a behemoth franchise since it began with Iron Man. Fans have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But there have been some speed bumps along the way, including Scarlett Johansson's lawsuit against Disney over the release of Black Widow. And now she's reflecting on that time, and calling out "poor leadership" from the studio. Let's break it all down.

ScarJo took Disney to court when they released Black Widow on Disney+ in the midst of the pandemic. Prior to its release, it was contracted that the upcoming Marvel movie would be available exclusively in theaters. Recently she spoke to The New York Times, clarifying that she doesn't hold a grudge against the studio. She explained what was going on at the time, offering:

There you have it. While Johansson hasn't cut ties with the House of Mouse, she and her team felt obligated to take legal action when it came to Black Widow. After all, the solo flick had been a long time coming and no doubt took a great deal of time to shoot for the cast and crew. And if ScarJo was entitled to some of the box office earnings of the movie, releasing it in homes directly affected her paycheck. 

The 39 year-old actress/producer claimed she isn't holding any grudges, and that's already been proven since the Black Widow legal situation played out. Case in point: Johansson is attached to a film adaptation of The Tower of Terror, so it's clear that she and Disney have managed to get back on good terms after the legal shakeup. 

Black Widow's ending marked Scarlett Johansson's final appearance in the MCU, as her contract was officially up. But some fans are still hoping she might return sometime in the future, despite Natasha's death in Avengers: Endgame. There were some rumors that the original Avengers might be back for a future project, but there's been no official news on that front. Although with The Russo Brothers circling two more Avengers flicks, maybe that'll open the door for folks like ScarJo and Robert Downey Jr. to reprise their roles, despite their onscreen deaths.  

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine on July 26th. While fans not so patiently wait, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater in the New Year.

Music is a key part of any movie and that's no less true when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From the moment that the first Iron Man opened with a blast of AC/DC you understood who Tony Stark was. Today all the best MCU movies have some of the best music as well.  

There are so many great musical moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that it’s difficult to narrow down that list. We had to go bigger than a simple top 10. From needle drops to great pieces of original score, here are the best musical moments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so far.

12. The Star Spangled Man In Captain America: The First Avenger 

If you watch the Marvel movies in order, one of the best musical moments comes first. When Captain America is first created, rather than putting him on the front lines, he’s turned into a mascot. “The Star Spangled Man” is the song designed to help promote him, and by extension, the war. It’s a beautiful way for the movie to deal with the overtly political nature of Captain America head-on, and the song is pretty catchy, too. 

11. Peter Goes On Patrol In Spider-Man: Homecoming 

Our first chance of seeing the MCU Spider-Man really being a Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man comes early in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Spidey swings around his home trying to help out where he can, and he does it all to The Ramones classic “Blitzkrieg Bop.” Considering both The Ramones and Peter Parker are from Queens, there’s really no better music for this montage. 

10. Peter Dances On Vormir In Guardians Of The Galaxy

No discussion of music in the MCU is complete without the music of Guardians of the Galaxy. Music is a key part of the way those movies not only set their tone, but also express emotion. The first big musical moment in the franchise comes when Peter Quill listens to “Come and Get Your Love” while dancing across an alien world. If you wondered what the Guardians of the Galaxy movie was all about, this scene pretty much explains all you need to know. 

9. The Opening Credits In Black Widow 

Black Widow is a unique movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a lot of ways, but one of the most interesting is that Black Widow has an opening credits sequence. Those credits are set against a melancholy version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” as performed by Malia J. Taking the quintessential ‘90s song, the era of the movie’s opening scenes, and layering it with the darkness of what happened during Natasha Romanoff’s teen years gets the audience perfectly in sync with the character. 

8. Wanda Fights Back In Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Wanda Maximoff is now seen as one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but she didn’t see herself that way in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The young woman was terrified of the battle going on in Sokovia, but after a pep talk from Hawkeye, she made the decision to fight, and the score swelled to meet her in an epic superhero moment. 

7. Peter Makes His Choice In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the movie where the team of misfit heroes come the closest to falling apart. The Chain, a song about connection, plays twice during the film. The second time is during Quill’s battle with Ego, where he makes the decision to choose his surrogate family over his actual father.  

6. Deadpool & Wolverine Team Up

The Deadpool movies have always been creative when it comes to thier use of music. Unfortunately, the first two entries in the franchise technically don't qualify for this list. Deadpool & Wolverine, however, does. And it's got a musical moment so epic it may never let you see a piece of classic rock and roll the same way again. The film uses the best Madonna song "Like a Prayer," when Deadpool and Wolverine have their epic team up battle and it's everything fans could possibly want

5. Entering Wakanda In Black Panther 

Ludwig Göransson’s score for Black Panther is one of the highlights of the entire film. There’s an ethereal and otherworldy quality to the music, which focuses on a land untouched by colonial hands. The song simply titled “Wakanda” first plays as T’Challa is returning home after a mission early in the film, and when the ship crosses the barrier and we see the real Wakanda for the first time the music hits a beautiful crescendo that transports you there.  

4. Iron Man Arrives At Stark Expo In Iron Man 2

The first Iron Man has more than its share of classic metal needle drops, but the best of those moments actually comes in the opening moments of Iron Man 2. AC/DC’s “Shoot to Thrill” plays as Iron Man jumps from a plane. At first it looks like he may be going into battle, but actually he’s just showing off for a crowd at Stark Expo, which is a fitting juxtaposition, given the rest of the movie.

3. Thor's Battle On The Rainbow Bridge In Thor: Ragnarok 

Thor: Ragnarok was a drastic shift in tone for the character of Thor after the two previous solo films. Nothing made that clearer than the movie’s opening battle set to Led Zepplin’s “Immigrant Song.” The tune returns for the final battle as well. It’s Thor at his absolute best.  

2. The Final Goodbye In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 

All stories must end, and the story of the Guardians of the Galaxy, at least this version of the Guardians, ended about as well as it could have been expected. Rocket plays Florence & the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over.” It’s hard to feel bad saying goodbye with a song that even makes Drax want to dance.  

1. Avengers Assemble In Avengers: Endgame 

Alan Silvestri’s Avengers Theme is the most iconic piece of Marvel music for a reason, from the moment we heard it as the camera first circled The Avengers it was a song that stirred our emotions. In Avengers: Endgame that moment is only bigger, as heroes from over a decade of film come together to fight for everything. It made people literally cheer in the theater for a reason.

After only releasing one movie in 2024, we'll see multiple upcoming MCU movies released in 2025 and beyond. This means even more opportunities for great music. We've heard some of the new Fantastic Four score. The future of MCU music is looking bright.

If you’re reading this, then you’re likely someone who pays close attention to news about upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Marvel TV shows, and rightly so. Still, sometimes it’s nice to revisit past MCU events, specifically by watching the Marvel movies in order, whether you’re breaking out your own copies or streaming these features with a Disney+ subscription. And, of course, one of the main ways the MCU has stood out is by popularizing post-credits scenes, many of which lay groundwork for future projects.

For those of you who specifically have these scenes on the mind, but don’t have the time to go back and revisit any of these movies, don’t worry, we have you covered. Below is every MCU Marvel movie post-credits scene in order, with many of these flicks containing more than one scene to enjoy after the main story is finished.

It’s also important to mention first that neither The Incredible Hulk nor Avengers: Endgame had post-credits scenes, hence why they aren’t included here (although the latter movie does play the sound of a hammer striking metal, harkening back to when Tony Stark was constructing his first suit of armor).

Iron Man

After revealing to the world that he and Iron Man are one and the same, Tony Stark returns to his mansion to find Nick Fury waiting in the shadows. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. broke into the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist’s home to pick his brain on the Avengers Initiative.

Iron Man 2

When Tony Stark and Nick Fury chatted at Randy’s donuts, the latter told the former he had bigger problems in the Southwest region to deal with than him. Later on, Phil Coulson relinquished his Stark babysitting duties because Fury was sending him to New Mexico. In the movie’s final minutes, we learned this was to track down a mysterious hammer embedded in the desert: Mjolnir, Thor’s weapon.

Thor

Nick Fury brings Dr. Erik Selvig to a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility to show him the Tesseract, a mysterious glowing cube that could potentially provide unlimited power to humanity. Unbeknownst to Fury, Selvig is being controlled by a still-alive Loki.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Some time after Steve Rogers awoke in the present day, Nick Fury approaches the super soldier about going on an important mission to save the world. This leads into a teaser for The Avengers.

The Avengers

Following Loki’s defeat at the hands of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the mysterious entity known as The Other meets with his master, i.e. the being who approved giving the Asgardian God of Mischief his Chitauri army, the mind-controlling scepter and the promise of being able to rule Earth, all if he obtained the Tesseract. That master turns out to be Thanos, who merely grins when The Other tells him that to battle the Avengers would be to court death.

Iron Man 3

It turns out that Tony Stark has been recounting the events of Iron Man 3 to Bruce Banner, a.k.a. one of his new Avengers teammates. Unfortunately, Bruce fell asleep basically right as Tony started telling the story, making it clear he doesn’t have the temperament to be a therapist. Undeterred, and perhaps out of spite, Tony starts talking about the “original wound” he suffered when he was 14 years old.

Thor: The Dark World

Post-Credits Scene #1: With the Aether finally out of Malekith’s hands, Asgardian warriors Volstagg and Lady Sif give the weapon to Taneleer Titan, a.k.a. The Collector, for safekeeping. It’s here we learn that the Aether and Tesseract are both Infinity Stones, with Volstagg saying it’s not safe to keep two of those powerful artifacts in the same place. After the Asgardians leave, The Collector quietly says, “One down, five to go,” indicating his interest in collecting all six Infinity Stones.

Post-Credits Scene #2: As a complete 180 from the first Thor movie, The Dark World’s final moments see the the God of Thunder and Jane Foster reuniting on Earth. As they embrace, the Frost Beast from earlier in the movie is seen frolicking around nearby.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Post-Credits Scene #1: HYDRA leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker is shown to have possession of Loki’s scepter from The Avengers. Strucker informs Dr. List that they’ll feed the location of other HYDRA facilities to Captain America and his “colorful friends” to keep them off the scent of their work, and we then see that the only two survivors of these experiments with the scepter are Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, who are respectively seen showing off their telekinesis and super speed.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Some time after rescuing Steve Rogers from the Potomac River, Bucky Barnes, now cut off from his HYDRA handlers, is seen at the Smithsonian visiting his own memorial.

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Collector is sitting in the ruins of his museum, which was destroyed when his slave Carina grabbed the Power Stone and triggered an explosion. Cosmo the Spacedog, who had been one of The Collector’s exhibits, licks his face, and Howard the Duck, another exhibit, proclaims how gross that is while sipping a drink.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

With Loki and Ronan the Accuser having failed to respectively procure the Space and Power Stones for him, Thanos decides to handle searching for the Infinity Stones personally, and he retrieves the Infinity Gauntlet from his vault.

Ant-Man

Post-Credits Scene #1: Hank Pym reveals to his daughter, Hope, an advanced prototype Wasp suit that he and his wife Janet had been working on before she disappeared. At a certain point, Hank realized that he and Janet had been working on the suit for Hope, and she’s more than willing to don it, declaring, “It’s about damn time!”

Post-Credits Scene #2: Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson are shown to have Bucky Barnes in their custody, but because of “the accords,” they can’t contact Tony Stark for help. Steve thinks they’re on their own, but Sam mentions that he knows a guy who could help, referring to Ant-Man, whom he came to blows with during the main story. An expanded version of this scene is later shown in Captain America: Civil War.

Captain America: Civil War

Post-Credits Scene #1: Bucky Barnes is cryogenically frozen by Wakandan scientists so they can safely erase the HYDRA programming in his mind. Steve Rogers warns King T’Challa that if the U.S. government learns where Bucky is, they’ll come for him, prompting T’Challa to confidently respond, “Let them try.” We then see that they are actually in Wakanda, the most technologically advanced nation on Earth.

Post-Credits Scene #2: While giving an excuse to his Aunt May about why he’s beaten up, Peter Parker discovers that the web-shooter Tony Stark gave him is emitting a red light. After May gives him an ice pack and leaves the room, Peter points the red light to the ceiling, and it’s revealed to be a Spider-symbol with a variety of icons, indicating the web-shooter comes with some special features.

Doctor Strange

Post-Credits Scene #1: Doctor Strange is meeting with Thor at the Sanctum Sanctorum. The God of Thunder and his brother, Loki, have come to Earth in search of Odin, but Strange is not happy about Loki hanging around, given what a threat he is. So, after Thor agrees that he and Loki will leave Earth once they find Odin, the Master of the Mystic Arts agrees find the All-Father. An expanded version of this scene is later shown in Thor: Ragnarok.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Karl Mordo corners Jonathan Pangborn, the man who directed Stephen Strange to find Kamar-Taj, and takes away the magical energy he uses to walk. With Pangborn rendered a paraplegic once more, Mordo informs him that there are “too many sorcerers.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Post-Credits Scene #1: Kraglin practices using Yondu’s whistle-controlled arrow, but it doesn’t go well, as he accidentally impales an offscreen Drax with it.

Post-Credits Scene #2: In honor of Yondu’s sacrifice, Stakar Ogord and his cohort Martinex reunite with with old Ravager buddies Charlie-27, Aleta Ogord, Krugarr and Mainframe. This team is based on the original version of the Guardians of the Galaxy from the comics.

Post-Credits Scene #3: High Priestess Ayesha informs one of her underlings that she’s created an artificial being named Adam who will exact revenge on the Guardians for her, and the birthing pod he’s being formed in is shown.

Post-Credits Scene #4: Years after the main events of this movie, Peter Quill expresses his disappointment that Groot, who’s now a teenager, hasn’t cleaned up his room.

Post-Credits Scene #5: The three Watchers walk away from their informant, played by Stan Lee, after growing bored with his stories. Unfortunately for him, they were supposed to be his lift home.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Adrian Toomes is confronted in prison by Mac Gargan, the weapons buyer from the Staten Island Ferry. Now boasting a major scar on his face, Gargan informs Toomes that he and some friends of his on the outside are wanting to exact revenge on Spider-Man and have heard that Toomes knows who the superhero really is, but Toomes denies this.

Thor: Ragnarok

Post-Credits Scene #1: As Loki is questioning Thor about if it’s a good idea for him to come to Earth with the rest of the Asgardians and their allies, their ship is intercepted by a gigantic spacecraft, which Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige identified as the Sanctuary II, Thanos’ vessel.

Post-Credits Scene #2: After being overthrown by his former subjects, Grandmaster confronts the angry crowds gathered around him in the outskirts of his realm on Sakaar. He declares that the revolution is a tie, since if he’s take out of the picture, they’ll have nothing to rebel against.

Black Panther

Post-Credits Scene #1: T’Challa appears in front of the United Nations to announce that Wakanda will be sharing its knowledge and resources with the rest of the world for the first time. When questioned about what a nation of farmers can offer the world, T’Challa simply smirks, indicating he’s about to reveal the existence of his country’s advanced technology.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Bucky Barnes, now unfrozen, is shown in a Wakandan village with Shuri, rehabilitating after having the HYDRA programming erased from his mind.

Avengers: Infinity War

Nick Fury and Maria Hill are shocked by the sudden destruction unfolding around them in a city, and soon they are among the half of the universe that Thanos erased from existence using the Infinity Stones. However, before he turns to dust, Fury manages to send out a signal using a spruced-up pager that displays the Captain Marvel symbol.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Post-Credits Scene #1: Scott Lang is in the Quantum Realm gathering quantum energy that will be used to stabilize Ava Starr’s condition, and Hope van Dyne, Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne are monitoring him from our dimension. Unfortunately, all three are snapped away by Thanos, leaving Scott trapped.

Post-Credits Scene #2: The oversized ant that Scott was using to carry out his house arrest routine in order to fool the FBI continues to play drums while the world goes to hell from the Snap.

Captain Marvel

Post-Credits Scene #1: Post-Snap, some of the surviving Avengers are monitoring Nick Fury’s pager at Avengers Compound and trying to figure out who the signal is being sent to. Suddenly, the pager shuts down, and seconds later, Captain Marvel appears before them asking where Fury is.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Back in 1995, Goose vomits up the Tesseract in Nick Fury’s office.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Post-Credits Scene #1: After swinging through New York City, Peter Parker (suited up as Spider-Man) and MJ watch a news report out in public where TheDailyBugle.net’s J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage where Mysterio not only frames Peter for the Elemental attack on London and his death, but also exposes his secret identity to the world.

Post-Credits Scene #2: As Nick Fury and Maria Hill are driving, we learn that they’ve actually been the Skrulls Talos and Soren from Captain Marvel this entire time. Talos expresses embarrassment at having been embarrassed by Mysterio’s deception, and Soren convinces him to call the real Nick Fury and inform him what happened. Talos attempts to get Nick Fury to come back, but the spy hangs up in the middle of the call, and we see he’s been on “vacation” aboard a spaceship packed with other Skrulls.

Black Widow

Post-Avengers: Endgame, Yelena Belova visits Natasha Romanoff’s grave with her dog. The visit is interrupted by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who’s come to give Yelena a new mission. Her target: Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, whom Valentina says is responsible for Natasha’s death.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Post-Credits Scene #1: Wong brings Shang-Chi and Katy to meet with Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers, both of whom are appearing as holograms. They ponder the origins of Shang-Chi’s rings, and then discover that they’re emitting some kind of beacon, but they don’t know where its message is going. After Carol and Bruce leave the meeting, Wong suggests Shang-Chi and Katy go home to get some rest, but the three of them instead go out for karaoke.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Although Shang-Chi’s sister, Xu Xialing, told him towards the end of the main story that she intended to disband the Ten Rings, we learn she’s instead taken control of the organization and is now training women alongside the men.

Eternals

Post-Credits Scene #1: Out in space, Thena, Makkari and Druig are visited aboard their ship by Eros, a.k.a. Starfox, and his companion Pip the Troll. Eros, who is a fellow Eternal and brother of Thanos, is aware that the trio’s surviving friends have been taken away by the Celestial Arishem, but he and Pip know where to find them.

Post-Credits Scene #2: After witnessing Sersi being taken away, Dane Whitman, whom she’s been dating, opens up a box containing the Ebony Blade. Before he grabs the sword though, a voice offscreen (confirmed in real life to be vampire hunter Blade) questions whether or not Dane is ready to wield it.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Post-Credits Scene #1: Following Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote being transported to the main MCU reality in the Venom: Let There Be Carnage post-credits scene, we see Eddie at a hotel bar in Mexico getting details about the world he’s in from the bartender, including learning about the Blip, Thanos and the Snap. Eddie decides to go to New York to track down Spider-Man, but he and Venom are soon returned to their universe, although a piece of the symbiote is left behind.

Post-Credits Scene #2: The first trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is shown.

Alternate Post-Credits Scene #2: If you watch Spider-Man: No Way Home: The More Fun Stuff Version, you’ll be treated to an additional post-credits that replaces the Doctor Strange 2 trailer. It shows how the effects of Strange’s second spell, i.e. the one that erased people’s knowledge of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, is affecting the lives of his former classmates.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Post-Credits Scene #1: Some time after developing that third eye and apparently getting used to it, Doctor Strange is approached by Clea, who informs him that his actions in this sequel have triggered an incursion into the Dark Dimension, prompting him to follow her back to that realm.

