Marvel Comics is omnipresent in the realm of superhero movies. Just last year, we got Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and X-Men: Days of Future Past all bearing the red banner of Marvel for three different studios. The rights issues prevent all these companies from playing in the same sandbox (though they’ve made progress on that front), but fans of the various properties still have several opportunities to see their favorite heroes onscreen.
Sure, there have been some clunkers along the way (2005 Fantastic Four), but more often than not, the filmmakers and the actors inhabiting the roles deliver highly entertaining films full of memorable characters that we can’t wait to see again in sequels (part of why their brands have endured for so long). Here are Screen Rant’s 5 Favorite Marvel Movie Heroes. [Please note that any studio that owns Marvel characters were eligible for this list.]
-
Star-Lord
A couple of years ago, few knew who Peter Jason Quill even was, but after the unprecedented success of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, he’s become one of the leading figures in the MCU. He may fly around in space and hang out with aliens, but Star-Lord doesn’t have any super powers, per say, allowing him to be a little more human and relatable than other entries on our list. His admiration for Earth’s pop-culture and strong emotional connections to his home planet makes it easy for audiences to see themselves in him, painting Quill as an ordinary person thrown into an extraordinary situation.
Star-Lord also has a Han Solo-esque roguish streak about him that makes moviegoers want to live vicariously through his onscreen exploits. Again, a large part of that charm has to do with the actor playing him; Chris Pratt may have had a cult following from his role on Parks and Rec, but now he has the masses behind him. In his hands, Star-Lord has become a movie icon endeared to viewers all around the globe. We're hooked on a feeling he will be around for many years to come.
-
Professor X
Everyone has that one figure in his or her life they look to for guidance, and the many attendees of Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters have one of the finest mentors around in Professor X. Yearning to establish a world where humans and mutants co-exist peacefully, Xavier gives frightened, young mutants a place where they are welcome, and instructs them in methods to control their abilities and use them for good. Professor X was even able to connect with the lost soul of Wolverine, so he’s obviously doing something right.
Actor Patrick Stewart was already a fan-favorite star thanks to his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation - and for any true X-Men comic book fan of the '90s, he was the ONLY choice in fantasy casting an X-Men movie. When director Bryan Singer actually chose Stewart to play Prof. X in the 2000 X-Men film, fans were ecstatic, and Stewart has never let them down in the fifteen years since. T00 bad the same can't be said of the films themselves (see: X-Men Origins: Wolverine and X-Men: The Last Stand - or rather, don't).
________________________________________
NEXT PAGE: Top 3 Favorites
________________________________________
-
Blade
Long before Marvel and DC adaptations flooded the multiplex with shared cinematic universes, a little film series called the Blade trilogy arrived on the scene to show how live-action comic book films could be a viable investment. The primary reason the movies were successful was star Wesley Snipes, who injected the title character with a sense of cool (making him fun to watch) and always kept his composure (no matter what odds he faced). Blade had a confident bravado about him that elevated him above your generic action hero and gave fans something to be excited about. And thanks to Snipes, he was badass capable of some impressive fight sequences.
Like the other heroes mentioned here, Blade has certain qualities that solidifies his status as a favorite. A human/vampire hybrid, he chooses to spend his time protecting humanity from the bloodsucking monsters (instead of preying on people), which makes him an honorable figure in the eyes of many. Snipes himself admitted there wasn’t too much emotional complexity to playing Blade, but the actor was able to portray a believable and worthwhile hero who was always willing to stand up for what was right and dish out his own brand of justice.
-
Wolverine
Usually when the protagonist is an indestructible killing machine, viewers criticize the film of being a boring watch. That, however, has never been a complaint when it comes to Wolverine. Undisputedly the most popular of the X-Men, Logan has struck a chord with audiences due to his rugged toughness and fierce loyalty that makes him an extremely valuable ally in a fight. Not to mention, the mysteries of Wolverine’s past and the psychological trauma he has endured over the years adds layers of emotional vulnerability to his character.
As is the case with Iron Man, the actor behind the claws is also what solidified Wolverine as a Marvel movie legend. Ever since portraying the character for the first time in 2000, Hugh Jackman has shown nothing but unwavering dedication to the role, returning time and time again and still enjoying it. His enthusiasm for playing the mutant is a big reason why audiences love the character so much, making his inevitable “retirement” all the more upsetting for long-time fans.
-
Iron Man
The poster boy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s easy to see why Tony Stark is worthy of a spot on our list. Thanks to the pitch-perfect casting of Robert Downey, Jr., the character possesses traits like charming wit, high intellect, and smooth sarcasm that makes him something of a comic book James Bond. There aren’t many people who wouldn’t want to walk in Stark’s shoes if they were ever presented with the chance - even if that includes being imprisoned by the Ten Rings.
Of course, there’s more to Iron Man than his snark and banter. Throughout his many appearances, he has learned the value of selflessness and what it takes to be a hero (throwing the nuke through the wormhole in The Avengers, for instance). That heart of gold is truly what makes Stark what he is, and illustrates that despite his narcissistic, borderline egotistical persona, he means well and only wants what’s best for the Earth. All in all, he’s a very interesting character to watch, and it will be fun to see how he evolves during Phase 3 of the MCU.
-
Honorable Mentions
With so many Marvel characters to choose from (not to mention different versions of the same ones), there were some that just missed the cut. Here are a few honorable mentions:
- Spider-Man: Whether you prefer Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield, Spider-Man was always there to teach us about great power and responsibility, teaching us lessons that can apply to all aspects of life.
- Hulk: The dynamic between the mild-mannered Bruce Banner and the enormous green rage monster known as the Hulk is always a fascinating one to watch. Mark Ruffalo has put his stamp on the character, but Eric Bana and Edward Norton have their supporters as well.
- Captain America: He was just a kid from Brooklyn who wanted to take the girl of his dreams dancing. Now he’s a fierce, dedicated leader of Earth’s Mightiest, using his good-natured principles and strong moral compass as his strongest weapons.
- The Punisher: He has one of the most painful origin stories out there, but Frank Castle’s extreme nature in dealing with criminals has earned the antihero legions of fans eager to see him take the screen again.
_____________________________________
NEXT: MCU Phase 3 Preview
_____________________________________
The Avengers: Age of Ultron is now in theaters, followed by Ant-Man on July 17 2015, Captain America: Civil War on May 6 2016, Doctor Strange on November 4 2016, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 on May 5 2017, Spider-Man on July 28, 2017, Thor: Ragnarok on November 3 2017, Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1 on May 4 2018, Black Panther on July 6 2018, Captain Marvel on November 2 2018, Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2 on May 3 2019 and Inhumans on July 12, 2019.