Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in full swing, but it has barely even started, as so many more movies and Disney+ series are on the horizon, and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law has just been released. While there's still so much more superhero goodness to come from Phase Four, there have already been five movies and six series released. That's just as much content as Phase Three, and even more considering that shows are significantly longer than movies.
With Phase Four introducing shows, the type of Marvel content is all over the place, whether it's a decades-spanning sitcom, a supporting cast-stealing prequel, or a sci-fi space odyssey. Interestingly, with Rotten Tomatoes being based on professional critics' opinions, they aren't always aligned with the general public, and the highest-rated release will come as a shock.
Updated on October 24th, 2022, by Kevin Pantoja: The release of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law was something that has been met with a mixed response from some fans. That being said, it was well received by most critics, which is evident by the score it has on Rotten Tomatoes. For the most part, Phase 4 of the MCU has been more of a mixed bag than previous eras of the franchise, so looking at those Rotten Tomatoes ratings can help you see which ones are considered the most worth your time, according to critics.
Eternals (2021) - 47%
There's no doubt that Eternals is ambitious and beautiful looking, and the movie deserves credit for the way that it's shot on-location and is full of natural light. It gives the film an Earthy and more genuine feel compared to other releases in the MCU. However, there's not much to be found underneath the aesthetics of it.
Eternals is the first-ever "rotten"-rated MCU movie, as it was scathed by critics for the way it's stuffed, overly long, repetitive, and lacking character development. The Eternals series does have potential, and if a sequel was more condensed, focused only on the characters that had charisma, such as Kingo, and kept the beauty and sheen of it all, it could be great.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022) - 74%
The recently released Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is one of the most polarizing MCU movies to date, and it's surprisingly aimed at fans of horror more than it is at fans of the superhero genre. Being directed by horror aficionado Sam Raimi, who created the seminal Evil Dead series and the criminally underrated Drag Me To Hell, the second Doctor Strange movie share more DNA with those than it does with even its predecessor.
And while that might sound great and the comedy horror and practical effects are impressive and a nostalgic throwback, that isn't what audiences look for in a Marvel movie. However, that also means that it has more character than most other films in the universe, and it's the furthest from the cookie-cutter filmmaking that Marvel Studios is often blamed for.
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2022) - 77%
As noted, the response from some fans over She-Hulk: Attorney at Law was mixed at best but those who review the series seem to be more positive about it. The MCU hyped the show as a legal comedy sitcom and they delivered on that front, with Tatiana Maslany being hilarious in nearly every scene.
The show broke the fourth wall in impressive fashion, was fun from start to finish, and did better than expected when it comes to integrating the greater MCU with the likes of Hulk, Skaar, and Daredevil appearing. This witty series is indeed a treat.
Black Widow (2021) - 79%
2021's Black Widow is rated way higher on Rotten Tomatoes than it is amongst general audiences, as it has a middling 6.7 on IMDb. It seems like a strange MCU movie that critics would prefer more than others, as it's almost completely pointless in the grand scheme of things with it being a prequel and not having any effect on the universe other than introducing the beloved Yelena Belova.
There are still plenty of great things in the prequel that makes it a solid mid-tier Marvel release. It features some of the best new Phase Four MCU characters, including Red Guardian, which fans are dying to see more of.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (2021) - 84%
Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is overly sentimental at times, and it retreads many of the same beats that the three Captain America movies and Avengers: Endgame did. Bucky had overcome his trauma of being a slave soldier, and Sam had accepted the shield from Steve in the final Avengers movie, so it's a little strange that those two things are the very focal points of the Disney+ series.
But the show also portrays the development of Sam and Bucky's relationship, and their odd couple-like way of working makes for some of the funniest moments of Phase Four. Not only that, but U.S. Agent is one of the most aggressive and brutal villains fans have seen yet.
Moon Knight (2022) - 86%
Ultimately, Moon Knight is a strange outlier in Phase Four of the MCU and was a huge risk, as it was a superhero that audiences didn't really have a clue about and it had the tough task of depicting a character with mental health issues. It was almost as if Marvel Studios was setting itself up to struggle.