Post-Credits Scene #2: The spell that Strange cast to cause Pizza Poppa on Earth-838 to repeatedly punch himself finally wears off, to the man’s relief.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Post-Credits Scene #1: Dismayed at how the gods aren’t given the respect they once received, Zeus, who’s recovering from his run-in with Thor, decides that killing the Asgardian God of Thunder will make people fear their kind again. He tasks his son Hercules with finding Thor to carry out vengeance.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Jane Foster finds herself in Valhalla, the Asgardian afterlife where warriors who die in battle end up. She’s greeted outside its gates by Heimdall, who thanks her for looking after his son, Axl.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

While in Haiti, Shuri learns that before T’Challa died, her brother and Nakia had a son named Touissant, and they decided to have him raised away from Wakanda to avoid the “pressure of the throne.” That’s also why they didn’t attend T’Challa’s funeral, as it wasn’t time for the boy’s existence to become public. Shuri greets her nephew, who informs her that Toussiant is his Haitian name, but his Wakandan name is T’Challa, too.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Post-Credits Scene #1: Immortus, Rama-Tut and Centurion, three Kang variants from the Council of Kangs, discuss the recent demise of the movie’s main Kang the Conqueror. These Kangs decide because “they,” i.e. the MCU’s main heroes, are starting to “touch” the multiverse, it’s time for them to strike back so that all they’ve built won’t be destroyed. It’s then shown that the fortress where the Council is speaking is filled with thousands of other Kang variants.

Post-Credits Scene #2: The Loki variant and Mobius from the Loki TV series are seen at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair watching a presentation being given by Victor Timely, another Kang variant. Loki is terrified to see the man given his experience with He Who Remains, but Mobius doesn’t understand what the big deal is. An expanded version of this scene is later shown in the Loki Season 2 episode “1893.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Post-Credits Scene #1: Rocket Raccoon and Groot (who’s now fully grown into his King Groot form) are shown on the planet Krylor undertaking a mission to protect townsfolk from stampeding beasts. They are accompanied by Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam Warlock, his pet Blurp and Phyla, with this being the new Guardians of the Galaxy lineup.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Peter Quill enjoys breakfast with his grandpa Jason, agreeing to mow the lawn of a woman Jason knows, though Peter thinks the woman’s son, who’s 45 years old, should help. Jason, who’s reading a newspaper that includes a story about Kevin Bacon being kidnapped (referencing the events of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special) says, “Don’t get me started,” prompting Peter to want to hear more. It’s then teased that “The Legendary Star-Lord will return.”

The Marvels

Monica Rambeau awakens in an infirmary, and next to her is an alternate version of her mother, Maria, who goes by Binary. The X-Man Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, is also in the room, and he informs Monica that she’s been transported to another universe. After Beast leaves, Binary asks who Monica is, prompting her to say, “Oh shit.”

Deadpool And Wolverine

Post-Credits Scene #1: While not a scene per say, a touching tribute for the 20th Century Fox era of Marvel movies plays to the tune of Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)." It's only appropriate, as without this era, we wouldn't have Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and various other memorable portrayals of classic superheroes and super villains.

Post-Credits Scene #2: Deadpool pulls up footage in the TVA headquarters that shows Johnny Storm saying all the bad things about Cassandra Nova that the Merc with the Mouth says he did. Ok, so that part of his story checks out, but The Human Torch being killed is still his fault.

Captain America: Brave New World

Sam Wilson visits Samuel Sterns at The Raft, the same place where now-former President Thaddeus Ross is being incarcerated. Sterns warns Sam that there is an attack forthcoming from other worlds, and that he should prepare for "the others." Meaning, the main MCU reality will soon be colliding with the Marvel multiverse.

As each new Marvel movie comes out, we’ll let you know here if there are any post-credits events to go over. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to expand your horizons beyond the MCU, look over all of the upcoming superhero movies.

Few moviegoing experiences come close to watching a massive action flick on the big screen with a bucket full of popcorn, an overpriced soda, and whatever else you grab from the snack bar. However, over the past few years, we’ve seen a major shift in the way we watch movies, including new action films, in that so many of them go straight to streaming with no theatrical rollout (or a day-and-date release) to speak of. 

It isn’t all bad, as platforms like Netflix, Max, and Prime Video have given us some of the best action movies in recent memory. Here are some great action movies that went straight to streaming and became big hits on the small screen.

Road House (2024)

Though it was expected to land in theaters first, Doug Liman’s Road House remake went straight to streaming for its March 2024 release. Though it would have been great to watch Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor go at it on the big screen, being able to check it out from the comfort of your home on Prime Video wasn’t all that bad. In fact, it was great!

The Ice Road (2021)

Netflix holds it down with the straight-to-streaming action movies thanks to surprisingly fun watches like The Ice Road. Released in 2021, this ‘90s throwback starring Liam Neeson and Amber Midthunder follows a group of truckers on a daring rescue mission to save trapped miners before time runs out.  

The Tomorrow War (2021)

The 2021 Amazon original movie, The Tomorrow War, blends sci-fi, action, and comedy to create a wild cinematic experience with massive battles, time travel, and a lot of heart. In the film, Chris Pratt plays a biology professor and former Green Beret who is transported from 2022 to 2051 to save the world from alien invaders.

Extraction (2020)

One of the best action movies of 2020, Sam Hargrove’s Extraction follows former Australian Army SASR operator Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) as he is sent on a dangerous mission to rescue a drug lord’s son. This Netflix original, which Joe Russo penned, excelled in every possible way and gave us some wild sequences we’re still thinking about four years later.

The Gray Man (2022)

Netflix gave subscribers one of the best action films of 2022 with the release of The Gray Man, a massive spectacle starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans as two trained killers on opposite sides of a worldwide manhunt. Sure, there are some things that don’t work about the Russo brothers’ uber-expensive movie, but those crafty action sequences and that over-the-top performance by the Captain American actor were just so much fun.

The Night Comes For Us (2018)

We’ll probably never get The Raid 3, but Netflix gave us the next best thing in 2018 with the release of The Night Comes for Us. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, this Indonesian action thriller saw outstanding performances by Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais in a story about a daring mission to rescue a kidnapped girl and one former criminal’s last shot at redemption. Those fight scenes are something else all these years later.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

One of the 2021 Warner Bros. movies released in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously, James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad quickly became one of the best comic book movies in recent memory. With multi-faceted characters, bloody action, and a dynamic that feels like Guardians of the Galaxy with an R-rating, there’s just so much to love here.

The Old Guard (2020)

Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Old Guard, a 2020 Netflix adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name, was one of the most refreshing action films to come out during the early months of the pandemic. A story about a group of immortal soldiers fighting their way through time, clever set pieces, and a tremendous cast led by Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne made this one to remember.

My Spy (2020)

Released by Amazon after theaters around the world closed their doors because of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, My Spy saw Dave Bautista play a CIA agent who teams up with a young girl (played by Chloe Coleman) after she catches him spying on her family. Action, blackmail, hilarious conversations, and chemistry shared by its stars all work in My Spy’s favor.

Army Of The Dead (2021)

Zack Snyder went back to the world of horror with his 2021 Netflix original film, Army of the Dead. In the movie, which feels like Ocean’s Eleven with zombies, a group of mercenaries break into the quarantined Las Vegas strip to retrieve a boatload of cash while also trying to survive the legions of undead walking its streets and casinos.

The Harder They Fall (2021)

Jeymes Samuel’s star-studded Western action flick, The Harder They Fall, debuted on Netflix in October 2021 and immediately found an audience with the streamer’s subscriber base. Inspired by real figures of the American West, this story centers around an outlaw as he puts together his old crew to get revenge against a recently released convict and settle an old score.

Prey (2022)

One of the best additions to the Predator franchise, the Hulu original film, Prey, follows a Comanche warrior (played by Amber Midthunder) as she takes on a futuristic alien threat that is determined to wipe out her tribe. Using skills and weapons pioneered by her ancestors, this young yet fierce protector goes to war with the better-equipped predator.

Extraction 2 (2023)

Chris Hemsworth, Sam Hargrave, and Joe Russo returned for more action in Extraction 2 when the highly-anticipated sequel landed on Netflix in 2023. Set not long after the events of the first film, Tyler Rake (Hemsworth) is sent back into the field on what could be his most dangerous, and most personal, mission yet.

Without Remorse (2021)

Based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name, Stefano Sollima’s 2021 Amazon original, Without Remorse sees Michael B. Jordan take on the role of US Navy Seal John Kelly, aka John Clark, one of the late writer’s most famous characters (second only to Jack Ryan). Following the brutal murder of his pregnant wife, the highly-trained soldier goes on a one-man revenge mission to right the wrongs of the world.

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

With intense and inventive fight scenes and commanding performances by Karen Gillan, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, Lena Headey, and Chloe Coleman, the 2021 Netflix film, Gunpowder Milkshake is a ton of fun. After being tasked with protecting a young child, a lethal assassin turns to her mom and an elite squad of killers to see them through the dark night.

Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)

Those Who Wish Me Dead, a 2021 Warner Bros. movie that landed on HBO Max and in theaters on the same day, follows a troubled smokejumper (played by Angelina Jolie) as she tries to protect a young murder witness being hunted down by two psychotic killers deep in the Montana wilderness. This is a perfect action throwback for a Sunday afternoon.

Dune (2021)

Though it leans more towards science fiction than straight-up action, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is definitely going to do the trick. Released in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously in October 2021, the first part of Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic novel is one of the most enchanting and awesome movies to come out in years.

Triple Frontier (2019)

With a cast that includes Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Pedro Pascal, Charlie Hunnam, and Garrett Hedlund, a story about a group of former soldiers pulling off a heist deep in South America, and some outrageous action, there’s a lot going for Triple Frontier. This 2019 Netflix action flick from J.C. Chandor has a certain petal-to-the-metal intensity that’s just so much fun to watch.

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child Of Fire (2023)

The first part of Zack Snyder’s Netflix sci-fi saga, Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child Of Fire, is very much a space opera in the vein of Star Wars, but this isn’t to say it’s not an action movie, because it is. With a story that feels like something out of an Akira Kurosawa samurai film, and a lovable cast, and Snyder’s unique visual style, there’s a lot to enjoy.

Greyhound (2020)

If you like World War II movies and have an Apple+ subscription, then the Tom Hanks-led 2020 military thriller, Greyhound is going to be something you’ll want to check out. Though much shorter than other films set during the Second World War, this movie spends practically every second of its runtime showcasing awesome battle sequences at sea. Seriously, give it a watch.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

After a lot of brouhaha, HBO Max became the home of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, aka, the definitive version of the DCEU crossover event, in March 2021. Clocking in at a little over four hours, this director’s cut expanded upon 2017’s Justice League and filled in all the gaps (and then some), giving fans all kinds of never-before-seen footage.

Kate (2021)

With less than 24 hours to live after taking a fatal poison, an experienced assassin (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead) decides to use her final day among the living by going after those who harmed her. Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s Kate landed on Netflix in September 2021 and gave audiences a riveting time with its action sequences, stunning visuals, and all kinds of twists and turns.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Released by Warner Bros. in 2021, Mortal Kombat landed on HBO Max and in theaters on the same day, which gave millions of people instant access to one of the most violent video game movies ever made. Fan-favorite characters like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Liu Kang all had great portrayals while also giving us some bloody (and “toasty”) fatalities, which were so cool to watch.

Shotgun Wedding (2023)

It seems like the romantic action-comedy is making a comeback thanks to movies like Shotgun Wedding. Released by Amazon in 2023, the movie follows a soon-to-be-married couple (played by Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel) as their destination wedding turns into a hostage situation. With no one left to save their families from a group of crazed gunmen, the bride and groom go on the attack.

Role Play (2024)

The 2024 Amazon original, Role Play, which sort of has the same premise as True Lies, only the roles have been flipped, follows a secret assassin (played by Kaley Cuoco) as she tries to patch things over with her husband (played by David Oyelowo). However, when a romantic getaway and an intense mission happen at the same place at the same time, things go from bad to worse.

The Killer (2023)

David Fincher’s 2023 Netflix original, The Killer, spends more of its time sitting around and plotting with Michael Fassbender’s assassin than anything else, but there is some wonderful action sprinkled in throughout this book-to-screen adaptation. There’s one scene in particular about halfway through the movie that is more intense than just about every other action film released that year.

Damsel (2024)

If you’re looking for a more fantastical and adventurous action film, then Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s 2024 Netflix movie, Damsel, is going to be a good streaming option for you. The movie follows a young woman named Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) as she discovers that the only reason she’s marrying a prince is to pay back an ancient debt. With freedom on her mind, the fearless heroine attempts to make a daring escape.

Black Widow (2021)

After a series of delays, Black Widow was finally released in July 2021, at which time it debuted in theaters and on Disney+ (through the Premier Access program). Set between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War on the MCU timeline, the Scarlet Johannsson-led comic book movie focused more on action than superheroes, though there were plenty of acts of heroism to go around.

6 Underground (2019)

In 2019, Michael Bay teamed up with Netflix to release 6 Underground, an action thriller about a group of vigilantes that carry out a plot to depose a tyrannical dictator after faking their deaths. You’ll feel right at home if you’re a fan of Bay’s previous work, even more so if you’re a big Ryan Reynolds fan.

Infinite (2021)

Antoine Fuqua’s 2021 Paramount+ original film, Infinite, centers on Evan McCauley (Mark Wahlberg), a man who finds himself on an unforgettable journey after he begins to experience memories that are not his own. Teaming up with a group of mysterious warriors, Evan sets out to make sense of the madness and find out who’s behind it all.

Enola Holmes (2021)

Millie Bobby Brown’s 2021 Netflix action-adventure film, Enola Holmes, offers a new approach to the world of Sherlock Holmes (played by Henry Cavill in this case). The Stranger Things star’s portrayal of the younger sister of the world’s greatest detective is nothing short of magical, as are the multiple action set pieces peppered throughout the movie.

Red Notice (2021)

In 2021, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot teamed up for the thrilling Netflix original action flick, Red Notice. In a movie where you don’t know who or what to believe, three unlikely characters team up with and betray each other while attempting to get to the bottom of a centuries-old mystery and locate a priceless treasure.

Though a lot of these movies would have been great to experience on the biggest screen possible, it has been nice being able to watch them over and over again from the comfort of our own homes.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always been home to incredible superhero action, but the franchise is based on something called the "comic" book, after all, so it wouldn't be fair to the medium if the movies weren't also quite funny. Luckily, humor has never been lacking in the MCU.

From Tony Stark's endless quips to Loki's sarcasm to Thor's obliviousness, there have been some absolutely hilarious lines delivered throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Choosing the funniest Marvel lines is a bit like trying to pick the best Marvel movie, but as in all things, we try.

"Tony Stark Was Able To Build This In A Cave, With A Box Of Scraps!"-  Iron Man 

Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is always good for a one-liner but what may be the best line in the original Iron Man comes from Jeff Bridges' Obadiah Stane, when he gets angry that his scientists can't recreate Tony's miniaturized Arc Reactor. When they tell them what he wants can't be done, he screams at them that Tony did it, and under less than optimal conditions.

"Don't Make Me Hungry. You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Hungry" -  The Incredible Hulk 

The Incredible Hulk isn't exactly the funniest of the MCU movies, but it has its moments. One of them is both a great line and a fun reference to the original Incredible Hulk TV series. When confronting some thugs making his workplace dangerous Bruce Banner attempts the classic "Don't make me angry..." line, but his Portuguese isn't that great and he gets a word wrong.

"Sir, I'm Gonna Have To Ask You To Exit The Donut." - Iron Man 2

In Iron Man 2 Tony Stark, fearing his own death goes a bit of a bender, which ends with him eating a box of donuts while sitting inside the famous giant donut of Randy's Donuts in southern California. When Nick Fury arrives on the scene, he (mostly) politely, asks him to please come down from there.

"Know This Son Of Coul." - Thor

Many Scandinavian languages still have very traditional naming practices, so it makes sense that Thor, a Norse god, would understand that a man named Agent Phil Coulson, must, obviously, be the son of a man named Coul.

"You Don't Have One Of Those, Do You?" - Captain America: The First Avenger 

Captain America was the first successful attempt to use the super soldier serum, but he wasn't the first one to undergo the procedure. When Steve Rodgers (Chris Evans) and Bucky Barnes first discover what the serum did to Red Skull, Bucky has to ask his friend if also has a bright red monster face under his skin.

"That Man Is Playing Galaga! Thought We Wouldn't Notice, But We Did." - The Avengers

Tony Stark has some great moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but one of the best is when he holds court over the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, and calls out a member of the staff for apparently playing video games on his computer while all of New York is being attacked by aliens.

"You're In A Relationship With Me. Everything Will Never Be Okay." - Iron Man 3

Tony Stark may have been the MCU's first hero, but he was a guy who brought a lot of baggage with him wherever he went. Speaking with his girlfriend Pepper Potts, Tony made it clear that there was never going to be anything like normal when it came to him.

"This Is So Unlike You, Brother. So Clandestine. Are You Sure You Wouldn't Rather Just Punch Your Way Out?" - Thor: The Dark World

Loki and Thor may have grown up as brothers, but they had very different ways of handling any given situation. They were very good at giving each other a hard time, however, as Loki did when Thor was being uncharacteristic in his approach.

"Don't Look At Me. I Do What He Does, Just Slower." -  Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

The opening of Captain America: The Winter Soldier introduced us to Sam Wilson, who Steve Rogers literally ran circles around. Later, when Nick Fury is looking for support, Falcon assures Fury that he and Captain America are on the same page, even if their speed varies.

"Nothing Goes Over My Head. My Reflexes Are Too Fast. I Would Catch It." -  Guardians of the Galaxy  

Drax of the Guardians of the Galaxy is from a race that takes all speech perfectly literally. This leads to a number of great exchanges, but the best being a discussion of exactly this element of Drax, who responds to the idea that a statement might go over his head.

"The City Is Flying. We're Fighting An Army Of Robots. And I have A Bow And Arrow. None Of This Makes Sense." - Avengers: Age of Ultron

Hawkeye is the butt of more than a few jokes in the MCU, being the member of the Avengers with the most unique choice of weapons. In Avengers: Age of Ultron Hawkeye is, at the very least, aware that he is very much in over his head.

"Baskin-Robbins Always Finds Out!" - Ant-Man

When Scott Lang looks for work after leaving prison, he doesn't tell his new bosses he's an ex-con. Unfortunately, as the manager says, and as his friend Luis later confirms, "Baskin Robbins always finds out."

"Anybody On Our Side Hiding Any Shocking And Fantastic Abilities They'd Like To Disclose? I'm Open To Suggestions." - Captain America: Civil War

When all our favorite heroes fight each other in Captain America: Civil War each side tries to find different ways to get the upper hand by enlisting heroes the other side won't be ready for. Ant-Man is a largely unknown factor, and the fact he can also reverse his abilities and grow massive, is a big win for team Cap, leading Tony to ask if his team can do anything to match it.

"Just Wong? Like Adele? Or Aristotle? Drake, Bono, Eminem…" - Doctor Strange

The relationship between Doctor Strange and Wong has certainly come a long way since the two were first introduced. When Strange first met Wong he found it interesting the man only had the one name. Was it a first name or a last name? It didn't seem to matter. 

“I’m Mary Poppins, Y’all!” - Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has a number of great lines that will make you laugh, but none are quite as good as Yondu's tough guy reaction to be compared to Mary Poppins, which was a last-minute addition to the script. He probably wouldn't be that thrilled if he knew who she really was, but to be fair, Mary Poppins is cool.

