On December 18, 2025, the primary teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday premiered with a melancholic ambiance, but in addition a joyful reveal of Steve Rogers holding a child. This confirmed the return of Chris Evans to the function of Captain America for the primary time since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and was the beginning of the climatic stakes being constructed for the following Avengers movie. Notably, the trailer ended with a ticking clock, beginning the countdown to the fifth Avengers.
Until you’ve been residing beneath a rock (or gleefully ignoring superhero films) then it’s no information that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has struggled since Endgame. The explanations for this are diverse and debated, together with a world pandemic, too many tasks, lack of high quality management, and the easy incontrovertible fact that Endgame felt like a conclusion to the story that franchise had been constructing. No matter what you blame, many individuals have misplaced the curiosity they as soon as had for Marvel’s shared movie narrative.
Regardless of all of it, Marvel trudges on and pivoted in an enormous manner final yr when it introduced the return of Robert Downey, Jr. as Marvel’s maybe most famed villain, a minimum of at one cut-off date: Dr. Doom. Although not one of the earlier post-Endgame movies have performed something to construct up this (save for the current The Unbelievable 4: First Steps), Marvel intends to make this a climatic occasion all the identical. However with out the ten years of narrative momentum and clear universe-shaking stakes that the primary three MCU phases and eleven years of movies introduced, how is Marvel to generate the identical stage of curiosity this time?
One phrase: nostalgia. What has been a constant storytelling level, and certainly the namesake for the present saga, is the multiverse. With this plot system, and Marvel lastly having just about all of the rights to its characters for the primary time since superhero films started, it’s lastly potential to have all of Marvel’s characters conflict collectively onscreen as they do within the comics.
It appears the one manner Marvel can conceive to high the gargantuan stakes of Endgame is to name again to movie historical past, to earlier depictions of characters which might be beloved but have by no means interacted. Samples of such crossovers in Spider-Man: No Means Residence and Deadpool & Wolverine have made these among the many most worthwhile titles of current Marvel cinema. In Doomsday, now the Avengers and X-Males can lastly share the identical celluloid.
With such wealthy potentialities forward, the creativeness can run wild at who would possibly return. We’ve already seen characters as diverse as Wesley Snipes‘s Blade or Willem Dafoe‘s Inexperienced Goblin. Now that authorized boundaries are eliminated, Doomsday is likely to be among the many most authentically comedian book-like movie but, in scope.
Since Marvel has introduced its countdown to Doomsday, Flickchart has determined to do its personal countdown. After all, ours is not going to simply have fun, however pit films towards one another!
Over the following yr, every month Flickchart will rank numerous eras of Marvel’s cinematic historical past towards one another and discover how Marvel films went from rinky-dink, unreleased films to field workplace juggernauts. We can even have a look at how possible it’s for every film to be represented within the upcoming Doomsday or the following Avengers: Secret Wars. We’re limiting our countdown to theatrically launched films, or films that have been supposed for theatrical launch. If we included all of the TV films and different straight-to-DVD animated works, this mission can be far too giant in scope. As it’s, we can be overlaying 83 movies.
Be part of us!
Period One: Earlier than the Fashionable Age
The primary period of Marvel cinema will be outlined by all the pieces made earlier than 1998. There was a sure little film that got here out in ’98 that served as a paradigm shift for Marvel, however extra on that within the subsequent article. This period featured the nascent steps onto the large display, most of which have been failures.
Certainly, regardless of the intention for theatrical launch, solely certainly one of these films ever acquired an precise widespread distribution. It was the failure of that film that kind of stalled all the pieces till near the tip of the last decade. That, and the truth that Marvel went out of business within the mid-90s as a result of collapsing comedian guide trade.
Thus, this period is primarily characterised by cheapness, hokey writing, and confused makes an attempt to take iconic Marvel characters to the big-screen. The primary true Marvel theatrical movie is an adaptation of certainly one of its most obscure properties. For sure, Marvel didn’t get it proper the primary few occasions. That stated, there are some diamonds, or a minimum of sparkles, within the tough.
First Steps
Earlier than we dive into the primary true Marvel theatrical launch, we figured it might be finest to briefly point out all the pieces else first.
Maybe stunning to some, the primary time a Marvel property was in theaters was manner again in 1944. That’s proper, in ’44, there was a theatrical serial for Captain America. This marked the primary ever live-action adaptation of a Marvel character, although the model was known as Well timed Comics on the time.
We aren’t giving it full protection as a result of this serial movie was kind of a TV present on the time, being comprised of 15 chapters, and it was solely a free adaptation within the first place. It predated the shared Marvel comics continuity, in reality. Regardless of the probability of this serial being referenced in Doomsday being mainly zero, it’s a enjoyable reality.
