The Marvel Cinematic Universe has shot several of its actors into stardom, making them household names after their numerous appearances in the ever-expanding franchise. The superhero box office juggernaut has redefined the careers of its talented stars, changing the course of their public image forever.
Though many immediately associate each Marvel actor with their respective superhero, several of the MCU's stars appeared in well-loved roles prior to entering the largest franchise in modern cinema. The rating system of the International Movie Database has determined which of these actors' roles prior to the MCU were the very best.
Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock (9.1)
Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the leading stars of Hollywood today who first graced the screens in the MCU as Doctor Stephen Strange in 2016's Doctor Strange. Since then, he has played the powerful Master of the Mystic Arts in a total of six films, most recently appearing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Before his time as the Sorcerer Supreme, Cumberbatch was best known for his rendition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective Sherlock Holmes in the BBC original series Sherlock. With four seasons and many fans lobbying for a fifth, Sherlock is largely considered to be one of the best mystery shows of all time, seamlessly bringing the oversaturated character into the modern world.
Elizabeth Olsen - Martha Marcy May Marlene (6.8)
Elizabeth Olsen has made waves with her character of Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase 4 has seen her character's downward spiral into villainy, culminating in the explosive Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the ending of which appeared to finally kill off the character, though many fans believe she may yet return in the franchise's future.
Before joining the MCU in 2014, Olsen's highest-rated role was in the cult classic 2011 thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene. Olsen portrayed the titular protagonist, who struggles with her inner and outer demons after being rescued from a wicked cult in upstate New York. Joined by Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes, and Hugh Dancey, Elizabeth Olsen demonstrates early in her career just how talented she truly is.
Chadwick Boseman - 42 (7.5)
Chadwick Boseman brilliantly brought to life the superhero Black Panther in the MCU, appearing in four films prior to his tragic passing in 2020. Boseman's time as Wakanda's greatest hero is fondly remembered by Marvel fans everywhere, especially as they prepare for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is slated for release later this year.
Prior to landing the role of T'Challa in the MCU, Chadwick Boseman was best known for playing Jackie Robinson in the biopic 42, which explored the historic baseball player's struggle with racism and bigotry when he becomes the first Black player in Major League Baseball. Boseman received particular praise for his performance, which fantastically captured the essence of one of baseball's most important figures.
Tom Holland - The Impossible (7.5)
Tom Holland may not be the first actor to bring the Amazing Spider-Man to life, but he has the distinction of doing so within the confines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Holland has portrayed Peter Parker six times thus far in the franchise, most recently in the already-classic Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Although Tom Holland has now become one of Gen Z's leading actors in Hollywood, he wasn't always the major star that he is today. His most well-known role prior to landing Spider-Man was in the 2012 disaster film The Impossible, wherein the 14-year-old actor portrayed Lucas, a young boy who is separated from his family following a tsunami.
Mark Ruffalo - Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (8.3)
Mark Ruffalo may not have been the MCU's original Bruce Banner/Hulk, but he has become by far the most recognizable rendition of the character after taking over for Edward Norton. Since then, Ruffalo's version of the Hulk has become an integral piece of the MCU and will show up in next month's She-Hulk Disney+ series.
Prior to his introduction in the MCU, Ruffalo was best known for his role in the 2004 sci-fi romance Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, written by the great Charlie Kaufman. In the film, Ruffalo stars alongside Jim Carey and Kate Winslet as Stan Fink, who acts as the romantic foil to Carey's character as they compete for the affections of Winslet's Clementine Kruczynski.
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker (7.5)
Jeremy Renner has the distinction of portraying one of the six founding Avengers in the MCU, Clint Barton. After eleven years of playing the character, including Hawkeye on Disney+, Renner continues to play the heroic Hawkeye in the MCU.
Renner had a sizeable filmography leading up to his casting in Marvel's franchise, the most distinctive role in which was that of Sergeant William James in The Hurt Locker. Renner was nominated for an Academy Award following his performance, making him a household name in the years thereafter.
Scarlett Johansson - The Prestige (8.5)
Scarlett Johansson endeared herself to MCU viewers over the course of nine appearances as Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. Johansson's character would meet her heroic end in Avengers: Endgame, but not before getting her very own swan song in the form of her spinoff film, Black Widow.
While Johansson's career post-MCU debut has seen her take on several memorable roles, her projects prior to playing Black Widow are also quite noteworthy, especially the Christopher Nolan film The Prestige. In the Edwardian period piece, Johansson brilliantly portrays Olivia Wenscombe, the assistant to Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman's magician characters.
Chris Hemsworth - Star Trek (7.9)
Chris Hemsworth was shot to superstardom with his role as Thor, the Norse god of Thunder in the MCU. Beginning in 2011, Hemsworth has played the character for over a decade, with his most recent venture, Thor: Love and Thunder becoming his eighth appearance in the expansive franchise.
One of the best films of Hemsworth's career, and the highest-rated entry in his filmography prior to Thor, is J.J. Abrams's Star Trek reboot in 2009. Hemsworth has a minor but memorable role in the film as Captain George Kirk, the father of Chris Pine's James Kirk, the protagonist of the series. While it was a minor role for Hemsworth, it gained him the notoriety necessary to land one of Marvel's premiere roles.
Chris Evans - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (7.5)
Chris Evans remained a pillar of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the entirety of the Infinity Saga, portraying the iconic Captain America in ten films throughout the course of eight years, eventually bowing out in memorable fashion during the finale of Avengers: Endgame.
Evans has starred in several non-MCU comic book films during his career, the most famous of which is the cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. In the film, Evans plays Lucas Lee, the skateboarding ex-boyfriend of Romona Flowers who doesn't take kindly to the titular hero's courting of his one-time girlfriend.
Robert Downey Jr. - Zodiac (7.7)
Robert Downey Jr. both began and defined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his iconic character Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, who he portrayed a total of ten times during the franchise's first eleven years. Downey eventually retired from the role after the finale of the Infinity Saga, remaining the greatest star the MCU had ever seen.
Unlike many of his costars, Robert Downey Jr. had a long and substantial career prior to his role in the MCU. The role that received the most acclaim from IMDb's ratings, however, was that of Paul Avery in the 2007 David Fincher film Zodiac, which told the true story of the Zodiac killings of the late 1960s and early '70s.