"So…You Got Detention." -  Spider-Man: Homecoming 

One of the funniest bits of the first MCU Spider-Man movie was the ways that Captain America had been incorporated into many parts of high school. There seemed to be a Cap-hosted educational video for everything, including detention.

"He's A Friend From Work!" -  Thor: Ragnarok  

Thor: Ragnarok may have had the Asgardian's name in the title, but it was as much a Hulk movie as it was a Thor movie, and the big green guy had an amazing entrance into the Grandmaster's battle area that was only made by better by Thor calling him "A friend from work," which I guess is accurate, but a weird way to refer to the Avengers.

"You Cannot Talk One More Word, And I Will Feed You To My Children! I'm Kidding. We're Vegetarians." - Black Panther

M'Baku follows in a long line of secondary characters who steal every scene of the Marvel movie they are in. We don't really get to know him or his people until the end of the movie, so when he threatens to eat somebody, you tend to believe him, until he drops the punchline.

"Dude, You're Embarrassing Me In Front Of The Wizards." - Avengers: Infinity War

Is there anything worse than meeting wizards for the first time and then having your friend not look impressive in front of them? I didn't think so.

"You Want A Juice Box And Some String Cheese?" - Ant-Man and the Wasp 

In Ant-Man and the Wasp Scott Lang gets stuck with a malfunctioning suit, making it difficult for him to control his size. He grows and shrinks to random sizes at random times. This leads to a fantastic moment where Michael Douglas' Hank Pym asks a diminutive Scott, about the size of a grade-schooler, if he'd like a snack.

"If Toast Is Cut Diagonally, I Can't Eat It." - Captain Marvel

Nick Fury is one of the toughest people in the entire MCU, which makes the admission in Captain Marvel that he won't eat toast if it's cut diagonally incredibly bizarre. I guess we all have our quirks. 

"Honestly, Until This Exact Second I Thought You Were A Build-A Bear" - Avengers: Endgame

While Avengers: Infinity War is when most of the MCU's heroes meet, there are some that don't actually cross paths until Avengers: Endgame. You might not even realize that Iron Man and Rocket have never met until Tony reacts to the first thing the Guardian of the Galaxy says to him. 

 "I Thought That You Could Sense That With Your Peter-Tingle." - Spider-Man: Far From Home 

The first MCU Spider-Man movie doesn't even deal with the traditional power of Spidey Sense, so they never give it a name. By the sequel we learn that he does have the ability, but has never given it an official designation, leaving his Aunt May to come up with her own ideas.

 “This Will Be A Cool Way To Die.” - Black Widow 

Yelena from Black Widow has a very different way of looking at things than most people. When most of us see a massive avalanche that's about to bury us in snow, we run away, Yelena immediately realizes how cool it will be to die this way, because she's probably going to die this way.

"That's When I Knew. If They Can Teach Those Monkeys To Act That Brilliantly, Just Imagine What I Could Bring To The World." - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 

Trevor Slattery first appeared in Iron Man 3 as the fake Mandarin. He returns in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and immediately becomes one of the best parts of it. Almost everything he says is funny, mostly because he's an idiot. Including this gem which makes it clear he doesn't even know how movies work.

" Fall Collection, IKEA. Ass." - Eternals 

Eternals may be the least quipy of the MCU, but that doesn't mean it's entirely without funny lines. When the team tracks down Phastos, who is living happily among humans, Ikaris can't believe it and assumes he's built a safe house for himself. He accidentally destroys a table, which it turns out wasn't made of vibranium after all. 

"The Avengers?!? That’s Great!… What Is That?!" - Spider-Man: No Way Home 

Spider-Man: No Way Home brings together three different actors who all played Spider-Man in three different franchises. While they all have a lot in common, only one of them has the Avengers. During the Spider-Man: No Way Home ending, one of the Peter Parkers thinks that being an Avengers sounds cool, even if he's not really sure what that means.

"Yeah, But Given The Choice Between The Archer With The Mohawk And Several Bug-Themed Crime Fighters, Or One Of The Most Powerful Magic Wielders On The Planet, It's An Easy Call." - Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness 

When Doctor Strange needs magical help in Multiverse of Madness, he goes to Wanda Maximoff. While she suggests he could have looked for assistance elsewhere, he points out that most of the rest of the available heroes don't have the particular skill set he's looking for.

"I Love Being King And I Love My People, But It's All Meetings And Ravenmail And Meetings That Could Have Been Ravenmail" - Thor: Love And Thunder  

At the end of Avengers: Endgame Thor hands the throne of New Asgard to Valkyrie. Overall, she seems to have adapted to the job quite well by the time of Thor: Love and Thunder, but she has the same problems with her day job that so many of us have.

"A Colonizer In Chains. Now I Have Seen Everything." - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 

In the first Black Panther, Shuri refers to Everett Ross as "Colonizer" and the nickname apparently sticks. In the sequel he's been upgraded to her "favorite colonizer," but during the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending, Okoye has a laugh at his expense when Ross has been arrested and she sees the handcuffs.

“Dad. A Guy Dressed Like A Bee Tried To Kill Me In My Room When I Was Six. I’ve Never Had A Normal Life..” - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 

Cassie Lang has had an interesting life throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She's all grown up by the time of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but she clearly remembers where it all started for her. It's honestly surprising she's as well-adjusted as she is.

“Kill One Guy Who No One Loves.” - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 

Drax is very willing to do violence to get his way. This even though Peter Quill tries to talk him down. Initially, Drax wants to kill everybody who gets in their way, then he tries to bargain down to killing one person that nobody likes. 

“STOP RUNNING AND LET THE KITTENS EAT YOU. YOU WILL BE FINE.” - The Marvels 

 When Nick Fury's SA.B.E.R. headquarters needs to abandon ship quickly, during The Marvels ending, the fastest way to feed his entire staff to fuzzy little flerkins. Of course, the actual staff has a bit of a problem with this, leading to this hilarious announcement over the PA system. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going for years and it's not stopping anytime soon. There are plenty of upcoming Marvel movies that will continue to provide us with great lines for years to come.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is still going strong, thanks to both movies and streaming content that's available with a Disney+ subscription. Throughout Phases Four and Five, Florence Pugh has become a fan favorite character as Natasha's sister Yelena, a role she'll reprise in the upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts. While Pugh crushed as Yelena, another A-lister turned down the role first. Namely, four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan. 

While joining the MCU is a dream for many, it's a unique gig that comes with tight Marvel security and long production periods. Deadline reporter Justin Kroll recently appeared on the podcast The Town with Matthew Belloni, where he explained why Saoirse Ronan decided not to play Yelena in Black Widow, offering:

There you have it. Per this report, the Little Women actress seemingly isn't keen on joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe anytime soon. While this might be a bummer for fans of her work, this opened the door for Pugh to absolutely nail it as Yelena, which has already become a years-long gig. 

The say everything happens for a reason, and this casting shake-up certainly feels like it worked out the way it was meant to. Florence Pugh was able to craft a fully formed character in Black Widow, and smart money says she's going to be around the MCU for a while now. And is this report is to be believed, Ronan wouldn't have enjoyed that commitment to Marvel very much.

Following Black Widow's credits scene, Pugh would end up returning as Yelena in Hawkeye, to delightful results. She had amazing chemistry with Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop, and was able to mourn Natasha's death through her conflict with Clint Barton.

Next up Pugh's Yelena will be back on the big screen as part of the cast of Thunderbolts. The hype for that crossover movie is high, as it will feature a number of antagonists and antiheroes from the MCU timeline. Yelena will reunite with David Harbour's Red Guardian, as well as Black Widow's villain Taskmaster, while also being introduced to Bucky Barnes, Ant-Man 2's Ghost, and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's U.S. Agent. And while Saoirse Ronan definitely has the talent to pull off the role, it's hard to imagine anyone but Pugh in the role at this point. 

If this report is to be believed, we probably shouldn't hold our breaths to see Ronan in the MCU anytime soon. But fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen the shared universe manage to book plenty of other acclaimed talents over the years, so who knows?

Thunderbolts is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 25th, 2025. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, thanks to both movies and original content streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is Jake Schreier's Thunderbolts. That blockbuster will unite various villains and antiheroes from the shared universe, including Black Widow's Alexei/ Red Guardian and Yelena, played by David Harbour and Florence Pugh respectively. And Harbour teased their relationship in Thunderbolts. 

The cast of Thunderbolts is stacked, and it should be fascinating to see how the motley crew interacts on the big screen. What we know about Thunderbolts is limited, but there are already stakes with the upcoming reunion of Red Guardian and Yelena. The Stranger Things star spoke with ScreenRant about what to expect from his MCU crossover event, offering:

He's not wrong. Black Widow featured a flashback of this makeshift family's life in the states, and how it all got taken away from them. But there's so much about that time the audience doesn't know, and it looks like Thunderbolts will help to fill in some of the blanks for that unit. 

Those of us who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order patiently awaited the release of Black Widow, which finally revealed the title character's mysterious backstory. But there's still plenty of time unaccounted for, including what happened to Harbour's character during The Snap and The Blip. As we learned in Hawkeye, Yelena was snapped out of existence and only returned thanks to her sister's sacrifice.

Yelena has quickly become a fan-favorite MCU character, so moviegoers will likely be quite focused on her story in Thunderbolts. David Harbour spoke more about the way she and Alexei will interact in the villain-centric project, offering: 

In addition to this two characters, there will be another major Black Widow connection in Thunderbolts. Namely Olga Kurylenko's Taskmaster, who was one of the solo movie's big villains. And there's no telling what this trio's interaction will be like.

Unfortunately for hardcore fans, Thunderbolts ended up being delayed as a result of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. But fan excitement seems buoyed thanks to its killer cast, including Harrison Ford.

Thunderbolts is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 25th, 2025. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Lots of people who love the Marvel Cinematic have never read any of the comic books that the characters are based on, and if you wanted to start now, it would be tough, as some of these characters have been around for the better part of a century. Of course, you can't tell stories for that long without some of those stories getting a little strange. Here are some of the wildest facts from the comics about your favorite Marvel characters.

 Iron Man - His Armor Fell In Love With Him

Tony Stark is a technical genius, having designed his Iron Man armor himself. Stark also knows a thing or two about artificial intelligence, so the fact that he created a sentient Iron Man suit powered by AI isn't that surprising. However, things got slightly out of hand when the armor fell in love with Stark. It loved him so much that it ultimately sacrificed itself to save his life.

 Captain America - Became A Werewolf 

Captain America has been through a lot, not the least of which being frozen in ice for a few decades, but one of the strangest occurrences took place in the early 1990s when Cap was transformed into a werewolf. Steve Rogers was investigating apparent werewolf killings, because werewolves are a thing in the Marvel Universe, when he was attacked and captured. When he awoke, he discovered he'd been given a werewolf serum. His own super soldier serum kept him from succumbing to the worst of being a werewolf until he was transformed back later. 

Black Widow - Cloned 

Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow was killed off in the MCU, but if they want to bring her back, they can just do what they did in the comics. After Black Widow was killed in the comics by an evil Captain America (long story) Marvel brought her back by simply cloning her. Apparently, the Red Room where Natasha Romanoff was trained  keeps clones around for just such an emergency.

 Hawkeye - Originally A Villain 

As one of the core members of the Avengers one may think Clint Barton has always been a... well, straight shooter, but Hawkeye started his career as a villain. As a young man, he met Black Widow when she was still living her life as a trained assassin and thief. He got caught up in a theft of Tony Stark's tech, leading him to become a wanted man. 

The Incredible Hulk - Last Man on Earth 

Turning into the Incredible Hulk has a lot of significant downsides for Bruce Banner, but if there is one (maybe) upside, it's that he doesn't have to worry about dying. In the Marvel Comic simply titled Hulk: The End it is supposed that Hulk is functionally immortal, and as such, even after the rest of the world has been destroyed by nuclear holocaust, Bruce Banner lives. In the end, even the Banner portion of Hulk passes away, but Hulk lives on, truly alone. 

Thor - Turned Into A Frog 

When you hang around with the God of Mischief, you have to expect some shenanigans, and Loki certainly delivered during a small Thor arc in the 1960s. Using some magic power he acquired Loki hit a human woman with a transmutation beam, and when that woman later kissed Thor, he went all Princess and the Frog and was transformed into a frog. 

Nick Fury - Was An airshow performer 

It's hard to imagine Nick Fury as anything other than the all-around badass that he is both in the comics and in the movies, but before any of that, Fury was an entertainer. Fury and a friend joined a traveling air show, where Nick performed a wing-walking act. It was while doing this that he met members of the British military, who recruited him, starting him on the path to being the secret agent we know.

Loki - Can't Swim

Loki is the God of Mischief and seems to be all-powerful. There's little that he can't do, transforming himself to look like anything or anyone he chooses, and yet he can't swim. In the early comics, it was revealed that Loki's powers do not work when he's submerged in water and that apparently means that he's so weak he can't actually swim.

Black Panther - Beat Up The Fantastic Four To Test Himself 

It's not all that uncommon for Marvel heroes to fight each other. It happens for all sorts of reasons, but Black Panther's debut in Marvel Comics involves him tricking the Fantastic Four into coming to Wakanda so he can test himself against them. The test went well, he beat all four of them single-handedly.

Doctor Strange - Met Benjamin Franklin’s Ghost 

When you're a Sorcerer Supreme it's perhaps not that unusual to meet famous people or their ghosts. Doctor Strange had a run-in with the ghost of Benjamin Franklin (alongside Deadpool). What makes this notable is that the two didn't get along because Strange had previously time-traveled, and met the living Franklin, who had put the moves on Strange's girlfriend Clea.  

Wanda Maximoff - Imagined Her Children (Sort Of)

Few of the strangest things to happen to comic book characters have actually made their way into the Marvel movies or TV shows, but one element that did was the children of Wanda Maximoff and Vision, who, in both the movies and comics, don't actually exist in the strictest sense, as they were created magically by Wanda and once the magic stopped they went away. Except in the comics, they eventually come back. 

Ant-Man - Court-Martialed For Unnecessary Violence, And Hit His Wife 

The first Ant-Man, Hank Pym, may have technically been a superhero, but he wasn't a very nice guy. In a 1981 comic Pym is court-martialed for unnecessary violence, after he beat up a villain who had already been captured. Pym also planned to attack the Avengers with a robot that only he would be able to defeat. As part of that storyline, a frustrated Hank backhands Janet Van Dyne across the face. Michael Douglas plays him much nicer.

 Wasp - Hooked Up With Magneto 

In a case that feels like textbook Stockholm Syndrome, an issue of the Secret Wars comic sees Wasp, who had previously been a prisoner of Magneto, get it on with the supervillain. Apparently Magneto has really nice eyes. Who knew?

Vision - Built From The Original Human Torch 

You might be familiar with the Human Torch who is a member of the Fantastic Four, but that character is actually the second to carry that name. The original Human Torch was a World War II contemporary of Captain America and wasn't actually human, he was an android. In fact, it was the body of the original Human Torch that was used when the android Vision was created decades later.

Winter Soldier - He Rescued Wolverine, Then Killed His Wife 

The Winter Soldier spent decades being thawed out to perform various tasks before being put back on ice, as such he ends up playing a part in many key moments in Marvel Comics history. He was actually at the Weapon X facility and he aided Wolverine in escaping from it. Their next encounter would be more heartbreaking, as the Winter Soldier was responsible for the death of Wolverine's wife Itsu.

She-Hulk - Briefly Became The Iron Fist And Also Black Widow 

Superhero team-ups are always a fun moment for fans, but while She-Hulk has had her share of chances to work alongside other heroes. She's also just... become them. In 2020 she picked up the Iron Fist ankh and briefly gained the powers of the Iron Fist. This was after the Infinity Wars comic event, in which She-Hulk was physically and mentally merged with Black Widow, giving her the powers of both. 

Wolverine - Went Feral

Wolverine has always been a character capable of great violence, but in the 1990s Wolverine lost the adamantium in his skeleton, and it was discovered that the metal in his body actually held back part of his mutation. Without it, Logan eventually became little more than a slobbering beast.

Deadpool - Beat Up Zombie Abraham Lincoln 

Deadpool is such a wild character that it's difficult to come up with any wild facts that actually seem that wild... for Deadpool, but he did once beat up a zombie of Abraham Lincoln, and no other Marvel hero can say that.

 Falcon - Telepathically Linked To Birds 

The Falcon of the MCU can fly but the Falcon of Marvel Comics is into birds in a big way. His sidekick Redwing is an actual falcon, and the two are closer than you might think, because the human Falcon has a telepathic link to his flying friend, and is able to forge similar psychic links with other birds.

Ms. Marvel - Fought A Villain From A Video Game

It's always satisfying when you beat a difficult boss in a video game, but Ms. Marvel likely felt even better when she defeated Doc.X. Originally created for MMORPG video game in the comics, Doc.X becomes a computer virus, and a sentient one. Able to take over nearly any electronic device, Doc.X was a significant foe for Ms. Marvel, but when it tried to leap out of the digital world Ms. Marvel took it down in a single punch.

Daredevil - Had To Retrieve His Father’s Body From Mole Man

Supervillains get up to some pretty shady stuff, but grave-robbing is pretty low, even for them. But in a series of Daredevil comics the Mole Man goes on a grave robbing spree, which draws in the Man Without Fear when the Mole Man steals the corpse of Matt Murdock's father. In a comic series that has no shortage of grim storylines, few have been grimmer. 

Moon Knight - Might Just Be Insane 

Moon Knight has a lot going on. He has the powers of an ancient Egyptian god, and he also suffers from multiple personality disorder. The sanity of the character has always been in question in the comics, but at various points, it's been suggested that maybe all of it is a delusion and Moon Knight has no superpowers, doesn't talk to gods, and is just completely insane.

The Punisher - Became A Black Man 

A lot of ideas in comics that may have seemed like a good idea at the time don't age well. Such is the case with this Punisher story that sees Frank Castle escape from prison, but only after having his face scarred by Jigsaw. Frank goes to a shady surgeon to get plastic surgery so that nobody will recognize him, and, uh, it works, as he transforms the Punisher into a Black man. This was undone quickly.

 Blade - Fought Dracula 

Blade is a vampire hunter so maybe it shouldn't be that wild that he has, on more than one occasion, fought the vampire, in Dracula himself. Still, it's a bit wild to see Bram Stoker's creation from over 100 years ago fighting a guy who looks like Wesley Snipes. 

Magneto - Ripped Out Wolverine’s Adamantium From His Bones

From the "why didn't you do that sooner department" we have Magneto, the mutant who has total control of metal, and has been fighting Wolverine for decades, but it wasn't until the '90s that he thought to just yank all the metal right off his bones. Thanks to Wolverine's healing factor, it doesn't kill him, though we do discover that Wolverine's claws are naturally occurring bone, and not complete adamantium, as had been previously believed. 

 Ghost Rider - Became The King Of The Underworld 

Marvel's Ghost Rider contains the spirit of a trapped demon, so it's no surprise that Johnny Blaze, the main incarnation of the character, feels at home in the Underworld. Blaze was killed in a battle with Mephisto (Marvel's Satan) in a 2018 comic, which resulted in him going to the land of the dead. Since Mephisto was busy trying to take over the living world, Ghost Rider had little difficulty in becoming the new king.