Subsequent got here the primary theatrical look of Marvel’s most famed hero, Spider-Man. In 1978, Toei Firm made a 24-minute theatrical “movie” as a spin-off of the tv collection that aired in Japan. Although that is mainly one other TV episode, it was screened in theaters. This collection and movie are once more free variations of the supply materials, but it surely confirmed that there was some curiosity in bringing Marvel properties to life. This model of Spider-Man has been referenced in comedian books up to now 15 years and acquired delicate nods within the Spider-Verse movies. Whereas unlikely to get any devoted screentime in Doomsday, we expect a short background look is throughout the realm of risk as this model does have followers who benefit from the kitsch of it.
There are additionally a large number of TV movies, pilot episodes to TV collection, and residential launch animated films that have been made within the 70s and past. They’re too quite a few to call, however they demonstrated the will of Marvel to develop its properties. Probably the most profitable live-action Marvel property earlier than 1998 needed to be The Unbelievable Hulk TV collection, which ran from 1977-1982. For a very long time, this was the one dose of live-action Marvel most individuals acquired. It definitely made modifications and was of combined success, but it surely stays beloved by many. Lou Ferrigno has continued to voice the Hulk in numerous properties, together with the MCU.
Additionally briefly price mentioning are a number of movies tailored from Marvel imprints. These properties embrace Kick-Ass, Kingsman, and Males in Black. Whereas they aren’t a part of Marvel continuity in any sense and thus don’t have any likelihood of being introduced in, it’s price noting the expansiveness of the Marvel model. Notably, these properties have all had a combined to robust success, even when there some low factors with every franchise.
The ultimate full film we’re mentioning right here in pre-prehistory is 1985’s Crimson Sonja. Whether or not this even counts as a Marvel adaptation is an odd factor. The unique creator of this character, and of Conan the Barbarian, is Robert E. Howard. Howard is famed for writing pulp fiction set within the sword and sorcery subgenre. These quick tales finally discovered themselves tailored into Marvel continuity, which created comics variations of Conan and Crimson Sonja. Rights points have drug these characters out and in of continuity through the years. Notably, Marvel’s Crimson Sonja is a considerably distinct creation from Howard’s, although nonetheless clearly based mostly on his character, versus Conan who has all the time been a direct leap from Howard’s pages to Marvel’s.
The result’s the concept Crimson Sonja might be thought-about a Marvel movie of kinds. In the end, this one is a direct spin-off of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Conan films and thus decidedly extra based mostly on the Howard character than on Marvel’s model of her. And regardless, Crimson Sonja is an inexpensive mess of a piece. The motion scenes are poorly directed, a lot of the performing is stiff, and the plot is nonsensical. The makes an attempt at comedy are so clunky that they nonetheless handle to wind up being humorous, if not for the explanations supposed. It’s best forgotten, although as we’ll contact again on on the finish of this collection, Crimson Sonja hasn’t had her final phrase. It’s extremely unlikely these characters can be referenced within the slightest in Doomsday, although.
Howard the Duck (1986)
With all of these talked about, we now get to a different starting. By the mid-80s Marvel was no stranger to licensing. In reality, the 80s started with Marvel and its largest competitor DC Comics attending to co-register superheroes as a trademark. Although comedian books themselves have been typically seen because the area of the dork and nerd, TV collection in addition to toys, cartoons, and extra have been proliferating. Comics have been having a few of their largest successes within the 80s.
But the place Marvel was shedding out in comparison with its competitor was the large display. The primary actual big-budget try at a superhero film got here in 1978 with Superman, a smash success. It spawned a number of sequels and is commonly credited for paving the best way for all future superhero films, however Superman solely acquired off the bottom as a consequence of a devoted movie producer who noticed the potential and fought onerous to license the character. Regardless of the potential, Marvel and DC didn’t need to see their properties embarrassed.
Then, paradoxically, got here Howard the Duck. Definitely he was an unlikely hero to be the first-ever massive display star for Marvel, and understandably it wasn’t Marvel’s concept. It was none apart from George Lucas, who was an enormous fan of the comics and informed his co-screenwriters on American Graffiti, Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, about how good the collection was. After Lucas blew up within the 80s as a consequence of a bit of sci-fi fantasy collection you could have heard of, Common was eager to be concerned after passing on a number of prior Lucas tasks. Common had a partnership with Marvel and optioned rights for Howard.
