The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Jaw-dropping Rankings on Rotten Tomatoes Unveiled!

Summary

The MCU's expansion into television has led to some hits, but a few shows have also failed to connect with several critics and audience members.

Marvel may want to prioritize projects and characters with a pre-existing fan base, as lesser-known MCU characters have the potential to gain popularity through TV series. It is important for MCU TV shows to effectively continue their storylines and build upon their set-ups, regardless of whether they are small or large in scale.

The bottom 10 shows from the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Rotten Tomatoes carry valuable lessons for the franchise. Initially, the MCU primarily revolved around movies, which were the main focus of the Infinity Saga. During Phases 1-3, a total of 23 movies were released. However, with the introduction of Disney+, the MCU expanded its horizons and ventured into new formats such as TV shows, animation, Special Presentations, and animated shorts. Phase 4, which had the largest amount of content in any MCU Phase, received significant criticism.

The absence of an Avengers movie in Phase 4 made it feel somewhat directionless within the MCU. With 18 projects released in just two years, the expansive nature of Phase 4, and now the beginning of Phase 5, caused a decline in the overall quality compared to the Infinity Saga. Marvel Studios, by spreading itself too thin, faced challenges in maintaining the high standards set by its previous phases. Consequently, several shows produced by Marvel Studios ended up at the bottom of the list of Marvel shows on Rotten Tomatoes. These shows were loosely connected to the MCU but served as important reminders for the franchise to learn from.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The 10 Lowest-Rated MCU TV Shows On Rotten Tomatoes

Marvel's Inhumans - 11%

Marvel's Iron Fist - 37% Two-Season Average

Secret Invasion - 54%

Marvel's The Punisher - 65% Two-Season Average

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law - 77%

Marvel's The Defenders - 79%

Jessica Jones - 83% Three-Season Average

Marvel's Runaways - 84% Three-Season Average

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - 85%

Marvel's Agent Carter - 86% Two-Season Average

10 Inhumans Killed The Characters’ Potential

Inhumans, originally slated as a 2018 movie and intended to be a part of MCU's Phase 3, was ultimately canceled before production. In 2016, Marvel decided to create an Inhumans series instead, but it failed to impress. Despite a flashy debut where the first two episodes were released in IMAX theaters, the series received extremely negative reviews, earning a dismal 11 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The poor reception of Inhumans had a detrimental impact on the characters' potential. Ms. Marvel, for example, has now been reimagined as a mutant in the MCU, instead of an Inhuman—an incorrect shift in direction. However, Anson Mount's portrayal of Black Bolt in a cameo appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness demonstrated that the problem did not lie with the characters or the actors. Inhumans highlights the importance for Marvel Studios' Disney+ series to deliver compelling stories and invest in high-quality visual effects for characters' powers. It also raises the notion that certain characters are better suited for the big screen.

9 Iron Fist Shouldn’t Be One Of The MCU’s Netflix Returns

While the Marvel shows on Netflix were only loosely connected to the MCU at that time, the franchise has brought back characters like Daredevil and Kingpin. However, Iron Fist, with a 37 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is the lowest-rated show among the Netflix Marvel series. The release of the show received criticism for its plot and fight choreography, and it has failed to cultivate a strong following in the years since. Considering the show's lack of popularity, Marvel's best move seems to be recasting Iron Fist and presenting it with a fresh start.

8 Secret Invasion Shows Major Comic Book Stories Need To Have The Same Scope

Nick Fury finally takes center stage in Secret Invasion as he thwarts a Skrull invasion on Earth. However, Secret Invasion disappoints with its season finale, "Home," receiving the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of any MCU entry at a meager 7 percent. The overall Rotten Tomatoes score for Secret Invasion stands at 54 percent. The series is based on a highly anticipated comic book event that generated excitement with the mystery of which Avenger could be revealed as a Skrull impostor. Unfortunately, the limited scope of Disney+ hindered Secret Invasion from fully capturing the epic scale of the original story, leading to unmet expectations. Marvel must avoid repeating this shortfall in future projects.