Spider-Man - Killed MJ With Irradiated Semen

Spider-Man: Reign was a limited series comic that sees an alternate universe web-head, decades in the future, come out of retirement. A lot has happened to this Spidey in the last few decades, including the death of Mary Jane, which we eventually learn came about due to cancer she contracted by having sex with her husband. Apparently, Spider-Man's blood wasn't the only thing that was radioactive. 

 Professor X - Had His Brain Stolen By Red Skull 

If you're going to steal somebody's brain, it makes sense to get one that belongs to somebody really smart. That's apparently the strategy of the clone of Red Skull who, in an attempt to gain mutant abilities, has his minions steal the corpse of the recently deceased Professor X so he can graft the dead man's mutant brain on his own body, thus gaining Xavier's mental powers.

Namor - Fought With Captain America In WWII

Namor is something of an anti-hero in Marvel Comics. He has little love for the surface world. But he has even less love for Nazis, as Namor has been an ally of Captain America since WWII, the two fought together in the superhero team called the Invaders before Captain America was frozen in ice.

Rogue - Stole Her Powers From Captain Marvel 

The X-Men member Rogue can fly and has super strength in the comics, though she doesn't have those abilities in all adaptations. This is because Rogue used to be a villain and in a battle with Captain Marvel, used her absorbing power to gain Marvel's strength and flight. It put Carol Danvers in a coma, and while the power Rogue gains usually faded, these did not.

Captain Marvel - Gave Birth To The Man Who Sexually Assaulted Her

In an Avengers comic from 1964, Carol Danvers discovers she is pregnant, but has no idea how it happened. She gives birth, and the baby grows at an alarming rate. He eventually becomes a man, called Marcus. It's revealed that Marcus, trapped in Limbo, manipulated Carol and impregnated her with himself (comics are weird) in order to escape limbo, then wiped her memory of the whole affair. The even wilder thing is that, at the time, nobody seemed to have a problem with any of this, leading to a significant rift between Carol and the Avengers. 

 Venom - Joined The Guardians Of The Galaxy 

The Guardians of the Galaxy were already a motley crew, but they were certainly more so when Venom became a member of the team. This was when Venom had bonded with Flash Thompson, not Eddie Brock, who is most associated with the character, but that only makes the situation weirder.

Marvel Comics is always coming up with new stories, so we can be sure that even wilder things will be happening to our favorite characters down the road. 

The following contains major spoilers for The Marvels.

After far too many delays The Marvels is finally here and, while critics seem to be split on the movie, I really enjoyed it overall. I didn't write the CinemaBlend review for this cosmic adventure, but I agree with it. It was hard for me not to have a great deal of fun with Nia DaCosta's flick, and the chemistry between the three leads was perfect. Of course, as with many Marvel films, a lot of the buzz isn’t about the movie itself, but the future it teases. In the case of this latest Marvel Cinematic Universe installment, fans got two teases, but I am far more excited about one than the other.

The Marvels mid-credits scene -- which saw Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau rescued by and recuperating alongside the X-Men of an alternate universe -- was fun. I enjoyed seeing the return of Kelsey Grammer as Beast as much as anybody but, for me, the far bigger deal wasn’t the scene during the credits -- it was the Marvels ending itself. That provided us with a tease of where Kamala Khan's story arc is going, and I am officially excited about what could happen in upcoming Marvel movies or shows.

A New Avengers Team Is Beginning To Assemble

The ending of The Marvels plays like the original Iron Man post-credits scene but as done by an awkward teenager, because it was. It sees Kamala Khan (a.k.a Ms. Marvel) hiding in a dark corner of Kate Bishop’s apartment, before telling her that she’s putting together a team. Many have wondered what the future might hold for the Avengers as a team, and it looks a younger is on the way. 

A lot of what we’ve seen throughout Phase 4 and Phase 5 of the MCU has involved the introductions of alternate versions (or variants) of characters as well as iconic mantles being passed on to new holders. For a while, there have been signs of a Young Avengers team being introduced in this continuity, so this concept certainly isn’t new. However, this is our first official confirmation that such a thing is actually in the cards.  

I Already Love Most Of The Characters That Will Likely Make Up The New Team 

After viewers were introduced to “the Avenger Initiative” in 2008's Iron Man, the rest of Phase One introduced the characters that would be part of it. At this point, we’ve likely already met the characters that will probably be part of this new avenging team, and I pretty much love all of them.

We, of course, we have Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel and Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop, who has taken up the mantle of Hawkeye. I love these characters in large part because the actresses who play them are phenomenal, and so I’m excited to see both of them take on more prominent roles in the MCU and mix it up. During The Marvels' conclusion, Kamala Khan also mentions that “Ant-Man has a daughter,” so it seems likely that Cassie Lang, played by Kathryn Newton, (who showed her capabilities under pressure in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) could also join up.

But beyond that, there are a few other very likely candidates to be part of this new team that we already know of. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever showcased two of them. In that film, Shuri became the newest character to take on the mantle of the titular Panther. The film also introduced tech prodigy Riri Williams, whose story will be expanded upon in DIsney+'s upcoming Ironheart TV show down the road. Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, who has crossed paths with Bishop, would make an excellent member. Though she may not join up given that she's slated to be a part of the Thunderbolts lineup, but she could pull double duty, I think. Also, I'd personally love to see Tatiana Maslany's She-Hulk make a return. Though Jennifer Walters might be a bit too old for a “Young” Avengers team,  this group is going to need somebody to keep an eye on them, right?

There are even more characters who, while they seem less likely to get in, could still factor into the future of the Avengers. America Chavez is out there, and she has an ability that may prove useful. Wanda and Vision’s children don’t currently exist in the main MCU timeline, but that doesn’t mean they won’t show up somewhere at some point. Even Thor’s surrogate daughter, Love, could end up joining up. She seems a little young, even for this team but, with Stormbreaker in her hand, she brings a lot to the table. There's even Hulk's son, Skaar, could become a member after his debut during She-Hulk's final moments. Though it's unclear whether anything will come to fruition in that regard. The same is true when it comes to Isaiah Bradley's grandson, Eli, who was introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (and becomes Patriot in the comics).

Ideally, I'd be down to see Kamala, Kate, Shuri, Riri, Yelena, and Cassie Lang make up the roster. Can you imagine seeing them have their own big team moment with the camera circling around them while an epic Avengers theme (one similar to Alan Silvestri’s) fills the theater?

The Multiverse Saga Is Fun, But It’s Not Moving The Story Forward 

Where and when we’ll see this new team take center stage is far from clear. It may not even be until the Multiverse Saga is over, or perhaps they'll end up playing a major role in the two upcoming Avengers films. Whatever the plan, there is certainly a lot more of the larger saga left to go.

I’ve enjoyed the Multiverse Saga overall, but my issue with it is that I don’t feel like it’s story is moving along all that swiftly. I’ve gone on record saying that one of the things I love the most about the current MCU is that it has the opportunity to do something Marvel Comics never does, which is to continually move the story forward. And yet, the Multiverse Saga feels like it's stalling in some ways.

A lot of what we’re getting is material that harps on what has come before. We saw Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in Spider-Man: No Way Home as well as characters from the old X-Men franchise in Doctor Strange and Multiverse of Madness, and now, The Marvels.

I love these appearances as much as any fan, and I won’t pretend that I’m not excited to see Hugh Jackman donning the yellow suit to play Wolverine one more time. Yet there’s such a focus on these heroes of yesteryear, and less so on the heroes of tomorrow. It all feels like a gimmick meant to draw in cash at the box office and less of a way to expand the narrative into interesting territory. The recent rumor that Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson might return to the fold was my literal worst fear for the future of this franchise. (Thankfully, that was seemingly debunked when studio head Kevin Feige discussed major MCU topics recently.)

A New Avengers Team Feels Like A Real Next Step For The MCU 

I love aforementioned veteran characters and the actors who play them, but I have the old movies if I want to see them again. I want to see the MCU move forward, with new characters on new adventures, and that includes a new team of Avengers that figure out how to follow in the footsteps of those who came before them. After that, it would be great to see those characters pass the baton to yet another generation, pushing the universe into a future that the comics never see, because they eventually must return to the status quo.

Let's not see that status quo again. This recent tease of a new Avengers team makes me excited for what might come. If this new group is going to be a key part of this saga, then I’ll certainly be paying attention but not because I’m that interested in what happens with the Multiverse but because I just want to know what happens to Earth's Mightiest (New) Heroes.

You can check out The Marvels -- which is one of the biggest titles on the schedule of 2023 new movie releases -- in theaters now. You can also stream past MCU flicks and shows using a Disney+ subscription.

Over the last decade and change, The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a wildly popular franchise, which includes both movies and TV projects available with a Disney+ subscription. But there has been some concern over the franchise, especially as projects like Ant-Man 3 failed to perform at the box office. There’s a ton of chatter and speculation about the studio, but could the MCU really bring back dead characters like Iron Man? Let’s break it all down.

While there has been a steady stream of Marvel content hitting theaters and TV screens, there have been worries about superhero fatigue possibly affecting the once rabid fandom. An explosive and long report by Variety detailed the behind the scenes drama, and also made some bold allegations about what’s happening at the studio. Specifically that they’re toying with the idea of bringing the original Avengers back for a new project, including both Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow. And my mind is officially blown.

It’s important to note that there’s no concrete plans to actually make this potential movie happen. But the idea of reviving those beloved characters and uniting the original Avengers seems like something that would really excite fans. Although the piece by Variety also admits that the paycheck involved with bringing those actors back to the fold might be too expensive for the studio to actually move forward with this concept.

The record-breaking release of Avengers: Endgame brought a major shift to the MCU as a whole. The movie saw ScarJo’s Black Widow fall to her death to acquire the Soul Stone, followed by Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man sacrificing himself to destroy Thanos. Phases Four and Five have intrigued a ton of new characters, but it’s unclear where the overall narrative is leading us. After all, projects are no longer assembling the Infinity Stones and teasing Thanos’ arrival.

Endgame also marked the final appearance by Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, although some fans are still hoping that the OG Captain America returns one day. It would definitely be thrilling to see them all back on the big screen together, but one can only imagine how much money it would cost– especially since they’re no longer bound to a previous contact. 

Of course, some of the OG Avengers are still kicking in the MCU. Chris Hemsworth is still playing Thor, with Love and Thunder marking the first time a hero was given a fourth solo flick. Jeremy Renner got his Hawkeye series, Mark Ruffalo appeared in both She-Hulk and in Shang-Chi’s mid-credit scene. We’ll just have to see if another Avengers movie is actually produced featuring all of the OGs.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is The Marvels on November 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Florence Pugh really is an extremely talented actress whether her memorable frown makes you sad for her characters or you see her kicking ass as Yelena Belova in Black Widow. One important thing to know about the Oscar-nominated actress is she’s a master of accents. Despite her love and skill of dialects, there is one thing that she’s always called out for on set while using them.

At the beginning of her career, Florence Pugh spoke in her natural British dialect including in the sports biofilm that gave her international prominence, Fighting With My Family. Then she showed audiences her mastery of the American accents in movies like Midsommar and Little Women the latter of which resulted in her first Oscar nom. Then there's the Russian accent she does as Yelena in the MCU. While speaking to PopSugar promoting A Good Person, for whom Pugh worked with then-boyfriend Zach Braff, the British actress spoke about one thing she frequently got called out for while using a different dialect.

It’s true that if you’re going to play an everyday American as Florence Pugh did in the Zach Braff drama film, you do want to use vocabulary Americans use. The word “shall” is said in more posh, professional circumstances. But despite those occasional mistakes, I’ve got to say that the Don’t Worry Darling actress slays using the American accent. I never hear her British accent slip up when watching her best movies and TV shows, proving she knows exactly what she’s doing. 

Did you know that Florence Pugh’s American accent was so realistic to fans that they thought her British accent was fake? According to Independent, The Wonder actress spoke on the podcast Off Menu about how fans would troll her online for her “fake” British accent when they would hear her onstage presenting an award. Even when featured in Instagram Stories, the Oxford-born actress would receive comments from fans accusing her of “putting on an accent.” It must have been hilarious for her to correct them that the British accent she naturally uses is actually the one she was born with.

One movie of Florence Pugh’s that we have to look forward to soon is We Live in Time. Co-starring with fellow British actor Andrew Garfield, what we know about this romance movie so far is the plot follows a recent divorcee who meets and falls in love with a chef, only for a “difficult truth” to test their relationship. Nothing has been said if Pugh and Garfield will be using their natural British dialects, but I can only assume so since the Irish director of Brooklyn John Crowley will be behind the camera for this upcoming A24 movie. Plus, behind-the-scenes photos (via X formerly known as Twitter) showed the two actors filming a scene in a park in London. So, maybe that means we have a British romance film on our hands.

Florence Pugh is truly the master of accents. She just needs to watch herself when it comes to using British phrases you wouldn’t normally hear coming out of an American character’s mouth. Keep an eye out for We Live in Time with a possible premiere date making its way toward the 2024 movie schedule.

Disney is facing another lawsuit over its distribution practices. Scarlett Johansson made headlines in 2021 when she sued Disney for diminishing potential box office returns by simultaneously releasing Black Widow theatrically and on Disney+. Now the studio has a similar lawsuit on its hands, but this time it's coming from their Film Finance Partner TSG, who claim the studio is hoarding profits from their films. 

TSG was originally partnered with Fox, which was acquired by Disney back in 2019. Since the acquisition, TSG has worked on projects like Avatar: The Way of Water and The Banshees of Inisherin. According to Deadline, the company is suing Disney over how it has shifted its distribution since COVID-19, and the industry-wide focus on streaming. The defendants, which Disney and Fox are named as in the lawsuit, allegedly are hoarding profits by shortening their theatrical windows in favor of streaming profits. TSG claims that this model comes at the expense of financing partners. 

This is similar to the Johansson lawsuit because her case also surrounded profits being diminished by streaming. The Marriage Story actress had negotiated a percentage of box office profits when she signed on for Black Widow. At the time, the Oscar nominee argued that the film did not do as well at the box office due to the film streaming on Disney+ the same day. Therefore, this may have made her own profits from the film lesser, as she did not negotiate streaming profits as well. At the time, Disney had just started doing streaming releases for their blockbuster films, and she claimed she had no way of knowing that their distribution plan would have differed from previous MCU projects. Johansson eventually settled the lawsuit with Disney in October 2021. 

While Disney has limited simultaneous releases as theaters are attracting audiences once again, their theatrical window has still been shortened after shifting focus to building up Disney+. Some blamed this shift in focus for Disney on former CEO Bob Chapek, who seemed to want to prioritize the centralization of distribution for Disney. This means Disney would be in control of all aspects of production as well as release, instead of having to share distribution profits with theaters and third-party distribution companies. Chapek’s leadership was rumored to be unpopular, and Bob Iger was reinstated as CEO in November 2022. 

Along with streaming distribution financial losses, TSG has also named the resulting lack of cash flow as another issue in the lawsuit. The company claims that the cash flow made it difficult to invest in Avatar: The Way of Water, which was a box office sensation, and a major theatrical money maker. This also leads back to the streaming model. While streaming seemed like a logical focus for Disney as Netflix and home media has become more popular, it doesn’t seem to be benefiting everybody. Johansson was able to settle her lawsuit with the conglomerate, so we will have to wait and see if TSG does the same. 

Details about this lawsuit just were released, and we’ll continue following the situation to see how it plays out, and if this has a major impact on how Disney distributes its content in the future. Disney’s, and the rest of the industry’s focus on streaming is also a major point of contention for the 2023 Writers Strike and SAG-AFTRA Strike, so profit margins due to the practice will continue to be discussed as it becomes more and more prevalent in upcoming years. 

After dozens of movies and TV shows, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced us to countless characters over the course of the past 17 years. Though the likes of Thor, Hulk, and Captain America are still all among the living, and will once again lead some of the upcoming Marvel movies, many of their fellow heroes, and O.G. Avengers, have since bitten the dust (this is not a reference to everyone lost in the Snap) and are no longer with us.

With so many movies and shows having come out since Iron Man kicked off the massive franchise a decade-and-a-half ago, keeping track of all the major MCU heroes who have died is no easy task. That being said, we’ve put together a quick yet comprehensive guide of all of Earth’s, and the universe’s, mightiest heroes who have either sacrificed themselves for the greater good, died of old age, or somewhere in between during some of the best Marvel movies.

Scarlet Witch

Though there is still a lot of mystery surrounding her fate in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there’s good reason to believe Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), aka Scarlet Witch, is dead. Does this mean we’ll never see the hero-turned-villain again after she was brought down by tons of rubble at the end of the 2022 MCU movie? No, as so many heroes (and villains) from the franchise have come back in some shape or form over the years. With Marvel, never say never is the best approach.

Earth-838 Illuminati (Mister Fantastic, Black Bolt, Captain Carter, Captain Marvel, Charles Xavier)

The Earth-838 Illuminati – Mister Fantastic, Black Bolt, Captain Carter, Captain Marvel, and Charles Xavier – were gone pretty much before we got to know them, but they still count as MCU heroes. Introduced partway through Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, these hero variants provided some exposition before Scarlet Witch showed up and used their abilities against them. Seriously, this was one of the most unsettling scenes in the entire MCU.

Frigga

Frigga’s (Rene Russo) death in Thor: The Dark World, which was later revisited in one of Avengers: Endgame’s most heartbreaking scenes, had a major impact on the God of Thunder as well as the MCU as a whole. Killed by dark elves during the siege on Asgard in the 2013 superhero flick, Frigga was a major part of Thor and Loki’s lives, and was pretty much the only person that meant anything to the God of Mischief, at least then anyway.

Iron Man

The MCU’s first superhero (in terms of order of release), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), a.k.a., Iron Man, was the heart, soul, and sarcastic voice of the Avengers in the first three phases of the franchise. Though RDJ will be back to play the villainous Dr. Doom, the OG MCU hero’s journey would come to an end when he snapped his fingers while wearing the Infinity Gauntlet to kill Thanos once and for all during the emotional and shocking Avengers: Endgame ending.

Black Widow

Another one of the MCU’s earliest heroes, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johannson), a.k.a., Black Widow also met her fate in Avengers: Endgame. Though her death didn’t come in the epic battle, and she never got to hear Cap yell his famous line, Black Widow’s act of self-sacrifice to secure the Soul Stone on Vormir was a pivotal moment in the movie and franchise moving forward.

Black Panther

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler had a tough decision to make when it came to the death of T’Challa in the 2022 MCU movie, considering Chadwick Boseman, the actor who brought the character to life, died of cancer two years earlier. In the movie, it is revealed that Black Panther died of an illness he couldn’t overcome without the heart-shaped herb that Kilmonger destroyed in the 2018 megahit.

Vision

Vision (Paul Bettany), who was introduced after the Mind Stone was implanted into the body of the android meant to be used by Ultron in the second Avengers movie, suffered one of the most heartbreaking deaths in the MCU. You may recall that Vision died after Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) destroyed the stone that brought him life in Avengers: Infinity War, only to be brought back by Thanos (Josh Brolin), who ripped the reconstructed gem from his head.

Loki

Before a variant of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) branched off in a new timeline in Avengers: Endgame, the character died at the hands of Thanos in the opening scene of Infinity War after he tried to kill the Mad Titan and prevent his master plan from coming to fruition. But we may soon be seeing the God of Mischief again, as there’s talk of Loki Season 3.