Huyck and Katz needed an animated film, however Common needed to push the movie for a fast launch, so Lucas instructed live-action as a option to velocity issues up. Writing and manufacturing was largely left to Huyck and Katz after that, that means that they had quite a lot of inventive freedom to do issues proper (although there was session with Disney to keep away from an excessive amount of resemblance to Donald Duck).
From interviews concerning the writing course of, it appears a common downside for this early run of Marvel films was tone. Regardless of the comedic and satirical nature of the collection, the screenwriters would intention for an excessive amount of seriousness in some methods, and but nonetheless needed to make your entire factor overtly comedic. There was additionally an enormous give attention to results sequences, as a consequence of Lucas eager to contain ILM.
The outcome was an notorious catastrophe. Even earlier than launch, take a look at screenings have been combined at finest, and Common executives felt the omens of doom. Critics bombed the film, and so it went on the field workplace. It’s now thought-about one of many costliest flops in film historical past, and it wound up tainting the careers of the solid, together with most notably Lea Thompson. It went on to win the Golden Raspberries for Worst Image, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Visible Results that yr. Although there have been some constructive value determinations on reflection, many nonetheless categorical remorse about the way it went.
That stated, Howard the Duck hasn’t been completely left within the chilly since then. As a result of James Gunn being a fan of the character (thought not the film), he included Howard in a number of small appearances all through the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, making him an MCU official character. He even joined within the remaining battle of Endgame, if largely off-frame.
Chance of Doomsday Connection: Medium-Small
Lea Thompson truly approached Marvel after Endgame attempting to make a Howard revival. Although the revival was not picked up, there are apparently future plans for Howard. We expect these plans have an honest likelihood of showing in Doomsday or Secret Wars, although not going in an enormous function or as a direct reference to this model of Howard.
The Punisher (1989)
For sure, with Howard ducking issues up for Marvel’s massive display debut, the comedian firm was a tad extra conservative with variations shifting ahead. The very last thing the corporate wanted was one other black mark on its repute, particularly after having simply shaped Marvel Leisure Group to push its enterprise to the following stage. It could be three years till the following try.
Info is scarce on who pushed to make The Punisher. Regardless, it was notably hamstrung by a minor $11 million funds, which was small even within the 80s. New World Australia fronted a lot of the associated fee, ensuing within the film being shot Down Below. It wasn’t with out some respectable creatives, with Boaz Yakin writing and Mark Goldblatt directing. Stan Lee allegedly blessed the film, although he complained about how violent it was upon completion.
Additionally it is notable for Dolph Lundgren starring as Frank Fortress, the Punisher. Although Christopher Lambert and Steven Seagal have been apparently concerns, this truly makes him the primary theatrically-released Marvel superhero, since Howard shouldn’t be a superhero. Properly, largely theatrically launched, however we’ll get to that in a second. There are differing accounts on whether or not he was a fan of the character and needed to star on this. Regardless, he provides an honest if not nice efficiency.
The movie itself is lower than respectable. The biggest downside is an lack of ability to plot something moreover fundamental motion set-pieces. The film rapidly turns into uninteresting and repetitive, and it’s hamstrung by its cheapness. As a result of this was so early, the film downplays any comedian guide components. The Punisher doesn’t put on his iconic cranium costume, the villains are generic Yakuza and Mafia, and his origin is altered.
That stated, there are some respectable moments all through the movie. Goldblatt’s path does intersperse some inventive pictures, and the ultimate act does have an attention-grabbing story flip by forcing the Punisher to staff up with a gangster who ordered the homicide of his household. For a low-budget 80s motion film, The Punisher has its charms. Lundgren was in all probability one of the best Frank Fortress till Jon Bernthal.
So why aren’t extra folks conscious of this one? Properly, there have been obvious manufacturing issues that held again the studio’s expectations. Goldblatt and producer Robert Kamen fought over the ultimate reduce, leading to a number of variations current. Moreover, monetary issues prevented the film from a theatrical launch within the US, and it wound up sitting in a studio vault after its launch in different components of the world earlier than being dropped onto VHS. Batman launched proper earlier than this was going to be launched within the US, so some speculate that the distributor was too embarrassed when the extent of competitors was seen.
Regardless of making a living abroad, this can be a film that may solely be thought-about a cult traditional. It was one other swing and miss for Marvel, with critics who did see it panning it. That stated, it wouldn’t be the tip for The Punisher’s big-screen efforts, as he acquired two extra films and has appeared within the MCU by way of a number of TV reveals in a well-received portrayal.