7 The MCU Might Be Better Using The Punisher In A Supporting Role

6 Marvel Series Need To Fully Commit To Their Premise

Netflix's The Punisher has a 65 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Season 1 and Season 2 of the series, led by Jon Bernthal, have scores of 62 percent and 68 percent, respectively. In Daredevil season 2, Bernthal first appeared as Frank Castle, with a high score of 81 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. These numbers suggest that the MCU might be better off utilizing Bernthal's Punisher in a supporting role rather than giving him another standalone series. Marvel has already taken a step in that direction by featuring Punisher's return in Daredevil: Born Again, which stars Charlie Cox as Netflix's Daredevil. Once he makes his comeback, Bernthal's Punisher can continue making appearances in street-level stories.

Marvel Studios' She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series prided itself on being a legal comedy, where Jennifer Walters, played by Tatiana Maslany, tackles various cases throughout the first season. However, the show struggled to fully embrace its premise, particularly in its courtroom scenes, which fell short of expectations. According to showrunner Jessica Gao, the writers faced challenges in crafting impactful trial sequences for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, as disclosed in an interview with Variety. Taking note of this, the MCU seems to have learned from this misstep, as the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again will prioritize the inclusion of compelling legal scenes.

5 Daredevil Can Make Projects Better

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has made an excellent decision by selecting Charlie Cox's Daredevil and Tom Holland's Spider-Man as the faces of the MCU's street-level heroes. Daredevil's presence has undeniably elevated other series, enhancing their overall quality. The episode "Ribbit and Rip It" from She-Hulk: Attorney at Law stands as the show's highest-rated installment on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 95 percent, largely due to Cox's exceptional portrayal of Daredevil in a significant role. Moreover, despite Marvel's The Defenders not meeting fans' expectations, Daredevil stood out as the show's standout hero, further validating Feige's intention to incorporate him more frequently.

4 A Team-Up Series Is Not A Guaranteed Success

Marvel's The Defenders brought together the beloved characters from Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, aiming to create an epic crossover event. However, despite the excitement surrounding this collaboration, the series failed to meet expectations. With a disappointing 70 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Marvel's The Defenders serves as a crucial reminder to the MCU that not every team-up will guarantee success. This raises concerns for upcoming projects like the rumored Young Avengers series and other potential team-up shows currently in development.

3 Jessica Jones Needs A Stronger Story If She Returns

Krysten Ritter's portrayal of the titular hero in Jessica Jones remains unparalleled among all Marvel projects. However, despite the immense success of the first season, which garnered a remarkable 94 percent critics score, the subsequent seasons experienced a decline. Season 2 received a respectable 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, followed by season 3 scoring slightly lower at 73 percent. Rumors are circulating that Ritter might reprise her role in Daredevil: Born Again, and if this leads to her return in the MCU, Marvel must ensure that the story for a new Jessica Jones series is equally captivating, perhaps rivaling the strength of the unforgettable Killgrave arc.

2 MCU Series Need Better Villains

While certain Marvel shows have succeeded in their choice of villains, the lack of compelling antagonists has been a downfall for multiple Marvel series. This is particularly evident in the lower-rated Marvel shows on Rotten Tomatoes. Characters like Karli Morgenthau from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the villains of Jessica Jones seasons 2 and 3, Alexandra Reid from Marvel's The Defenders, Todd from She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and others have failed to captivate audiences. Given Marvel's impressive track record with memorable villains in their films, such as Thanos, Loki, and now Kang the Conqueror, it is essential for the Marvel shows to consistently deliver in this aspect.

1 Prequel Shows Should Stay In The Past

Prequel series centered around familiar characters should no longer be a part of the equation. Agent Carter, a show that emerged from the Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter and appears to have been permanently discontinued, delved into Peggy Carter's journey following the events of Captain America: The First Avenger. While it offered valuable insights into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s beginnings and expanded the Marvel Cinematic Universe's mythology, it is time for Marvel to prioritize their primary characters, given the abundance of MCU projects currently available. By doing so, the series within the MCU can become more captivating and engaging.