Gamora

Though an alternate version of the character now runs with the Ravagers in the MCU, the Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) fans and Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) feel fell for back in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy became one of the first major casualties in Avengers: Infinity War when her adoptive father, Thanos, threw her off a cliff to procure the Soul Stone. The death, which brought an end to Gamora and Star-Lord’s relationship, was still a major aspect of the franchise in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Groot

Groot (Vin Diesel) is another Guardian of the Galaxy who died performing an act of self-sacrifice during the Guardians of the Galaxy ending. Though the character came back as a baby and grew into an adult once more, James Gunn has since cleared the air and said he is the son of O.G. Groot.

Maria Hill

The Disney+ series Secret Invasion started with a shocking death when Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) died at the conclusion of the show’s premiere. Hill died when she and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) were trying to prevent a terrorist attack in Russia only for a Skrull, who was impersonating her longtime friend, to shoot her point blank.

Phil Coulson 

Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) was one of the most beloved characters in the early days of the MCU, which is what made his death in The Avengers all the more shocking and emotional. Though the character hasn’t returned to the film side after being stabbed by Loki, Coulson was resurrected for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series not long after.

Talos

The hits just kept coming for Nick Fury during Secret Invasion, with one of the most upsetting being the death of longtime friend and Skrull, Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), a character first introduced as the fake-out villain in Captain Marvel. Fury’s buddy was killed by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) in a pivotal scene in the later part of the Disney+ original series.

Peggy Carter

One of the few MCU characters to die at an old age (if you don’t count Captain Carter’s demise in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) passed away in her sleep in the early goings of Captain America: Civil War. However, it sounds like Peggy could be coming back in a thrilling way.

Ramonda

Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) was one the fiercest leaders in all of the MCU, especially after she became the ruler of Wakanda following the death of her son in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. But, the mother of T’Challa and Suri wouldn’t be on the throne long, as she drowned during Namor’s attack on the kingdom.

Quicksilver

Though he was kind of a secondary antagonist upon being introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Pietro Maximoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a.k.a., Quicksilver, went out as a hero. Not long after turning on Ultron and siding with the Avengers, Quicksilver sacrificed himself to save Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and a young child during the Sokovia Incident.

May Parker

Spider-Man fans are used to seeing Uncle Ben die as part of Peter Parker’s hero’s journey, but not Aunt May! Moviegoers were in for a devastating surprise in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home when Marisa Tomei’s character was murdered by Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) after his big reveal.

Jane Foster

Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) was another MCU character who died from an illness instead of at the hands of a villain or from sacrificing herself to save someone, though she didn’t listen to doctors or anyone else’s advice in Thor: Love and Thunder. Death wasn’t the end for the Mighty Thor, as she was welcomed into the gates of Valhalla in one of the movie’s end credits sequences.

Odin

Who knew that the death of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) would lead to one of the bloodiest and most destructive periods in the MCU, but that was the case when the king of Asgard died and turned into a flash of glittery light in Thor: Ragnarok. Tired and fulfilled after living a long life of good times and bad, Odin vanished in the presence of his sons just before his secret daughter, Hela (Cate Blanchett), made her return.

The Ancient One

Though an earlier version of the character shows up and explains the dangers of messing with time in Avengers: Endgame, the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) would die at the hands of Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) in the first Doctor Strange movie.

Yondu

Over the course of the first two Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Yondu (Michael Rooker) went from being a villain you love to hate to one of the best characters in the entire MCU. His death, which is a franchise-best, is still impactful more than a half-decade later, and no one should ever forget how he sacrificed his own life to save that of his “son,” Peter Quill.

Heimdall

First introduced in Thor back in 2011, Heimdall (Idris Elba) served as the God of Thunder’s longtime best friend, Gatekeeper of Asgard, and guardian of the Bifrost throughout the next two movies in the trilogy. His time came to an end at the hands of Thanos in the opening minutes of Avengers: Infinity War, but it wasn’t in vain, as Heimdall sent the Hulk back to Earth to warn the Avengers about the Mad Titan’s plan. However, we did get to see Heimdall in Valhalla at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder.

T’Chaka

Though he would show up in the Ancestral Plane in Black Panther, King T’Chaka (John Koni), the king of Wakanda and the former Black Panther died pretty much right after we met him in Captain America: Civil War. One of the two major deaths in the movie (more on the other shortly), T’Chaka’s passing would put T’Challa not only in the movie’s epic airport showdown but also make him his father’s successor.

The Warriors Three (Fandel, Hogun, Volstagg)

The Warriors Three – Fandral (Joshua Dallas/Zachary Levi), Hogun (Tadanobu Asano), and Volstagg (Ray Stevenson) – were three of Asgard’s fiercest fighters and Thor’s closest friends throughout the God of Thunder’s movies, but they would all fall to Hela when the daughter of Odin took over Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok.

Ajak

One of the central figures in Eternals, Ajak (Salma Hayek) was also one of the first of the group of immortal warriors to die as its story unfolded. Later in the movie, it is revealed that Ikaris (Richard Madden) was the reason for her death after she revealed to her longtime ally that she planned to save humanity from the Emergence.

Howard Stark

And then there is Howard Stark (John Slattery/Dominic Cooper), whose death in Captain America: Civil War is a major part of that 2016 movie as well as the next few years of the MCU, as revelations about the nature of Tony Stark’s parents' deaths leads to a major rift in the Avengers.

With the MCU picking back up again, expect this list to get a whole lot longer, especially as we work our way toward the highly anticipated next two Avengers titles.

Florence Pugh truly is one of the most phenomenal actresses of our generation. You may already know some things about this Oscar nominee, like her excellent ability to hide her British accent for roles or being an award nominee since her debut in The Falling. But have you ever noticed the uncanny frown she brings on the big screen that can easily make audiences feel for her characters? Fans have that memorable frown in their minds, and so does the British actress herself, as she explained where that striking facial expression comes from in movies like Midsommar.

It’s no wonder that fans can’t help but notice Florence Pugh’s signature frown that she displays in a lot of her movies. As she sells each performance of hers, the pain of her characters becomes our pain as we watch. While speaking to BBC Radio, the Fighting with My Family actress speaks honestly on where that frown of hers comes from.

See, now I can’t unsee that frown of hers. It’s almost like what you’d see in an animated character where their whole mouth just falls so low to show how sad they are. It’s one thing if this was an acting choice on Florence Pugh’s part, but that truly is the way that she shows her discontent. It's all the more reason why no one should ever try to make this 27-year-old actress cry or our hearts will break with hers.

When you think about it, Florence Pugh really does have a tendency of playing characters who have gone through the wringer. The “beautiful nightmare” from Midsommar had her character, Dani, lose her family in a murder-suicide plot by her sister and left in the clutches of a sinister cult with her unfaithful boyfriend. Filming this movie was no cakewalk for her, as she recalled how intense that iconic crying scene was for her in that she and the other actresses in the scene continued to sob even as the cameras stopped rolling. 

The role truly did take a toll on Pugh, as she never played someone with so much pain before and would imagine the worst things to help her get into character. It’s no wonder that critics and audiences praised this gifted actress’s performance. To hear the actress herself talk about how she nailed that frown, take a look at the video below.

Other than Midsommar, Florence Pugh’s frown played a role in other prominent films of hers. In Little Women, she played Amy, who grew up in the shadow of Jo and her other older sisters who seemed to have had life figured out for them. Amy also didn’t have the best luck in romance, as she was promised to a rich man she didn’t love, only to fall for Laurie, who fawned over Jo. That frown was ever present in the heartbreaking scene of telling Laurie that she spent her entire life loving him only for him never to see that until she was engaged to another man. We also saw a down Pugh in the sisterly bond she shared with Scarlett Johansson in Black Widow when Natasha told her younger sister, Yelena, how much their time together has meant to her. I would probably pull the same face too in those scenes.

Florence Pugh’s frown is apparently not forced or controlled when portraying sadness in her movies. It’s a face that breaks our hearts but helps her achieve such a memorable performance. Her 2023 movie releases include Oppenheimer, which has been going through a censorship controversy, and Dune: Part Two, which premieres on November 3rd.

When it comes to the entertainment industry today, few entities have the level of recognition that Marvel Studios possesses. The Kevin Feige-headed company struck gold over a decade ago when it kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man. Since then, the series has amassed a large fanbase and earned billions of dollars at the box office. Despite all of that though, the movies do get criticized for one reason or another. The latest to call them out was a potential Black Widow directing contender, who believes certain aspects of the films are usually done in “poor taste.”

2020’s Black Widow was helmed by Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland but, before she landed the gig, a number of others were in the running for the job. One of those people was Lucrecia Martel, who’s known for directing smaller films like The Holy Girl and The Headless Woman. Martel recently caught up with The Film Stage and, during the discussion, she was asked about missing out on collaborating with the machine that is Marvel Studios. While revealing that she has still yet to see the film in its entirety, Martel also mentioned some technical gripes she has with the movies in the interconnected franchise: 

Those certainly aren’t the most blunt thoughts that have ever been aimed at MCU fare, though they are still brutally honest nonetheless. Sound and CGI are incredibly important when it comes to blockbuster films, especially as far as major action sequences are confirmed. While making her argument, the Argentine director got a little more specific about why she doesn’t think the two things mesh in Disney’s superhero flicks: 

Coincidentally, visual effects in MCU movies and TV shows have been widely discussed as of late. Much of this is due to allegations of poor working conditions for VFX employees, who claim that they’re given unfeasible completion deadlines by studios like Disney and Sony. An Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania animator even claimed the movie suffered due to that very thing. Black Widow is (somewhat) one of the more grounded stories in the cinematic universe, though it did have its share of CGI-heavy sequences. The film’s effects team even revealed one sequence that they wish they’d had more time to work on. 

Even some of the most devoted fans have called out the visual effects and sound mixing in some of the MCU productions. That may even presumably include those who enjoyed the Scarlett Johansson-led spy thriller. So Lucrecia Martel’s comments aren’t exactly out of left field, and she’s certainly entitled to her opinion. With that, I’d say that the chances of her trying for another collaboration with Marvel Studios are probably slim. Though if I’m being honest, I’d love to see what she could bring to the massive franchise.

Black Widow is currently available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, and you can read up on upcoming Marvel movies as well.

Florence Pugh has been professionally acting since making her film debut in 2014’s The Falling, but the actress hit breakthrough status five years later when she starred in Fighting with My Family, Midsommar and Little Women. That same year, the actress was cast to play Yelena Belova in Black Widow, a role she’s since reprised in the Disney+ series Hawkeye and will do so again in the upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts. In the midst of that though, she recalled how various people in the indie film realm were “pissed off” she decided to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

To be clear, her professional time hasn’t entirely been taken up by Marvel since Black Widow was released both in theaters and to Disney+ subscribers in July 2021, as along with starring opposite Harry Styles in Don’t Worry Darling and lending her voice to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, she also collected awards attention for The Wonder, which can be viewed with a Netflix subscription. Nevertheless, Pugh shared with Time the backlash she got from indie talent over her decision to appear in the MCU, saying:

In other words, Florence Pugh wants to let these people, and the rest of the world, know that just because she’s playing Yelena in the MCU doesn’t mean she’s turned her back on smaller-scale filmmaking. Case in point, look at the 2023 new movie releases on her resume. We’ve already seen her perform opposite Morgan Freeman in A Good Person, the modestly-budgeted drama directed by Zach Braff, Pugh’s ex-boyfriend, and later this year, she’ll be in Oppenheimer and Dune: Part Two, two massive studio pictures. It might not be a perfect balance, but the actress is doing her best to keep her feet planted in both film areas.

As far as Florence Pugh’s next Marvel outing is concerned, her fellow cast members in Thunderbolts include Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Harbour, Olga Kurylenko and Harrison Ford, among others, but no specific plot details have been revealed yet. Looking back to her remaining 2023 movies, Pugh is part of Oppenheimer’s heavy-hitting cast as Jean Tatlock, and Dune: Part Two sees her playing Princess Irulan. I’d be remiss if I also didn’t mention that she is currently filming a romance movie from A24 called We Live in Time, which costars and is being executive produced by Andrew Garfield.

Oppenheimer comes out on July 21 and Dune: Part Two will follow on November 3, while Thunderbolts is currently slated for July 26, 2024. Use your Disney+ subscription to rewatch Black Widow and Hawkeye, and keep your eyes peeled on CinemaBlend for more updates on Florence Pugh’s career.

Considering just how big the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become, the fact that its overall quality still trends toward being pretty good is a significant accomplishment. We all have our favorite movies, and our least favorite, but most of the time things are fine. Sometimes the MCU can be legitimately great, and it’s rarely actually that bad.

But, as with any form of art, perfection is largely unattainable. The best MCU films still have elements that could be better. By the same token, the worst installments aren’t entirely without merit. So, from Iron Man to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, here is a look at every single Marvel Cinematic Universe film, and the best and worst parts of each one. 

Iron Man 

Best Thing: Robert Downey Jr’s perfect casting

If there was one thing that first MCU movie had to get right above all else it was casting its first hero, and they simply could not have done any better. Robert Downey Jr. is absolutely perfect as Tony Stark. Both the actor and the character were men in need of second chances, and Downey shows that vulnerability perfectly while also coming across as heroic.

Worst Thing: The final battle is just robots punching each other

Iron Man set a tone for excellent casting in the MCU but unfortunately also set a tone for unfortunate endings. The big finale is ultimately just two guys in armored suits punching each other. There just isn’t a lot else there.

The Incredible Hulk 

Best Thing: Hulk Smash

If you’re going to see an Incredible Hulk movie then what you’re probably looking for is a massive green dude to break stuff and punch things. As far as that goes, The Incredible Hulk succeeds pretty well. The action sequence at the end against Abomination is fun enough that you might not notice the bad part about it.

Worst Thing: Early CGI doesn’t hold up

The bad part is that the CGI doesn’t really work. Part of this is certainly looking back in retrospect, as the Hulk looks different now, not only because he’s played by a different actor, but because he's animated better. 

Iron Man 2

Best Thing: Justin Hammer

There are two villains in Iron Man 2 and one of them audiences have repeatedly hoped we might see again. Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer isn’t the most important new addition to the franchise in the sequel, but he is absolutely the most fun.

Worst Thing: Whiplash

The other villain, however, doesn’t succeed nearly as well. Whiplash is what happens when your Iron Man movie is so successful you rush a sequel and just pull a villain off the shelf. There’s no depth here, which makes the conflict ring hollow.

Thor 

Best Thing: The Introduction Of Tom Hiddelston’s Loki

Thor would eventually come into his own, but he’s certainly not the most interesting thing in his own movie. From the very beginning, it was clear that what Marvel found with Tom Hiddleston as Loki was truly special. 

Worst Thing: Kenneth Branagh is not an action movie director

Branagh is a great director and the decision to bring his Shakespearean sensibilities to the superhero genre actually works a lot better than you might expect. Where he’s clearly having trouble, however, is the action. The superpowered battles just don’t have the impact, either on screen or for the audience, that they should.

Captain America: The First Avenger 

Best Thing: Steve throws himself on a grenade

Before Steve Rogers ever gets injected with super soldier serum he shows that he’s actually been Captain America from the beginning. The willingness to throw himself on a live grenade is what causes the rest of the movie to happen; it endears him to the other characters and to us, as well.

Worst Thing: The silly brief love triangle

There’s a scene shortly after Steve leads a heroic rescue mission where a woman (Natalie Dormer) who is very impressed by him makes a move and kisses him just as Peggy walks up. It leads to one of those classic misunderstandings which only exist in movies to keep romantic partners apart longer, and it’s always silly. 

The Avengers

Best Thing: That one team shot

You know the one. The moment when The Avengers become The Avengers. The camera circles around them, the music swells, and six movies come together in one moment, proving that the MCU truly works.

Worst Thing: Coulson’s death

It’s a key moment, as it’s part of what brings the characters together, but Agent Coulson was just as important to the success of the MCU as any of the Avengers, and it’s been missing something ever since he died.

Iron Man 3 

Best Thing: The Mandarin Twist

Because the MCU is based on existing Marvel Comics, you can get a general idea of what may happen if you know the stories, which is why the big twist in Iron Man 3 is so great. Nobody saw it coming.

Worst Thing: The Mandarin Twist

Having said that, a lot of people hated the Mandarin twist, and there’s an argument to be made that taking one of Marvel’s few Asian characters and having him ultimately played by a non-Chinese actor was the wrong move.

Thor: The Dark World 

Best Thing: Freya’s death scene

Thor: The Dark World has its share of issues, but Rene Russo’s Freya isn’t one of them. Her death scene is a fairly big surprise, and so it hits with emotional weight when the rest of the movie largely doesn’t.

Worst Thing: Who was the villain again?

The only thing that would have made the death scene better is if she were killed by a villain we actually remember. You don’t recollect his name or why he was the villain, and that’s the problem. No, I'm not going to look it up and pretend I remember.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

Best Thing: The Elevator Fight

Marvel movies are full of action sequences and most are fine, but few of them are truly great. Captain America: The Winter Soldier's elevator fight is well choreographed and shot, allowing for one of the most unique and exciting battles in the MCU. Even Chris Evans knows it's the best.

Worst Thing: Nick Fury’s “death”

Did anybody actually believe that Fury died here? The movie makes the reveal that he’s still alive feel like they thought they fooled somebody. They did not. 

Guardians Of The Galaxy 

Best Thing: We are Groot

By the end of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, we're fully on board with this team of broken misfits. Which makes the fact that we lose one of them hurt a lot more than we might expect. Groot’s final words resonate in a way that only a creature's of few words can.

Worst Thing: Another unmemorable villain

Perhaps because it has so many characters to introduce, it doesn’t have much time left for its villain. As such, Ronan the Accuser is given a very rushed setup and a weak motivation, despite his connection to the biggest villain of the first three phases. 

Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Best Thing: James Spader’s Ultron

Ultron maybe doesn’t have the most original motivation for rogue AI, but he does have the best possible voice for it. James Spader is absolutely perfect as the voice, and he brings a life to the CGI character that it desperately needs. It's a shame Spader has not returned to voice him since.

Worst Thing: Black Widow’s sterilization

The romance between Bruce Banner and Black Widow is an idea that starts and ends here, so it ends up having little impact, but that makes Natasha’s tearful admission that she cannot have children (and the implicit indication that there is something wrong with her because of it) that much more out of place.

Ant-Man

Best Thing: Creative final fight

The final battle in Ant-Man follows many of the same beats as several (far less) interesting battles in the MCU, but what those fights didn’t have was a Thomas the Tank Engine toy the size of a city bus. This battle uses the unique abilities of the characters to great effect to make this fight much stronger.

Worst Thing: Not enough Hope Van Dyne

Ant-Man is all about Scott Lang becoming a capable superhero, and it’s a fun journey, but the movie already has a woman quite capable in Hope Van Dyne. Leaving the Wasp reveal until a post-credits scene feels like a waste. 

Captain America: Civil War 

Best Thing: The airport battle

Is the airport battle a bit like taking all your superhero action figures and throwing them together? Yeah, but that’s also why it’s great. Not since the first Avengers had we seen so many of our favorite Marvel heroes in one place, and it still didn’t get old.

Worst Thing: Zemo’s plan is convoluted as hell 

Zemo is far from the worst villain in the MCU. He’s actually one of the more interesting ones overall, but it has to be said that his plan here is completely ridiculous. There are so many steps involved that it's almost funny that the plan actually succeeds.