However, with a leading role from Oscar Isaac, it was a perfect collision of storytelling and acting, leading to one of the most engaging series yet. Unfortunately, Isaac signed a contract to only star in one season, but it's hard to believe that the character won't appear again, especially considering the comic books have such a strong fanbase.
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021) - 91%
It's hardly a surprise that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was an overwhelming success with critics. The movie is full of Chinese culture that's visually stunning, and it introduces martial arts into the MCU that rivals the likes of John Wick. It also sports an incredible cast that would have any critic drooling.
The film features rising star Simu Liu, Golden Globe winner Awkwafina, and Tony Yeung, an iconic Hong Kong actor famous for beloved movies like In the Mood for Love. Michelle Yeoh is having a great late-career renaissance too, and not only is Shang-Chi one of her best movies, but she's the star of the universally acclaimed Everything Everywhere All At Once. And, ironically, that movie is all about multiverses.
WandaVision (2021) - 91%
The first Disney+ show, WandaVision seemed like a big risk at the time as the first taste of what Marvel Studios would be doing with the series format. However, it worked because WandaVision remains the most unique and creative of any Disney+ MCU series.
Each episode is based on a different era of sitcom, whether it's The Brady Bunch or Malcolm in the Middle. Not only that, but it's Lynchian in the way it tells the creepy and mysterious story, and it serves as a great prologue to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness too.
Hawkeye (2021) - 92%
Hawkeye is one of the few Phase Four releases where the critical consensus and general consensus don't exactly align. Both critics and audiences have split opinions on Doctor Strange 2, and both critics and audiences love No Way Home, but Hawkeye is a show that fans think is just fine.
Critics love Hawkeye and given that the show is not only about a retired Avenger, but a retired Avenger who was the butt of many jokes, it's such a feat that the series has that high of a Rotten Tomatoes score. However, that score could be aided by the debut of Kate Bishop, who has quickly become a standout in the MCU.
Loki (2021) - 92%
Loki is the most science fiction the MCU has ever gotten, as it plays around with time and space, and it introduces audiences to the idea of variants and multiverses. Of all the best multiverse TV shows, as the idea is becoming more and more popular in film and television, Loki nailed it with all of the Loki variants, whether it's Aligator Loki or Richard E. Grant playing Classic Loki.
Not only that, but Loki and Mobius' bromance makes the buddy cop comedy of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier seem boring by comparison. And while so many superheroes end up facing off against an evil version of themselves, whether it's Vision in WandaVision or even Loki in Loki, the show also introduces one of the most fascinating and exciting villains yet, He Who Remains.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) - 93%
There's no way Spider-Man: No Way Home wasn't going to be a huge hit among critics. The movie introduces the Spider-Verse into the MCU and, against all odds, manages to satisfy every very despite every fan having wildly different theories about what was going to happen.
All three live-action Peter Parkers on-screen together was a sight to behold and a huge unprecedented moment for cinema. And the movie even went above and beyond by giving fans Matt Murdock. There isn't much more an MCU fan or Spider-Man fan could ask for, but, ironically, the film has now led to fans demanding the world of Sony, including The Amazing Spider-Man 3 and Spider-Man 4.
What If...? (2021) - 94%
The What If...? Rotten Tomatoes score comes as a shock, especially considering that it got such a tepid response from general audiences. While there are a few undeniably great episodes, fans of the MCU criticized the animation and the bare-bones storytelling, not to mention that it sits outside of the general MCU timeline.
However, critics loved the bite-sized episodes, and it throws Marvel characters together that fans wouldn't have otherwise seen. And while everybody thought the show didn't add to the grand MCU narrative, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness used Captain Carter and Zombie Strange, both of which appeared in What If...? So season 2 could be worth watching to see what could appear in live-action movies further down the line.
Ms. Marvel (2022) - 97%
Along the same lines as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, this was more of a comedic series that was brought to life by a charismatic and charming performance from the lead actor. Iman Vellani's acting debut as the titular Ms. Marvel showed that she has a bright future in the industry.
Reviews for the show were sparkling because of Vellani's acting but it goes a lot deeper than that. The show delivered one of the better origin stories in the franchise and found a way to make sure that the non-superhero aspects were as entertaining as the action sequences.