Chance of Doomsday Connection: Medium-Small
Whereas some model of the Punisher showing in Doomsday or Secret Wars feels possible, it’s more than likely to be the MCU one performed by Jon Bernthal. The probability of Marvel pulling the Lundgren model out of the multiverse appears smaller, since there are few individuals who would acknowledge or get a kick out of seeing him. The Punisher looks like a lesser-priority character at this level, and if a non-Bernthal one does seem, we expect it will likely be one of many two showing in a future article.
Captain America (1990)
The following Marvel mission would debut simply the following yr, if once more, solely internationally. Captain America solely reached US audiences by way of dwelling launch and a TV exhibiting in 1992. The inventive course of started all the best way again in 1984 when Cannon Group founders Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus obtained the rights to Cap from Marvel. It took awhile to get issues going, with a number of scripts written and scrapped. Finally, Cannon author Michael Winner pulled in Stan Lee and Larry Block to assist write, which had probably the most momentum, although this model too was finally discarded.
Golan then left Cannon in 1989 and took the movie rights with him to a brand new firm. He employed director Albert Pyun to direct the final model of the script accomplished at Cannon. With manufacturing lastly underway, they pivoted between a number of actors for Steve Rogers together with Lundgren, Schwarzenegger, and Val Kilmer, who turned it down. Pyun additionally had the imaginative and prescient of getting two totally different actors play Captain America and to make use of the black model of his costume that was worn within the comics on the time, however Marvel denied each requests. Maybe they grew to become extra protecting of their IP after the early makes an attempt?
Regardless, they didn’t save the movie. It was shot on a budget in Yugoslavia and had a script that altered many components from the comics. Although it makes use of Crimson Cranium as a foremost villain, his look is altered from the supply materials and he’s made Italian. In reality, Italy turns into the setting for a bit of the movie and Italian subtitles seem a number of occasions. The result’s a hokey work with an incoherent plot, poor performing, and a script that has an odd infatuation with Captain America pretending to be sick to steal folks’s automobiles. Whereas hilarious, it’s definitely removed from good writing. Paradoxically, this pulled in probably the most comedian characters of any Marvel film to this point. In addition they filmed the primary ever Stan Lee cameo for this one, although it was reduce.
Nonetheless, as talked about, the movie went unreleased within the US for 2 years. There have been few modern opinions in consequence, however those that noticed it have been removed from sort. As soon as once more, Marvel’s monitor report with films was a large number. With just one film truly reaching theaters, and all being panned, it appeared that the probability of Marvel cinema being profitable would simply be a dream.
Chance of Doomsday Connection: Small
The thought of this model of Captain America exhibiting up in Doomsday appears miniscule. Marvel possible desires to overlook this film ever occurred. Whereas Matt Salinger continues to be alive, we don’t suppose he’ll be getting the decision for a cameo look.
The Unbelievable 4 (1994)
The final film made earlier than issues modified for Marvel was The Unbelievable 4. As with Captain America, the rights for the film have been obtained practically a decade earlier when Marvel was attaining business success. Regardless of some main studios having curiosity, funds issues held them again, and as an alternative German firm Constantin Movie acquired the rights to Marvel’s First Household after assembly with Stan Lee. Nevertheless, even they struggled to conceive a option to do the film, and it took years of growth earlier than they resigned to doing a low-budget model and pulled in famed B-director Roger Corman to provide.
This was the closest to a Hollywood manufacturing since Howard the Duck, with capturing in LA attracting fan consideration. In traditional Corman trend, regardless of a puny $1 million funds, there was loads of consideration to element with costuming and results aiming for authenticity to the supply materials. A devoted advertising and marketing plan rolled out in 1993 with solid members spending their very own cash to advertise the film.
Because the anticipated launch neared in January 1994, sudden calls have been made to cease all additional promotion and the movie negatives have been seized. Constantin fully stopped the movie’s launch, fueling hypothesis that the film was by no means supposed to be seen and that the manufacturing was only a sham to take care of movie rights. Corman disputes this narrative, as does producer Bernd Eichinger. Eichinger described how Avi Arad, who would later assist co-found Marvel Studios, known as him as manufacturing concluded and acquired the movie rights to cease the discharge. Allegedly, Arad favored their enthusiasm however felt the movie was so low-cost and dangerous it might destroy the model. Apparently, Arad had a grander imaginative and prescient for Marvel films, with bigger-budget works within the making.
The Unbelievable 4 has not formally launched thus far. The one option to see it are by way of bootleg recordings, of which there are various. Main video platform websites have it accessible without spending a dime, although some efforts have been made to safe an official launch. For Eichinger’s half, he saved attempting to make use of his rights and was concerned with the Fox-produced model a decade later. The massive query is, was Arad truly proper?