Doctor Strange 

Best Thing: A final battle that isn’t just a fistfight

Some of the best parts of Marvel movies have been the action sequences where heroes and villains fight, but Doctor Strange tries something different when the hero goes up against Dormamu and finds a way to win that is entirely about outsmarting, not out punching, his opponent. It's not less exciting, but it's a lot more creative.

Worst Thing: Not enough Rachel McAdams

At this point, it seems like every working actor has a role in the MCU, but some of them have been criminally underused. When you get Rachel McAdams in your movie you should do something with her, but Doctor Strange doesn’t.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 

Best Thing: Nebula and Gamora

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is an emotional movie all the way around, but the most powerful relationship is between Gamora and Nebula. They very nearly kill each other before Nebula finally takes the first step to healing by revealing how she truly feels. It’s an incredible moment.

Worst Thing: Mantis as the butt of jokes

Mantis is a great addition to the Guardians, but her introduction is a tough one. The way that Drax perpetually insults her, in a way that is played for laughs, just isn’t as funny as it was supposed to be. 

Spider-Man: Homecoming 

Best Thing: Michael Keaton’s Villain speech

Michael Keaton is great across the board in Homecoming but the best moment comes as he's driving Peter and his date to the prom, and they have a conversation that, on the surface, seems plain, but is actually a much deeper conversation. They reveal themselves to each other, without giving anything away. 

Worst Thing: The M.J. “twist”

Homecoming tries to mix up the formula of Spider-Man movies, and does such a good job overall that feeling a need to force Zendaya’s character into being M.J. just isn’t right. She’s her own character, and should have been allowed to be such. Making her M.J. doesn’t do anything the movie or franchise needs.

Thor: Ragnarok

Best Thing: A new tone that suits Thor better

Everything changed for Thor with Ragnarok, but most importantly, what changed was his sense of humor. With Taika Waittiti at the helm, we had a Thor that was much lighter in tone, and that seems to suit the character and Chris Hemsworth a lot more.

Worst Thing:  An unworthy end to the Warriors Three

However, a casualty of Ragnarok, literally, were the Warriors Three, who it seems Waititi didn’t know what to do with, and so he disposed of them in short order. They deserved better. 

Black Panther

Best Thing: T’Challa rejects the ancestors

It’s difficult to not just say “everything” is what’s best about Black Panther. Chadwick Boseman is one of the MCU’s great casting decisions. If that hadn’t been clear previously, it is in the climax of the film, when T’Challa takes his father and the rest of his ancestors to task for their bad decisions.

Worst Thing: Two great villains gone too soon

One of the other things that makes the film so great is its villains. Michael B. Jordan is excellent as Killmonger, and at least he had a whole movie to shine. Andy Serkis’ Klaue felt like a villain who was never really given a chance to be as big as he could have been, despite being excellent whenever he was on screen.

Avengers: Infinity War

Best Thing: Groot and Stormbreaker

There are numerous moments in the last two Avengers movies that were clearly designed to make fans stand up and cheer, but the greatest moment of Infinity War comes from the least likely place. Groot becomes the true hero of the film when he unites the pieces of Stormbreaker and uses his own arm to give the weapon a handle.

Worst Thing: The Soul Stone

Many lives are lost in Infinity War, but none are more heartbreaking than Gamora. And, not simply from a storytelling standpoint. It’s frustrating because the premise of the Soul Stone sequence, that Thanos loves Gamora, is so clearly false by virtue of what he’s willing to do.

Ant-Man And The Wasp 

Best Thing: Michael Pena’s Luis

We met Luis in the first Ant-Man movie and he was absolutely hilarious, so the sequel did what all sequels at least claim to: give us more of what we want. Luis becomes a much more significant part of Ant-Man and the Wasp, and the sequel is better for it.

Worst Thing: More forgettable villains

Stop if you’ve heard this one before, but sometimes we forget who the villains in Marvel movies even are, and this is very much the case in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Ghost is set to return to the MCU, but we'll need a refresher on who she is.

Captain Marvel 

Best Thing: Captain Marvel Blasting Yon-Rogg

Sometimes a superhero movie builds to an epic and inevitable encounter between a hero and villain, and we get a fight that is everything we dreamed of. Sometimes the villain gets blasted into a wall because the hero owes him nothing, and it's even more satisfying.

Worst Thing: Unnecessarily '90s

Captain Marvel is set in the ’90s for “prequel” reasons, which is fine, but unlike the Guardians of the Galaxy films, which use music for particular story and character reasons, the setting here isn’t that important, and yet it never stops forcing itself on the story.

Avengers: Endgame 

Best Thing: Avengers Assemble

It was the moment we waited more than a decade for. A complete unification of every living hero in the MCU up to that moment. It was everything we wanted.

Worst Thing: Smart Hulk is born off screen

Considering just how long the Avengers movies are you'd think they would have found time to not just explain the origin of Smart Hulk, but let that important stuff happen on-screen.

Spider-Man: Far From Home 

Best Thing: Peter & MJ

It’s not really a shock that Tom Holland and Zendaya got together in real life because the chemistry between the two is excellent. We never really got to see it in the previous Spider-Man movie, but it’s the backbone of this one, and it's excellent.

Worst Thing: Mysterio’s backstory

Retroactively connecting a story back to something that we've already seen is, almost without exception, a clunky way to do things, and when it comes to Mysterio’s motivations, it’s pretty clunky here, as well. 

Black Widow

Best Thing: Florence Pugh

We lost our first Black Widow with the titular movie, but the film gave us a suitable replacement. Pugh’s Yelena isn’t a carbon copy of Scarlett Johansson, which means she’ll still bring something new to the MCU, while still lending similar skills to any plot that requires her. 

Worst Thing: The Taskmaster Reveal

It is perfectly acceptable for an MCU movie to do something drastically different with a character that is well-known in comics. However, if you’re going to treat the identity of a character as a big deal, the reveal needs to be bigger than what we got here.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings 

Best Thing: Wenwu vs. Jiang Li

The martial arts combat of Shang-Chi is a nice change of pace from the usual MCU dust-up, and the best is the fight/romance of Wewu and Jiang Li. It’s a beautifully choreographed battle and an equally beautiful love story all at once. 

Worst Thing: CGI dragon fights

Shang-Chi does a great job introducing us to its characters and getting us to care about them, which makes it disappointing when the final battle focuses largely on massive CGI dragons that, while impressive, the audience has not invested in.

Eternals

Best Thing: An impressive ensemble 

Say what you will about Eternals, but it put together an incredible cast, developed each one into fully realized characters, and did so in a way that was compelling and interesting.

Worst Thing: The Massive Mid-Film Info Dump 

Relaying information that the audience needs can be one of the most difficult things for any movie. Many movies, and lots of Marvel movies, struggle with this, but Eternals massive info dump where a Celestial just explains everything to Sersi stops the movie dead in its tracks.

Spider-Man: No Way Home 

Best Thing: The live-action Spider-Verse

In a moment that Spider-Man fans could have only have dreamed of before it happened, three different big screen Spider-Men shared the screen and fought together. How could you not have loved that?

Worst Thing: So. Many. Villains.

Getting three Spidey’s was great, but they could have fought fewer bad guys. It’s not that any of them were bad, but only a couple of them really get any chance to be part of the story.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness 

Best Thing: Scarlet Witch Murders Everybody

The alternative universe version of various Marvel heroes was cool. Watching Scarlet Witch completely own them all was even better.

Worst Thing: Mordo is wasted

Mordo had an interesting character arc in the first Doctor Strange, and seeing where he would go made the sequel a compelling idea. Unfortunately, by the time we got to it, the MCU had a different story to tell, so the tease from the first movie went nowhere. 

Thor: Love And Thunder

Best Thing: The Mighty Thor

In a rare move, Marvel revealed years in advance that Natalie Portman would return to the MCU as The Mighty Thor. You don’t need to worry about spoilers when your reveal is awesome enough. 

Worst Thing: Thor Gets Lost in his own movie  

The Mighty Thor was great, and Thor: Love and Thunder has one of the better MCU villains in years. Unfortunately, Thor himself feels largely overlooked by his own movie. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 

Best Thing: Shuri’s emotional journey

We knew that Wakanda Forever was going to be an emotional movie for lots of fans, but to make the road toward acceptance the actual plot was an inspired decision. We all understand Shuri’s story.

Worst Thing: Thunderbolts subplot

The journey of Everett Ross here is not nearly as satisfying. He seems to be there mostly to set up future movies, which takes away from the one we are actually watching.

Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania 

Best Thing: Kang

Kang is expected to be the villain of this current MCU arc, and Quntumania was his coming-out party. It’s a great performance and a fantastic hint of what is to come.

Worst Thing: Where’s Luis?

With the movie mostly taking place in the Quantum Realm, I’m sure the filmmakers just didn’t know how to incorporate Michael Pena’s Luis in a way that made sense, but it’s a lesser film without him.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

Best Thing: The Bestie Boys One Shot

The Guardians of the Galaxy movies have given us solid action and great music, and in one of the trilogy’s final moments, it gave us all that and more in a simulated one-shot that looked epic and sounded amazing.

Worst Thing: Adam Warlock

Vol. 2 promised us Adam Warlock, but one wonders if he would have appeared if that post-credits scene had been left out. The performance and character are good, but the movie doesn’t seem to know what to do with him.

That's every MCU film. Do you agree with our choices?

Before Scarlett Johansson was introduced as the Black Widow in Iron Man 2, and she went on to become the highest-grossing actor ever, she was a hustling performer, who was starting to have doubts about her career. While this movie star is now one of the major powerhouses in Hollywood, before joining the MCU she was starting to feel “frustrated and hopeless” about her career, and she recently got candid about how she was feeling before she was cast as Natasha Romanoff. 

Following her breakout role in Lost in Translation, Johansson went on to play roles in movies like He’s Just Not That Into You and The Prestige, among others. However, she wasn’t the movie star we recognize her as today. While chatting with Variety, she mentioned that in the years leading up to Iron Man 2’s release in 2010, she was starting to feel “frustrated and hopeless,” especially after losing two big roles, which included the aforementioned MCU movie. 

Originally, Emily Blunt was cast as the Black Widow in the Iron Man sequel, while Johansson had been denied the role. After the Edge of Tomorrow star dropped out of the movie because she was contractually obligated to shoot Gulliver’s Travels, the actor we’ve come to recognize as Black Widow was called back in. Following that movie, as you know if you’ve seen the Marvel movies in order, Johansson went on to star in eight more MCU projects, including her stand-alone film Black Widow in 2021. 

Reflecting back on her long career, and how joining the MCU impacted it, Johansson candidly explained how she felt about playing Natasha Romanoff at first, saying:

And grow she did. Johansson has been open about why her Marvel contract worked so well, and in between MCU movies, she went on to star in other films which led to Oscar nominations, like A Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. Over the course of the last decade, not only has she become the most bankable star, she's also a prestigious and renowned actress as well.

Now, Scarlett Johansson has officially bid farewell to Black Widow, and she won’t be appearing in any of Marvel’s upcoming movies. However, she does have many other projects in the works, including Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, which is on the 2023 movie schedule. While I know I’ll miss the actress playing Natasha Romanoff, we’ll always be able to go back and watch her as the kick-ass spy with a Disney+ subscription, and as she’s proven time and time again, she will always have a new project for us to look forward to. 

With the end of the Infinity Saga the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a number of major stars said their goodbyes. Of course, in the world of Marvel Comics that inspired the films, no hero ever says goodbye for too long, so fans have always wondered if we might see the likes of Robert Downey, Jr. Chris Evans, or Scarlett Johansson again. In at least one of those cases, the actor is making a pretty clear statement that she is not returning, so don’t expect to see the original Black Widow again.

Appearing on Gwenyth Paltrow’s Goop Podcast, Scarlett Johansson was asked by her MCU co-star Paltrow, who occasionally forgets she was in the MCU,  if she might ever return to the MCU and pay Black Widow again. She calls that chapter of her career “over” and says there’s simply nothing left for her to do there. The actress explains…

Scarlett Johansson’s final appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was actually a prequel to the events of Avengers: Endgame, so the possibility of seeing her return certainly would not have been impossible, other prequels could have been made. Beyond that, the MCU is currently neck-deep in the Multiverse, so we could see an “alternate” version of Natasha Romanoff appear that would also Johansson to return without technically playing the same character.

But it doesn’t sound like she’s that interested in coming back. She calls her time in the MCU a “unique experience” and while it sounds like she was very happy to have had the experience of returning to a character again and again over a period of years, she’s happy to leave it unique, and isn’t looking to do it again. 

Johansson’s comments aren’t quite the same as her fellow MCU co-star Chris Evans. While he has repeatedly made it clear that he’s not looking to play Captain America again anytime soon, and says that any return would have to be just right, he has never entirely closed the door on the idea of returning eventually. 

In Marvel Comics it's easy to bring back Steve Rogers and let him be Captain America for decades, but when you’re dealing with actors who age, that’s much less possible. While that means that eventually there will come a point when it’s literally impossible for the original actors to return, it opens a door to a sort of storytelling in the MCU that the comics have never really indulged in, seeing what happens to a superhero universe when these iconic characters are truly gone forever, replaced by new heroes carrying on the mantle, or perhaps simply gone for good. 

At this point, as far as we can know anything about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it seems that Scarlett Johansson’s time as Black Widow has come to an end. It was an impressive run. Black Widow appeared in eight films in the franchise between Iron Man 2 and her solo outing and had one of the most unique stories of any character, which the actress says happened because Marvel didn’t know what it was doing in the beginning.

Scarlett Johanson made her debut in the third-ever MCU movie in Iron Man 2, so it was still quite early in the experiment that was the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Appearing on the TSC Podcast, Scarlett Johansson admits that Marvel Studios was still figuring things out, and as such, her original contract included making movies that never happened. This allowed the actress to go back and negotiate things, including where her character would go. She explained… 

While Marvel Studios gets a lot of credit for planning things out in advance, the truth is that much more of the MCU is made up as they go along than most people suspect. When actors come on board they are frequently signed to contracts that lock them into a certain number of appearances, but that doesn’t mean what those appearances will be is known at the time.

While it certainly seems Scarlett Johansson is done at Marel Studios, she has nothing but good things to say about her experience. And she specifically praises Kevin Feige who she says always made sure that whatever the actors were asked to do was something they wanted to do. She continued…

It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows between Johannson and Marvel, or at least Marvel's parent company. Johannson actually sued Disney over the financial arrangements for Black Widow when the movie was released on Disney+ alongside a theatrical release. Having said that, the word is that Feige was frustrated by the lawsuit, in part because he didn't want to upset talent, which would fit with what Johansson said here.

In the end, it feels like it all worked out. Scarlett Johansson had a great run in the MCU, and the franchise is continuing to go strong following her time. And Marvel probably has a bit better idea what it's doing now.

The superhero genre has been dominating the entertainment industry for well over a decade. And as such, lots of killer talent has joined a cinematic universe or two. Stranger Things breakout star David Harbour has had peaks and valleys doing this, and recently talked about how playing Red Guardians in Black Widow helped make up for Hellboy flopping. As they say, that’s show business.

After Stranger Things became a bonafide sensation, the cast quickly started picking up high profile gigs. David Harbour was cast as the title character in the Hellboy remake, but it was unfortunately a critical and box office bomb. He had far better luck with the Black Widow movie, and spoke to THR about the juxtaposition between those two experiences. As he put it,

Well, that was honest. Filming movies is a notoriously grueling process, and David Harbour put in months of work and countless hours in the make-up chair for the ill-fated 2019 Hellboy movie. Seeing the burgeoning franchise fizzle out was no doubt a big let down, although he was able to get back into the comic book genre as Red Guardian in the MCU. What’s more, there are already plans for him to reprise that role.

David Harbour’s comments to THR come as he’s been promoting his action holiday comedy Violent Night, where he plays a deadly version of Santa Claus. Eventually the conversation turned to his other action-heavy roles in Black Widow and Hellboy. And it sounds like the latter project being such a box office failure was a huge disappointment. After all, he was likely expecting to appear in multiple movies of the franchise.

While David Harbour’s time as Hellboy might have been cut short, he’s seemingly just getting started as Red Guardian in the MCU. Following his debut in Black Widow, it was confirmed that he’ll be part of the villain-centric ensemble cast of Thunderbolts. The movie will reunite him with Florence Pugh’s Yelena, and will include other returning characters like Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), U.S. Agnent (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis Drefyus). The great Harrison Ford will also be inheriting the role of Thaddeus Ross from the late William Hurt.

It should be fascinating to see where David Harbour’s character goes next, especially since he’s one of the stronger members of the Thunderbolts cast. I’m also eager to see how his relationship with Yelena will continue, thanks to their familial bond and shared trauma. What’s more, they should be able to grieve for Natasha together. 

Thunderbolts is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 26th, 2024. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater in the New Year. And 2023 will offer new updates on the TV and film side of the behemoth shared universe. 

Now that we’ve witnessed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 is over. Over the last year and a half, starting with the release of Black Widow in 2021, we’ve just seen the most jam-packed phase of the MCU yet, with over fifteen new titles between big-screen features and Disney+ Marvel TV shows. As we anticipate the next two phases of the franchise’s Multiverse Saga, let’s reflect on Phase 4, particularly in terms of how it became more inclusive than ever before. 

Marvel has grown a lot since Phase 1 capped off with the assembly of the original Avengers a decade ago, consisting of six white heroes, one of them being female. Ahead of so many more upcoming Marvel movies coming in 2023 and beyond, the franchise made a lot of exciting moves for representation. Time to break them down. 

Sole Women Directors Helmed MCU Movies For The First Time 

It only took 23 movies over a decade, but Black Widow marked the first MCU movie to be solely directed by a woman with the hiring of Cate Shortland. The Australian filmmaker ushered in the long-awaited backstory of Scarlet Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff along with introducing a new MCU favorite with Florence Pugh’s witty Yelena Belova. Unfortunately, the movie also led to a lawsuit by Johansson to Disney regarding the company’s decision to make it available to purchase on Disney+ at the same time as its theatrical release, breaching her contract. It was later settled between them in fall 2021. 

In the same year, Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color to direct a Marvel movie with Eternals, which in and of itself made a ton of strides for representation. Given the MCU is the biggest franchise in Hollywood, it’s important for them to usher in more diverse filmmakers and Phase 4 was a great step in the right direction for female filmmakers.  

Shang-Chi Was The First Asian-Led Marvel Movie

Asian-American representation in Hollywood has a troublesome history. However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe did contribute to the forwarding of positive inclusion of Asian characters in the mainstream with 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The movie authentically approached the Chinese-American experience through Shang-Chi and Katy as they meet Chinese mythological creatures and discover Kamar-Taj. 

The release became a major blockbuster at a time where the theatrical industry was still finding its footing after COVID-19 shutdowns. It introduced Simu Liu to mainstream audiences, and he's booking movies left and right nowadays. It enlisted Asian director Destin Daniel Cretton, who is now set to helm an Avengers film next. Plus, the fire soundtrack highlighted a variety of Asian artists as well. 

