Over the past 17 years, Marvel Studios has constructed a grand tale across their film series, although some films may not be indispensable to the broader plotline. Marvel’s triumph rests on intricately connected storytelling, and fans are well-versed in understanding how the numerous MCU movies interlink, forming an epic journey that keeps growing.
Among the 36 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies released in theaters so far, six of them are not absolutely necessary to follow the main storyline. Even though interconnected stories remain crucial for the MCU, as demonstrated by the latest theatrical release, “Thunderbolts*“, some viewers might prefer to start with a smaller number of projects. These particular films don’t contribute as significantly to the overall narrative compared to others.
Marvel Studios’ 6 Least Essential MCU Movies (Release Order)
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Following Iron Man, the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was The Incredible Hulk, featuring Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, and the late William Hurt as General Thunderbolt Ross. Despite earning $265 million at the box office, it remains the second-lowest-grossing MCU film, and is often considered one of the less well-received Marvel movies.
Regrettably, the plotlines from The Incredible Hulk haven’t had a significant influence on the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe narrative. This is made more noticeable because Edward Norton portrayed the Hulk only in this movie, as he was swapped out for Mark Ruffalo in 2012’s The Avengers; since then, Ruffalo has taken on the role in a total of 10 live-action and animated productions.
Furthermore, Thunderbolt Ross, a character who takes on roles as Secretary of State and later President of the United States, is unique among those from this film in appearing in multiple other movies. Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross and Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns also reappear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but not until 2025’s “Captain America: Brave New World.
While the backstory of the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is thrilling, the storylines from the movie “The Incredible Hulk” aren’t essential to understanding the bigger picture.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
In 2013, Iron Man 3 made a massive impact at the box office, earning $1.2 billion and continuing to be one of the top eight highest-grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. The movie, which features Tony Stark’s struggle against a fictional Mandarin and Aldrich Killian, has gained even more favor among fans due to its thoughtful portrayal of mental health issues and trauma over time.
What makes Iron Man 3 less essential to watch for the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that it focuses mostly on its own storyline, with only brief references to its events popping up in other movies over the next decade.
As a dedicated Marvel fan, I can’t help but point out that Sir Ben Kingsley’s character, Trevor Slattery, makes his reappearance in the MCU not until 2021’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”. However, as we delve deeper into the Marvel universe, Trevor might just elevate the significance of “Iron Man 3” in retrospect (given his upcoming role in 2025’s “Wonder Man”). For now, though, “Iron Man 3” remains a standalone tale in the grand scheme of Marvel Studios’ storytelling.
Eternals (2021)
In a challenging period for Marvel Studios, the film “Eternals” was unveiled in 2021 amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and an ensemble of fresh talent. Despite receiving mixed criticism, it managed to gross approximately $400 million worldwide, making it one of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s more distinctive productions (and also one of their costliest films).
It’s worth noting that among all Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies, Eternals might be seen as the one with the least connections to the larger franchise, given that none of its characters have appeared or been mentioned in any other film since its release four years ago. Apart from a few subtle references to Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and Captain America, Eternals did not heavily draw upon elements from its fellow MCU productions.
Essentially, if the movie “Eternals” had never been produced, not many movies from the future would have significant changes outside of 2025’s “Captain America: Brave New World,” which incorporated a deceased Celestial in the Indian Ocean. Other than that, the film is seldom remembered when it comes to linking the MCU together.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
In a somewhat contentious move within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Thor: Love and Thunder” hit the screens last year, starring Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Christian Bale portraying Gorr, and Tessa Thompson reprising her role as Valkyrie. Despite receiving largely unfavorable reviews in 2022, this fourth installment of the “Thor” series managed to turn a profit for Marvel Studios by raking in an impressive $760 million at the box office.
In much the same fashion as many entries on this list, the storyline of “Love and Thunder” primarily revolves around Thor and Jane Foster’s mission to vanquish Gorr, the God Butcher, and protect Asgard’s offspring. There are only fleeting allusions to previous “Thor” films, and with the exception of Easter eggs for characters within the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe, no significant movies outside of this context are explicitly mentioned or referenced.
In the movie “Avengers: Doomsday,” it appears that the battle between Jane Foster, Thor, and Gorr takes a secondary role in the overall storyline, with their fight seeming more like a side note compared to the main plot.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
After the release of Ant-Man 3, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 delivered one of Marvel’s finest films yet for fans, with Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord and the entire Guardians team shining brightly. The film garnered exceptional praise everywhere as the Guardians faced off against the High Evolutionary before going their own ways. At the box office, it made $846 million, placing it between its two earlier installments.
In essence, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 largely stood alone within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), scarcely referencing previous films except for subtle links to Avengers: Endgame. The storyline predominantly took place in fresh locations and introduced new characters who had no connections to the MCU’s earlier phases, with barely any scenes set on Earth, save for a brief scene at the movie’s end.
Among all the entries on this list, this one is the least surprising because the Guardians trilogy has generally functioned separately from the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with the exceptions of Infinity War and Endgame. Its main objective was to provide a grand farewell for its primary cast after their significant contributions to the MCU’s success, an objective it achieved independently, without relying on other parts of the franchise to bolster it.
Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
Captain America: Brave New World,” which marked Marvel Studios’ upcoming lineup in 2025, featured Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, and Harrison Ford as Thunderbolt Ross. The movie focused on Mackie’s initial solo adventure as Captain America and his mission to rebuild the Avengers. Unfortunately, the film didn’t live up to Marvel’s standards, garnering mostly mediocre reviews from critics and earning a total of $413 million worldwide at the box office.
Reflecting on Marvel Cinematic Universe’s timeline, I found that Captain America 4 seems to revisit many of the same themes and narrative arcs explored in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where Sam embarked on his transformation into Captain America. It shares similar motifs and interwoven storylines, albeit with different characters, and while it introduced Adamantium to the MCU, its impact on the grand scheme of things was relatively minor.
Moving forward, the upcoming movie titled “Avengers: Doomsday” is anticipated to begin with Sam’s newly formed Avengers group already in place, making it a film that can largely be skipped over, except for some minor details. However, these small details can easily be caught up on without much hassle, which might not bode well for “Captain America 4” as it strives to maintain its importance within the Marvel Studios project lineup.
Honorable Mentions
Captain Marvel (2019)
2019’s “Captain Marvel” was undeniably one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s more contentious releases, gracing our screens with the captivating performances of Brie Larson (our fearless Captain Marvel), Samuel L. Jackson (ever-reliable Nick Fury), Ben Mendelsohn (the enigmatic Talos), and Jude Law (the formidable Yon-Rogg). The film elicited a myriad of reactions from fans, spanning the spectrum from adoration to constructive criticism. Despite this wide range of opinions, it managed to generate a staggering gross revenue of over $1.1 billion worldwide, placing it just outside the top 10 highest-grossing MCU films in history.
As a film enthusiast, I’d say that, much like other movies on this list, my experience watching Captain Marvel doesn’t significantly alter events in other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, given its prequel status. Set predominantly in the mid-1990s, it’s nearly a quarter of a century away from most MCU timeline happenings, making it quite distinct from the rest.
The movie serves primarily to introduce Carol Danvers (before her appearance in Avengers: Endgame, which followed about two months later). However, it’s not part of the main list because several other MCU projects have plotlines interconnected with this film, including WandaVision, The Marvels, Ms. Marvel, and Secret Invasion. Most of these connections can be understood without watching Captain Marvel first.
Even though the upcoming sequel of this film, “The Marvels,” introduces multiple storylines related to the Multiverse, most of Captain Marvel’s influence on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) can be understood by analyzing other MCU films.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
2019 marked the conclusion of the Infinity Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with “Spider-Man: Far From Home”, which was Tom Holland’s second standalone Spiderman film. Joining forces with Zendaya (as Michelle Jones), Samuel L. Jackson (as Nick Fury), and Jake Gyllenhaal (portraying Mysterio), this movie became Marvel’s third billion-dollar success of the year, raking in over $1.1 billion (ranked 10th highest in MCU history) and receiving generally favorable reviews.
In the finale of the movie, there’s a surprising twist when Peter Parker’s true identity is unmasked. However, “Far From Home” stands as an independent tale within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It utilizes Tony Stark’s demise in “Avengers: Endgame” as a subplot, while primarily concentrating on Peter Parker’s European trip that transforms into a fight against Mysterio.
In other movies, Mysterio’s final maneuver wasn’t repeated until the beginning of Spider-Man: No Way Home. The main tale didn’t influence events before or after the Infinity Saga.
No Way Home’s opening scene. The primary narrative had no bearing on what happened prior to or post the Infinity Saga.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The significance of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) cannot be overemphasized. In 2021, it emerged as a massive box office success starring Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire. It is not only among the best-reviewed movies in the MCU but also holds the title of the highest-grossing solo superhero film ever ($1.9 billion), surpassed only by “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”.
Despite introducing the idea of the Multiverse and reintroducing five villains from previous Spider-Man films, the storyline of “No Way Home” remains self-contained within its movie duration. There are only minor references to Spider-Man in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and a glimpse at the new Statue of Liberty in “The Marvels”, but otherwise, this particular adventure doesn’t affect any other movies in the series.
As a die-hard fan of superhero movies, let me tell you, “No Way Home” is essentially my Peter Parker coming-of-age story. This film marks the culmination of his transformation into the ultimate Spider-Man, with this key aspect serving as the cornerstone of the plotline. Although I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a reunion with the other two Spidey guys in future films, at this point, “No Way Home” doesn’t have a profound impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe just yet.
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” marks the third standalone film in the Ant-Man series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Starring Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Wasp, Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, and Jonathan Majors portraying Kang the Conqueror. Despite a blend of positive and negative opinions from critics, it wrapped up its cinematic journey with a relatively modest $476 million at the box office, making it the least successful film in the trilogy.
Previously, “Ant-Man 3” had been planned as a crucial part of the Multiverse Saga and the larger MCU, with Jonathan Majors’ Kang being slated as the villain for the subsequent Avengers films. However, due to Majors being arrested, tried, and convicted for reckless assault and harassment charges, his employment with Marvel Studios came to an end following “Loki” Season 2.
As a devoted Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) enthusiast, I must say that the trajectory of the MCU took an unexpected turn when it was announced that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom would replace Kang as the main antagonist in the Multiverse Saga. Initially, this movie was highly anticipated as a significant part of the broader MCU narrative. However, these alterations significantly reshaped the landscape, causing some fans to view Ant-Man 3 as somewhat of an afterthought.
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2025-06-04 00:09