Properly, there isn’t any denying The Unbelievable 4 is a B-movie by way of and thru. The costumes and units are cheap-looking, a lot of the performing is hokey, and the script is not any masterpiece. Nonetheless, there’s an fulfilling campy high quality to it, in the best way Roger Corman does nicely. Given the 60s roots of the Unbelievable 4, the tone virtually form of befits the fabric and feels comic-book correct in some methods. Physician Doom’s portrayal is as over-the-top and grandiose, correctly, giving us probably the most comic-accurate model of the character onscreen thus far. Hats off to actor Joseph Culp and the costuming division. Curiously, the modifications made to his backstory to have Doom receive powers from the identical cosmic power because the Unbelievable 4 is copied kind of by the 2005 movie. It definitely is sensible as a screenwriting option to streamline issues, even when it reduces Physician Doom from what he’s within the comics.
The movie’s different villain, the Jeweler, additionally appears a direct analogue to The Mole Man. One can inform that Corman was a minimum of considerably attempting to do the comics justice. The 4 leads are satisfactory, and their battle with Doom does really feel lifted out of 60s comics to some extent.
Chance of Doomsday Connection: Small
With a newly-launched MCU Unbelievable 4, the upcoming movies will need to put the entire give attention to them. We expect it’s unlikely they’ll confuse audiences by pulling in too many variants of the identical characters. If something, the mid-00s Fox variations would be the ones showing. That stated, the 4 leads from this one did seem in cameos in The Unbelievable 4: First Steps, in order that they aren’t solely forgotten. Something is feasible.
By the mid-90’s, Marvel had three straight films with no main US theatrical launch and overwhelmingly-negative vital reception. DC was leaving them within the mud on the large display, and Marvel appeared doomed to a future of flops. It wasn’t for an absence of attempting, as Marvel licensed rights to its characters all through the 70s and 80s, with most adaptation makes an attempt by no means getting off the bottom. Say what you’ll for these early movies, a minimum of they’re a completed remaining product.
As issues so typically go, failure can be a pathway to vary. Marvel created Marvel Studios in 1996 as a option to deal with their issues. Subsequent time, we’ll have a look at how the creation of Marvel Studios proved to be a part of an even bigger turnaround, although it might be paired with the corporate’s chapter, and the way the following Marvel film modified all the pieces.
Rating Period One
We conclude by doing what we do finest at Flickchart: rating the films! Which is one of the best of this sloppy if typically charming period?
#4: Captain America
That is the clear worst movie of the period. Whereas virtually charmingly silly at occasions, it largely is a boring slog to observe. The plot is almost unimaginable to observe, all the pieces seems to be low-cost, and characters act ridiculous at one of the best of occasions. Even the hokey performances are extra stiff than comically massive. There may be little that redeems this film and it’ll possible go down as one of many worst on this complete collection. Once more, why does Captain America of all characters preserve stealing automobiles????
#3: Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck will be grateful that Captain America exists to keep away from final place. It’s not as a result of this one is that a lot better, but it surely a minimum of has a considerably coherent plot. Emphasis must be positioned on the “considerably.” Tonal points render this a dud, as its makes an attempt at humor largely land with a thud and it can not resolve how raunchy or grownup it desires to be. It jokes about bestiality but nonetheless has giant chunks seemingly aimed toward kids. The costuming and puppeteering for Howard are terrible more often than not, and the film simply form of meanders to a conclusion. We now have to conclude the filmmakers have been all quacks.
#2: The Punisher
Is that this film? No. Is it the worst factor ever? Additionally, no. The script could also be on the weaker aspect, and it runs out of concepts fast. Nonetheless, this one has some respectable path at occasions, and Lundgren isn’t half dangerous as this model of Frank Fortress. We want it didn’t appear so determined to distance itself from the comics, but it surely a minimum of has an easy, coherent story. That is satisfactory as a mid-tier 80s motion movie.
#1: The Unbelievable 4
Regardless of how foolish and low-cost this one is, it has an enthralling high quality that’s onerous to hate. As with all Corman films, he doesn’t deal with low-budget as the identical factor as low-cost. Given the standard of different Marvel films on the time, this can be a step above within the sense that it tries to not belittle itself an excessive amount of and has a enjoyable time with all of its brilliant, colourful, comedian guide issues. For a very long time this was one of the best Unbelievable 4 film, even towards the Fox movies and their a lot bigger budgets. It’s king of a budget Marvel period.
Marvel Chart
- Unbelievable 4 (1994)
- The Punisher (1989)
- Howard the Duck (1986)
- Captain America (1990)