The MCU Gets Its First Egyptian Superhero

In early 2022, Marvel also debuted its Moon Knight series starring Oscar Isaac. The series inspired by the comic book that is influenced by Egyptian mythology brought about the debut of the franchise’s first Egyptian superhero in May Calamawy’s Layla El-Faouly, aka the Scarlet Scarab. In a Hollywood landscape where Arab characters are few and far between, it was refreshing to see Marvel bring in Ramy actress, who is an Egyptian-Palestinian actress, get her moment to be introduced as a Marvel hero. 

Ms. Marvel Was A Big Win For South Asian And Muslim-American Representation

The introduction of Kamala Khan in the MCU marked a big moment for the inclusion of South Asian, particularly Pakistani-American South Asians and Muslim Americans. Iman Vellani’s Marvel character authentically captured the story of a Pakistani teen living in Jersey as she navigates her coming-of-age years and discovers some major powers. This was helped by the creatives behind the scenes who could speak to this background. That includes depictions of a Muslim-American community that pushes back against stereotypes. 

Wakanda Forever’s Talokan Was A Big Moment For Latin Inclusivity 

The last big moment for representation that Marvel tackled for the first time in a big way in Phase 4 was in the Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever. After the 2018 original had Ryan Coogler bringing a predominantly Black cast to the forefront along with depicting a variety of African cultures with Wakanda, his second movie puts the spotlight on the Latin kingdom of Talokan, which is the MCU’s version of Atlantis. 

In a beautiful retelling of Namor’s origins, Wakanda Forever tackled a Mayan-inspired story that saw a whole people retreating to the sea in light of colonialism. The Black Panther sequel also depicted another complicated villain following Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger, with Tenoch Huerta’s incredible debut as Namor. 

Over the course of a year and a half, Marvel fans have consumed a lot of content from the MCU. Between the most recent big-screen movies and Disney+ shows, MCU seems to have made a real effort to include more people from all types of backgrounds, religions and identities in Phase 4. With these various strides in representation, Marvel can be a leader in Hollywood becoming a place more honest to the diverse world we live in. Here’s to more inclusion in Phase 5 and beyond! 

"You can't please everyone." It's a common aphorism and a true one – just ask any director of any popular movie. While you can make something that the vast majority of people enjoy, there are always going to be critics and dissenters who express dissatisfaction. In the case of Avengers: Endgame, the second highest grossing film of all time, one common complaint registered by co-director Joe Russo is in regard to the death of Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow... but he has a special message for those who are still upset about the hero's fate: he's playing the world's smallest violin.

Earlier this month, Russo used the TikTok account of his production company, AGBO Films, to record a message for Marvel fans who remain unhappy that Black Widow sacrificed herself in Avengers: Endgame. Three-and-a-half years after the blockbuster's release, the filmmaker appears done with offering any kind of coddling responses. A banner reads "I'll never forgive you for k!ll!ng Natasha!" and he sports a sarcastic frown while rubbing his middle and index fingers against his thumb. You can watch the video below:

That's pretty blunt – the message further driven home with the use of Eminem's "Stan" as a soundtrack – but understandable at this point. One can imagine that Joe Russo registers comments akin to the one he puts in quotes every day (an unfortunate aspect of living in the age of social media), and it's reasonable that he might reach a breaking point tolerating it. 

He, co-director Anthony Russo, and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely made what they feel was a proper creative choice with Black Widow in Avengers: Endgame – the character sacrificing herself in aid of the titular team's mission – and he evidently doesn't really care at this point if you're not a fan of that call. More specifically, his sympathy for your distress about it can be scored with an inaudible, invisible stringed instrument.

Also, if your curiosity is piqued by the mention of "raw footage" made in the caption, the AGBO account provided the video in a follow-up post – which sees Russo silently directing himself and adjusting both his expression and finger-rubbing:

For those who can forgive Joe Russo for Black Widow's fate in the 2019 blockbuster, all of the collaborations between the Russo brothers and Scarlett Johansson can presently be watched with a Disney+ subscription – the titles including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. And if you just can't get over Natasha's death in the Infinity Saga capstone film, you can always enjoy the character's Phase 4 solo film, which is available on the same streaming service. 

We'll have to wait and see if Scarlett Johansson ever does come back to the MCU, but for now you can keep track of everything happening with the franchise with our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides. You can also see where all of the hero's big screen appearances land in our ranking of every Marvel movie.

With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever now in theaters, Marvel’s Phase 4 has come to an end. It was a phase marked by the introduction of several new series on Disney+ to supplement the movies, which means as far as hours of content goes, Phase Four is the biggest thing Marvel has ever done.

Phase 4 was largely pretty good, and it had some real standout moments that were better than just good. Unfortunately, it also had some low points, so here’s a look at the best and worst of this MCU era.

The Best: The Multiverse

Following the end of Phase 3, Marvel had seemingly done the impossible, so why not see just how far they could take things? One of the biggest elements added to the MCU in Phase 4 was the concept of the multiverse, and while this story has only begun to play out, it’s already given us some fantastic movies and moments.

Chief among them, of course, is Spider-Man: No Way Home and its bringing together of the three cinematic Spider-Man actors in a massive adventure. However, we also got to see Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier and even Captain Carter, in both animated and live-action forms, arrive in the MCU. The multiverse makes nearly anything possible going forward.

The Worst: Black Widow

Fans had to wait an extra long time for Phase 4 to get started due to the global pandemic. Unfortunately, once the new phase did get started, it didn’t exactly kick off with a bang on the film side of things. Black Widow was fine. It wasn’t a bad movie, but it just wasn’t the movie many were probably hoping it would be.

Being a story set earlier in the timeline, for a character that had seen a heroic death in Avengers: Endgame, fans were looking forward to a movie that would bring some catharsis and complete Natasha’s story in a satisfying way. While Black Widow does fill in the character’s history, it’s just plot, not story, leading to an ultimately unsatisfying finish to a beloved character.

The Best: Yelena Belova

While Black Widow was not the highlight of Marvel’s newest set of movies, it did have one bright, shining spot, and that’s the introduction of Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. The Black Widow film was ultimately meant as an origin story story for her, and it certainly left fans wanting more.

Fans didn’t need to wait too long for that. Yelena appeared in the Hawkeye series as well, and her appearance was one of the most well received parts of the show. Yelena has a lot of fans, and since we know she’ll be back again in Thunderbolts, those fans are very happy. 

The Worst: The Flag Smashers

For those who weren't necessarily looking for anything too different in their Marvel TV shows, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was a bit more of a traditional superhero story, following two characters that we already knew, while also acting as an origin story for Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. However, the show also fell victim to a well known Marvel problem: the villain was a bit weak.

The Flag Smashers didn’t start out that way; they were actually quite compelling. This was a terrorist group that saw the world actually come together following the Snap, but returning to old ways after the return of half population from oblivion. The bad guys actually had a good point, which is why it was so disappointing when their leader starts killing civilians just so audiences don’t start to think that maybe the heroes aren’t on the right side.

The Best: Disney+

Without question, one of the best things that happened to the Marvel Cinematic Universe was the advent of Disney+. Not only did the streaming service allow for there to be simply more Marvel content to enjoy, but the shows allowed for more types of Marvel content than we’d seen before.

We saw experimental creations like WandaVision, the “lawyer show” that was She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and more traditional Marvel adventures like Hawkeye. We were also introduced to a broad and diverse group of new heroes that likely would not have been given the stage like that on the big screen at least at this point.

The Worst: You Need Disney+

While Disney+ has added a lot to the MCU, that doesn't mean it's all good. It used to be that to follow the larger story, you only needed to watch the movies, but now, that is very specifically not an option. If you haven’t seen WandaVision, then you really have no idea why Wanda is who she is in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Disney+ is necessary to following the story.

This means that if you don’t subscribe to Disney+, you’re missing significant parts of the story. Obviously Disney wants you to subscribe, but for more casual viewers (and there are a lot of those), needing to subscribe to a streaming service to understand a movie later is just going to mean skipping the movie.

The Best: The Return of Daredevil And Kingpin

The series of more adult Marvel shows produced for Netflix were generally well received by fans, and even when the episodes themselves may not have been that great, the castings were viewed (with maybe one exception) to be perfect. But since those shows have faded from memory, it was unclear whether they were still considered canon. 

In at least two cases, we now have answers, as both Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin have made their MCU debut (in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Hawkeye, respectively), and even more is planned for them in the future. Now we just need to wait and see what the MCU has planned for Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, The Punisher... and sure, even Iron Fist.

The Worst: Wanda Vs. Agatha

WandaVision started out the run of MCU shows on Disney+ and it did so in incredible fashion. The first episode was a classic black and white sitcom starring Wanda and Vision that gave us only the barest hints of anything else going on. Each ensuing episode gave us a fresh take on a popular sitcom formula, meaning every episode was a little bit different and we were always in for something new.

Which is what made the finale of WandaVision ultimately disappointing, as the series ended with the same sort of superhero punch up that nearly every movie ends with. It’s not that the fight sequence was bad, it was fine, but for a show that did so much differently, it ended as just another standard MCU fight. This in contrast to something like She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, that gave us a wild and bizarre ending, which was exactly what a show like that deserved.

The Best: Namor

The introduction of Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is quite possibly the best adaptation of a character that we’ve seen in the MCU yet. This is not exactly the same character that was introduced in Marvel Comics all the way back in 1939, but every change that has been made is absolute perfection.

From Namor’s origin story to the meaning of his name, everything is a little bit different. But the changes make the character speak to a modern audience in a way that makes much more sense than a traditional origin story for Namor would. 

The Worst: Possibly Too Much MCU

One of the big complaints about Phase 4 is that, as a collection, the phase has no focus, no direction. I would argue that’s one of this phase’s strengths. It’s able to tell a wide variety of stories that are given a chance to be powerful on their own without having to be crowbarred into place to serve a larger narrative. However, I won’t disagree there is a downside to this.

Each of these stories has left the door open to more adventures, but at this point, we have no idea when we’ll actually see those stories take place. When will we see the Eternals again? Meanwhile, Kit Harrington’s Black Knight is likely going in a different direction, but who knows when that will happen. Will these stories simply never continue, or will they do so years from now after everybody has forgotten them?

Marvel’s Phase 4 has a lot going on. For the most part, it’s good, which is all it needs to be. Fans are still invested, and looking forward to Phase 5 and beyond. 

Until now, I had never really thought Scarlett Johansson and Elizabeth Olsen looked all that similar. Despite them both playing major roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I don’t think I ever really saw them together and never made a connection. However, this new deepfake showed the two actresses together and the resemblance is pretty wild. Although, the internet was quick to point out which actress was deepfaked, and which was real. 

The video from @TheSmarmyBum on Twitter showed a side-by-side of Olsen and Johansson. It’s the same interview, with the same hair and outfit, the only difference is their faces, meaning one of them is deepfaked. The caption asked people to guess which was real, but users were quick to point out the Black Widow actress was clearly the fake. Check it out: 

While the two moved in unison, and it was a little tough to tell the difference at first glance, fans were quick to point out why it’s obviously not Johansson. @miss_mack_23 wrote: 

While others, like @oskararmarson figured it out based on the intricacies of deepfakes, writing: 

Admittedly, I figured it out quickly because of the hair. Johansson has never really had a haircut like that, at least that I’m aware of. Whereas Olsen has been rocking the long beachy waves and the bangs for a while now. However, if that would not have been the case I would have been tricked, because the faces are super convincing, which speaks to how far deepfake technology has come. 

Deepfakes have become more, and more popular, and more technologically advanced in the last few years, with people making tons of videos replacing actors in various movies. For example, one person imagined what it would be like to see The Boys star Karl Urban as Wolverine in a convincing X-Men deepfake. While that was more of a dream cast situation, another fan deepfaked Tom Cruise as Iron Man, which was something that almost happened in the early days of the MCU. 

Other deepfakes have gone outside dream casting, like this video of Olsen and Johansson, to create trippy and funny videos. Along with the two MCU stars, Keanu Reeves has been a subject of this type of deepfake. This is because a fan hilariously, and convincingly edited The Matrix star into a TikTok about waiting for laundry. 

Sadly, this little video is probably the closest we’ll get to seeing the two actresses in the same frame. While you can see them in the same movies if you watch the Marvel movies in order, they never really have screen time together. However, that shouldn't stop you from watching their wonderful performances. While they don’t have any upcoming Marvel projects in the works you can always go back and watch them in their respective solo projects Black Widow and WandaVision with a Disney+ subscription. 

You’re never really gone from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Case in point: Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow performs the ultimate sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, then finally gets her own solo movie (a prequel) months later. This can make things confusing when you are trying to watch the Marvel movies in order. But narratively speaking, these references and homages to classic MCU characters can continue to live on in future movies and television shows. Just because a character is “off the board” for screenwriters doesn’t mean they can’t figure out different ways to bring them back up.

Here’s a recent example. There’s a tribute to Black Widow found in the season finale of the Disney+ show She-Hulk. But it might not have been obvious unless you were thinking back to the hero’s original appearance as an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Iron Man 2. During a recent press day surrounding the finale of She-Hulk, we spoke with director Kat Coiro, who remembered working in a Widow homage during an important scene in the show. 

The answer is going to reveal some spoilers for She-Hulk, so stop reading now if you somehow made it this far down and still don’t want to know what happens in the show’s finale.

Kat Coiro told CinemaBlend:

The scene that Kat Coiro is referring to happens near the end of Iron Man 2, where Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) encounter a hallway full of guards at HAMMER Industries. While Happy gets caught up with one guard, Widow takes out a full team, using a fight technique for which Johansson has a funny nickname. It looks like this:

There are so many meta references in She-Hulk, a comedic sitcom that had our main character (played by Tatiana Maslany) breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly, and making Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) do the “Walk of Shame” after a hookup. We don’t yet know if She-Hulk is going to receive a second season, but seeing how the creative team behind the scenes reconfigured your typical MCU series, we can only imagine all of the places the next story could go. I mean, Hulk had one hell of a reveal in the finale, and that probably needs to be explored further, right?

The timelines of the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises in film and television are fairly complex, but they don’t really hold a candle to the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this point. There are not only dozens of blockbusters and multiple streaming shows, but even multiple realities to keep track of. And did we mention that there are always more upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Marvel TV shows on the way? We sympathize with anyone trying to keep track of it all, and we put together this feature to help you in that endeavor – whether you want to watch everything in Chronological Order or in Release Order.

If You’ve Never Seen The Marvel Movies Before

If you’re a complete newbie when it comes to the goings-on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s no real reason to be cute about picking a specific entry point: you should stick with the Release Order route. You can start getting creative after you’ve watched everything and you start doing rewatches, but when you’re just getting into the MCU, your best path to take is the same path that all existing fans took into the comic book franchise.

If You’ve Seen The Marvel Movies Before

Are you a Marvel Cinematic Universe fan who remembers seeing Jon Favreau’s Iron Man on the big screen in 2008 and have seen everything else on opening weekend ever since? Rewatching all of the films and TV shows in release order may be too basic for you, so allow us to recommend giving Chronological Order a whack. You’ll be able to properly witness the full scope of the timeline going back to the first half of the 20th century and may pick up on things that you didn’t notice or understand during previous viewings.

Marvel Movies In Chronological Order

The filmmakers at Marvel Studios like to play around with time – and I don’t just mean via time travel (though that is certainly a part of it). The effort to construct a cohesive universe means crafting a firm and verbose timeline, and that has been accomplished with movies and TV shows set in the past, present, and future. Want to start a new MCU rewatch by witnessing the true launch of the Age of Heroes in the canon? This is the order you should follow.

Captain America: The First Avenger (Set In 1940s)

The full story set furthest into the past in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Captain America: The First Avenger – an adventure that entirely takes place towards the end of World War II. Spanning about two years (1943-1945), the story takes us from the transformation of Steve Rogers into Captain America, to his bold sacrificial move in the Arctic Circle that led him to being frozen in ice for decades. It’s in this film that we are introduced to not only the incredibly important titular hero, but also key supporting characters like James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, Peggy Carter, Howard Stark, Johann Schmidt a.k.a. Red Skull, and Arnim Zola, all of whom have key roles to play in later movies. It's also the first of many stories to involve the Tesseract a.k.a. The Space Stone.

Captain Marvel (Set In 1990s)

There are flashbacks in Ant-Man, Ant-Man And The Wasp, Captain America: Civil War, and Black Panther that give audiences a peek into events that occurred after World War II in the MCU timeline, but the truth is that most of the 20th century remains open for exploration in future movies. The one part of the period that is an exception to this is the mid-1990s, which is when the events of Captain Marvel take place (specifically 1995). Naturally, this is where audiences get to meet Carol Danvers for the first time, and it’s also the introduction of the shape-shifting Skrull Talos, but from a chronological perspective, this also marks the debut of Phil Coulson and Nick Fury.

Iron Man (Set In 2010)

The opening scene of Iron Man 3 shows what it was like for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to experience the 2000 New Year’s celebration, but the timeline zooms ahead to 2010ish for the next big arc, and that’s the movie that started it all: Iron Man. It’s in this story that we get to watch Tony Stark transform into an armor-clad superhero, but also get to know James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Pepper Potts, and Happy Hogan. Plus it’s an opportunity to check in with Nick Fury and Phil Coulson more than 15 years after Captain Marvel.

Iron Man 2 (Set In 2010)

The reason why the setting of Iron Man is a couple of years after its release date is because the story directly dovetails with the events of Iron Man 2, which is set in 2010. The film begins with the same scene that ended the previous movie – Tony Stark declaring to the world that he is Iron Man – and gives fans a chance to catch up with James “Rhodey” Rhodes (who becomes War Machine), Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, Nick Fury, and Phil Coulson. This is the movie that also marks the first appearance of Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow, who is operating as an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent spying on Tony as he struggles with a life-threatening illness, confronts the possibility of his technology being proliferated, and weighs entrance to the Avengers.

Thor (Set In 2010)

In Iron Man 2 we see Phil Coulson leave his assignment babysitting Tony Stark for a developing situation in New Mexico, and it winds up being revealed that the situation in question is the arrival of Thor on Earth a.k.a. Midgard (which means that it too is set in 2010ish). The first Thor movie is big on introductions, as we get to meet not only key Asgardians like the God of Thunder himself, Loki, Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, Sif, and the Warriors Three, but also notable humans such as Jane Foster, Darcy Lewis, Erik Selvig, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell, and Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye.

The Incredible Hulk (Set In 2010)

If you are paying attention during the second to last scene in Iron Man 2, you’ll notice a familiar broadcast playing on one of the monitors – specifically a news report about a rampage by the Hulk at a college. This is because The Incredible Hulk is yet another story that takes place around 2010. It’s not the most significant movie on the MCU timeline, as it only features two characters who go on to be really important (not counting the Tony Stark cameo), but it is noteworthy that those two individuals are Bruce Banner a.k.a. Hulk and future Secretary of State Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross, who is on a global hunt for the green monster.

The Avengers (Set In 2012)

Following the Iron Man 2/Thor/Incredible Hulk cluster, there is a small gap in the timeline, but things pick back up with The Avengers, which is set in 2012. This particular adventure was obviously notable for bringing Marvel’s established ensemble of characters together, with an alien invasion bringing together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Nick Fury, Loki, Erik Selvig, Pepper Potts, and Phil Coulson in the same story, but the movie also marks the arrival of both Maria Hill and Thanos to the live-action canon.

Iron Man 3 (Set In 2012)

Immediately post-Avengers, both the chronological and release date timelines sync up for the most part. Iron Man 3 was the first movie to come out after the 2012 blockbuster, and it’s also the first story in-universe to follow it – taking place around Christmas of that year. Given that it is a more introspective story, with Tony Stark gaining a larger understanding of what it means to be Iron Man, the only important new character we meet is The Mandarin… who turns out to be a fake anyway. That being said, the film does also bring James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan and Howard Stark (albeit in video form) back into the action.

Thor: The Dark World (Set In 2013)

Thor: The Dark World is set during an unspecified season of 2013, and while it doesn’t expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe at all with new characters, it does update audiences on what has been happening with almost the entire ensemble that was featured in the first movie, including Thor, Loki, Jane Foster, Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, Sif, the Warriors Three, Darcy Lewis, and Erik Selvig. Plus it has an adventure that centers around one of the most significant elements in the canon: the Reality Stone.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Set In 2014)

It’s in the calendar year of 2014 that the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier play out, as audiences primarily catch up with Captain America and Black Widow as they sniff out a conspiracy within the goings-on at S.H.I.E.L.D. The blockbuster notably also brings back Bucky Barnes (now the Winter Soldier), Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Jasper Sitwell, Peggy Carter (now in her 90s), and Arnim Zola (now a computer), but also has fans get to know Sam Wilson a.k.a. Falcon, Sharon Carter a.k.a. Agent 13, S.H.I.E.L.D. Secretary Alexander Pierce, and strike team operative Brock Rumlow a.k.a. Crossbones.

Guardians Of The Galaxy (Set In 2014)

Thanks to particular title cards in the beginning of the movie, we know for a fact that Guardians of the Galaxy takes place in the year 2014, though the narrative that unfolds in the movie couldn’t be set further away from the main action in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is, of course, the story that brought the likes of Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Nebula, Yondu, and Kraglin into the live-action canon, while also seeing Thanos conspire with Ronan The Accuser to find The Power Stone.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (Set In 2014)

Because of the release schedule, most Marvel Cinematic Universe sequels are set at least a couple years after their predecessor, but that’s not the case with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which is set just a few months after the first movie – letting it come directly after it in chronological order. This adventure is very different than the last, centering on the titular group as they meet a being who claims to be Peter Quill’s father, and a great new addition is made to the team with the arrival of Mantis.

Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Set In 2015)

Back on Earth in the year 2015, the Avengers reunited for a world-threatening crisis of their very own making – namely Tony Stark’s creation of the deadly artificial intelligence known as Ultron. Avengers: Age Of Ultron not only brings back together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Falcon, War Machine, Nick Fury, and Erik Selvig for the first time since 2012, but also has a huge impact on the future of the franchise. This is the movie that initially put Scarlet Witch in action (not counting her Captain America: The Winter Soldier post-credits cameo), features the creation of Vision, has a role for Ulysses Klaue, and also involves two Infinity Stones: the Mind Stone and the Space Stone.

Ant-Man (Set In 2015)

Thanks to a particular line about the Avengers dropping cities out of the sky, we know that Ant-Man is set after the events of Avengers: Age Of Ultron, and as a result it’s pretty easy to pin it to its release year: 2015. It’s an important chapter for the MCU, as while the story about the heist of top secret technology doesn’t have much of an impact on the larger continuity of the franchise, it is the first movie for a lot of recurring characters, including Scott Lang a.k.a. Ant-Man, Hope van Dyne (pre-Wasp), Hank Pym, Luis, Kurt, Dave, Paxton, and Cassie and Maggie Lang. It also has cameos from Falcon, Howard Stark, and Peggy Carter.

Captain America: Civil War (Set In 2016)

It’s in the year 2016 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that a monumental change begins to take effect in regards to the way in which people of the world view superheroes. Understanding that there’s a serious risk in having costumed vigilantes operating without oversight, the Sokovia Accords are ratified globally, and it’s an issue that causes a great divide between members of the Avengers. This is obviously one of the most significant stories in the franchise timeline, both bringing together the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Falcon, Vision, Winter Soldier, Agent 13, Ant-Man, Thaddeus E. “Thunderbolt” Ross, Crossbones, and Howard Stark, while introducing T’Challa a.k.a. Black Panther, Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man, Helmut Zemo, May Parker, the Dora Milaje’s Ayo, and Everett Ross.

Black Panther (Set In 2016)

While there were four Marvel movies released between Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther, the latter is much closer on the timeline to the former than any other feature. With the 2016 blockbuster featuring the death of the Wakandan ruler T’Chaka, Black Panther is a film set in the aftermath as T’Challa returns home. While dealing with a challenge to the titular hero’s throne from a previously-unknown cousin, the new film brings in a couple of familiar faces with Everett Ross, Ayo, and Ulysses Klaue, but mostly features new characters, including Ramonda , Shuri , Okoye, M'Baku, Nakia, W'Kabi, and Ayo.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (Set In 2016)

Like Black Panther, Spider-Man: Homecoming is also very much set in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, but a little more time has passed in between the stories. While the plot has Peter Parker struggling to be the best Spider-Man he can be while operating under certain restrictions from Iron Man, the film also introduces audiences to all of the important people in the hero’s life, including his classmates Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson, Michelle, a.k.a. M.J., Betty Brant, and teachers like Mr. Harrington. May Parker also makes her second MCU appearance, while there is also a part to play for Happy Hogan and a cameo from Pepper Potts.

Black Widow (Set In 2016)

Cate Shortland's Black Widow may have been released as the first title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four, but it's a chapter that is still embedded amidst the various events that comprised the latter years of the Infinity Saga. While the blockbuster isn't set as close to the events of Captain America: Civil War as either Black Panther or Spider-Man: Homecoming, the plot is very much tied to that period – specifically in the sense that it picks up with the titular heroine on the run due to her disobeying the orders in the Sokovia Accords.

Doctor Strange (Set In 2016)

Dr. Stephen Strange gets specifically name dropped in Captain America: Civil War, but evidence suggests it’s because of his advanced skills as a brain surgeon – not because he eventually becomes one of the most magically gifted individuals on Earth. On the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, Doctor Strange doesn’t actually go through his whole origin story until after the events of both Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming - which pins the start of his journey in late 2016.

Thor: Ragnarok (Set In 2018)

Where Thor: Ragnarok sits on the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline is most easily perceived by its proximity to Avengers: Infinity War – which is evident from the post-credits scene that directly ties into the massive blockbuster. Without any specific dates available, the best guess is that the bulk of the movie takes place in the year 2018, with the God of Thunder going on a wild adventure that sees him travel to a garbage planet while his sister, Hela, takes over Asgard. This movie is important to the canon in that it refreshes audiences on the whereabouts of Hulk, Loki, and Heimdall, while also showing the fates of the Warriors Three and Odin. There's also a fun supporting role played by Doctor Strange, who is shown to possess very skilled control over magiks, and the introduction of fun new players including Valkyrie, Korg, Meik, and The Grandmaster.

Ant-Man And The Wasp (Set In 2018)

Like Thor: Ragnarok, we know that Ant-Man And The Wasp takes place very close to the events of Avengers: Infinity War because of what is shown during the end credits (namely the effects of The Blip). However, because the story plays out over less time, and goes further into the future than the third God of Thunder film, we’re putting it next chronologically. While tracing a plot that finds its main characters working to rescue the long-missing Janet van Dyne, this movie catches fans up with all the key Ant-Man players, including Scott Lang, Hope Van Dyne (who finally becomes Wasp), Hank Pym, Luis, Kurt, Dave, Paxton, and Cassie and Maggie Lang.

Avengers: Infinity War (Set In 2018)

Taking place in the spring of 2018, Avengers: Infinity War plays out the first chapter in a two-part saga that Marvel Studios planned over the course of more than a decade. Following Thanos’ journey to collect all six of the Infinity Stones, the film features far too many characters to list here… and at the end of the day winds up killing approximately half of them.

Avengers: Endgame (Set In 2023)

As for Avengers: Endgame, the most significant events of the blockbuster take place in the year 2023, five years after the devastating ending of Avengers: Infinity War… but it’s also a hard title to specifically put on a timeline specifically because of the time travel antics that are featured. To get into all of the details here would be a touch too confusing, not to mention the crazy number of heroes and villains who appear, but the fact that the movie jumps the MCU canon into the near future is really the big takeaway from a timeline perspective.

WandaVision (Set In 2023)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe entered a new era with the release of WandaVision, not only because it's the first title in Phase 4, but also because it's the franchise's first Disney+ series. It's also an interesting story to consider in the Marvel timeline, as it's actually set between the events of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. It's specifically said in dialogue on the show that the plot really begins about three weeks after the final battle against Thanos, and head writer Jac Schaeffer has confirmed that the events that play out happen over the course of about a week.

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (Set In 2024)

Beyond being clearly set in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Disney+ series doesn't really provide too many anchors regarding where it sits in the timeline, but given the featured animosity regarding political restructuring after The Blip, it seems fair to say that a few months have past, putting it after the events of WandaVision.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (Set In Spring 2024)

Thanks to its central antagonist having lived for a millennia Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings is a movie that features scenes that go way back in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – but the vast majority is set in the “present”. It's not easy to pinpoint exactly when the events of the film occur in relation to Avengers: Endgame, but there is a moment when Wenwu says that the portal to the mystical world of Ta Lo will be open during the Chinese holiday Qingming Jie, which is celebrated in the spring.

Eternals (Set In 2024)

While many Marvel movies have featured flashbacks that are set centuries in the past, Eternals is a special case in that it goes back a remarkable 7,000 years in history, chronicling its characters' journey shepherding human society. That being said, the bulk of the action takes place in the post-Blip "present," and while there aren't really any specific seasonal markers, it feels safe to line it up in release order and say that events transpire around the time or after what happens in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (Set In Summer 2024)

Although Spider-Man: Far From Home was the first MCU film released in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame – evidence suggests that it takes place after a number of the films and shows that followed it. The set up of the story suggests it takes place in the summer of 2024. The fact that Tony Stark is dead still weighs heavily on the minds of characters in this story, but once again we get to reconnect with the important people in Peter Parker’s circle, including Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson, M.J., Betty Brant, Mr. Harrington, May Parker, and Happy Hogan.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (Set In Fall 2024)

Given the cliffhanger ending of Spider-Man: Far From Home, with J. Jonah Jameson and Mysterio revealing the web-slinger's secret identity to the world, Spider-Man: No Way Home had to be set in the immediate aftermath – and it delivers. It's made clear that the story is set in the immediate aftermath of Halloween (given that MJ's boss at the coffee shop requesting that decorations be taken down), and the narrative doesn't unfold over a great deal of time.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (Set In Fall 2024)

A considerable percentage of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness takes place outside of the normal MCU timeline, but there is still plenty of action set in the 616 Universe (which the movie designates). There aren't many details revealed within the film itself regarding when it is set – other than it being after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home – but thanks to the timeline order featured on Disney+, we know that it takes place between the events of the webslinger blockbuster and...

Hawkeye (Set In December 2024)

If you look closely in Spider-Man: No Way Home, you can see billboards for Rogers: The Musical, a fictional Broadway production that is more prominently featured in Hawkeye. With the blockbuster ending in November 2024, it's logical then that the Disney+ series is set in December of the same year – and specifically around Christmas.

Moon Knight (Set In 2025)

The Disney+ series Moon Knight in general has very few connections to the larger happenings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it most definitely is set within the canon, and we do have a general idea of when it's set thanks to the aforementioned official timeline on the streaming service. According to Disney, the events on the show take place after the events of Hawkeye – and given that Hawkeye is set in December 2024, it's fair that we pin the events to taking place sometime in 2025.

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (Set In 2025)

Notable mention of Wong's battle with Abomination featured in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings gives us at least one standout way in which to pinpoint She-Hulk: Attorney At Law's exact place on the MCU timeline, but still we're mostly relying on info from Disney+ here. The streaming service puts the show's events after those that take place in Moon Knight, but notably it is set before the events of the Marvel show that directly preceded it...

Ms. Marvel (Set In Fall 2025)

The Ms. Marvel series was released prior to She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, but the streaming service that debuted it says that they didn't come out in chronological order where the MCU is concerned. We don't know what exact month the events take place during, but it's worth noting that Kamala Khan is depicted as starting her junior year of high school, which means that it takes place in the fall.

Thor: Love And Thunder (Set In Late 2025/Early 2026)

Although we know that Thor: Love And Thunder takes place a fair amount of time after the events of Avengers: Endgame, it isn't perfectly clear exactly how far. The best guess we have to the setting comes from Thor telling Mighty Thor that it's been eight years, seven months, and six days since he last saw her... but that only gets us so far considering we don't know exactly when they broke up. We know that happened before the events of Captain America: Civil War, but details are vague, leaving us to pin the movie to 2025/2026.

Werewolf By Night (Set In Late 2025/Early 2026)

The Special Presentation Werewolf By Night opens up a new monster-filled corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though in doing so it doesn't get too specific regarding when it takes place in relation to other events that are happening in the canon. Disney+'s timeline says that it takes place after Thor: Love And Thunder, but because we don't really know when that blockbuster is set, it's hard to get an exact read on the timeline spot for the MCU's first full-on horror project.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Set In Late 2025/Early 2026)

In the case of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, fans will have to suss out the specifics when it comes to months/seasons, but at the very least we do know its position on the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline thanks to producer Nate Moore. The filmmaker confirmed to CinemaBlend that the blockbuster's setting is "potentially concurrent" with both the events in Thor: Love And Thunder and Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (Set In December 2025)

Marvel Studios celebrated Christmas 2024 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the adventure in Hawkeye, and set one year later is the shenanigan-filled Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special. There isn't a specific mention of the year that things are happening, but it's clearly set after the events in Thor: Love And Thunder.

Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (Set In Late 2025/Early 2026)

Because the film is primarily set in the time-warping Quantum Realm, Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania is not the easiest blockbuster to place on the Marvel timeline, but Nate Moore's comment about it being concurrent with Thor: Love And Thunder and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gives us the confidence to at least pin it to late 2025/early 2026.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2026)

As noted, the adventures in Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 happened very close together on the MCU timeline, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has a similar relationship with the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. It's not made explicitly clear when the movie is set, but references are made to that Disney+ adventure, pinning the blockbuster to the early months of 2026.

Secret Invasion (2026)

The Disney+ original series Secret Invasion is heavy on flashbacks, dipping into many different eras of the MCU, but it's mostly set post-Blip. There aren’t any specific dates mentioned that specifically tell us whether or not the events are happening before or after the story in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (a tricky thing to pin down since so much of that film is set away from Earth), but we're going to stick by the rule of thumb and put it after.

The Marvels (2026)

Unlike Captain Marvel, which took audiences back to the 1990s in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Marvels is set in the contemporary era as to unite Carol Danvers with a post-Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan and a post-WandaVision Monica Rambeau. Even though it also features the return of Nick Fury, we're left to only assume that the events take place after Secret Invasion.

In Canon/Outside Of The Timeline

Clearly there is a lot going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe… but you also have to remember that it is one of an infinite number of realities included in the multiverse. As the franchise has dug further into this idea, it has resulted in some projects being produced with stories that take place outside the MCU canon as it is generally recognized. We’ve included this special section in our feature to highlight these titles.

Loki

Technically a spin-off from Avengers: Endgame, Loki chronicles the version of the titular God of Mischief who managed to escape from the grasp of the Avengers thanks to a misplaced Tesseract. Having messed with the time stream, he is arrested as a Variant by the Time Variance Authority – and when he is brought to their headquarters, he finds himself in a location that exists outside of normal time and space. The series, which ran for two seasons on Disney+, doesn't really fit on the chronological timeline as a result, but it is at the very least best watched only after the aforementioned 2019 blockbuster.

What If

Debuting on Disney+ in summer 2021, What If is a series that is developed by Marvel Studios that exclusively focuses on stories that play out on alternate timelines that are similar to the events featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... but with special changes altering everything. What if Peggy Carter had gotten the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers? What if the Ravagers kidnapped T'Challa instead of Peter Quill? What if Ant-Man and Wasp accidentally unleashed a zombie plague from the Quantum Realm? All those stories and more are told in this multiverse-centric animated series, and following the release of Season 2 at the end of 2023, a Season 3 is in the works that will spin even more of these kinds of tales.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool & Wolverine was heralded prior to release as the arrival of X-Men characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... but that's not really what ends up playing out in the 2024 blockbuster. While there is an early scene set in the MCU and plenty of discussion about it between characters, the film mostly takes place in the Time Variance Authority, the universe from the X-Men franchise, and The Void at the end of time.  

Marvel Movies In Release Date Order

The construction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn’t an accident. Executives and filmmakers didn’t simply put a bunch of project titles on slips of paper in a hat and pick them out at random to create a release schedule. While not all of the stories unfold in chronological order, there is a design behind the introductions of specific heroes and villains in the construction of the franchise. To best appreciate this fact, your ideal way of watching and/or rewatching the canon is in Release Order.

• Iron Man (2008)
• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• Thor (2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• The Avengers (2012)
• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
• Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
• Ant-Man (2015)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Doctor Strange (2016)
• Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Ant-Man And The Wasp (2018)
• Captain Marvel (2019)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• WandaVision (2021)
• The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (2021)
• Loki (2021)
• Black Widow (2021)
• What If (2021)
• Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
• Eternals (2021)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2021)
• Moon Knight (2022)
• Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
• Ms. Marvel (2022)
• Thor: Love And Thunder (2022)
• She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2022)
• Werewolf By Night (2022)
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
• The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
• Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
• Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
• Secret Invasion (2023)
• The Marvels (2023)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

That covers all of the existing films and TV shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (the vast majority of the MCU can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription), but it’s a franchise that is constantly expanding, and with each new addition to the canon, we will continue to update this timeline. For more MCU-related reading, check out our ranking of all the Marvel Movies so far.

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Josts’ baby sure does have a unique name, and the couple received quite a bit of attention for naming their little guy Cosmo. However, in a recent interview with Johansson, Kelly Clarkson noted her love for the name and made an adorable connection between Cosmo and Johansson's daughter Rose.

The two ladies got to chatting about their kids during an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Clarkson then asked the Black Widow actress how they chose the name Cosmo, to which Johansson explained: 

Jost explained a while back that his mother did not love the name Cosmo and thought it was a “hippie thing.” But she eventually came around. 

However, Clarkson enthusiastically expressed her love of the name, and she mentioned a floral connection between the names Cosmo and Rose. 

 To which Johansson happily confirmed the connection, explaining:  

Johansson’s daughter Rose is 8 years old. The actress had her with her ex-husband Romain Dauriac. Having an 8-year-old can lead to some curious questions for the parent, as Johansson has explained. However, they’re also at an age to get so excited about having a new built-in buddy. This is why I think it’s so cute to hear that Cosmo’s older sister loved the connection between their two names.  

Johansson and Jost announced Cosmo’s birth back in 2021, after a year of being one of the internet's favorite couples. The two got married in October 2020 with the goal of “keeping it intimate” as Johansson explained, because COVID was still at its height. At their small ceremony, Jost’s SNL pal Steve Higgens officiated, and the duo partnered with Meals on Wheels as part of the event. The two have been fairly private about their children and marriage. However, Johansson did host an episode of SNL in 2019 where they joked about dating, and every once and a while they will chat about their kid on talk shows. 

Baby Cosmo is now over a year old and both his parents are hard at work. Jost and the SNL crew will be back as a mainstay on the fall TV schedule on October 1, while Johansson has two projects in post-production, Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City and the film My Mother’s Wedding.