Nowadays, Marvel stands out as a highly recognized brand across global pop culture. Their characters have achieved worldwide renown. It’s quite rare to find someone unaware of Spider-Man, the X-Men, or Iron Man on Earth.
In the timeframe spanning Marvel’s emergence in the early 1960s until the establishment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the late 2000s, Marvel and its characters were rarely considered industry titans by Hollywood. Except perhaps for Juggernaut, who was always a force to be reckoned with. It took nearly half a century for Hollywood to truly appreciate the potential of Marvel’s vast roster of heroes. The attempts to bring these characters to life on screen during this period were often low-budget, lacked enthusiasm, or were incredibly low-budget. In contrast, the MCU and its constant stream of movies and shows have left a lasting impact, while many of these earlier films are now relegated to obscurity, joining Richard E. Grant’s Loki, that massive Giant-Man skeleton, and other forgotten pieces in the proverbial Void.
Today we’re delving into lesser-known areas of the Marvel cinematic multiverse. Unlike the forgotten Roger Corman version of Fantastic Four, these 12 movies found their way to audiences in various ways. Some were broadcast on TV, others sold on VHS tapes. A few even received full-blown theatrical releases! All are officially licensed and authorized Marvel adaptations. However, much like a powerful cosmic being erasing reality with a snap of his fingers, they’ve all become obscure, as if they never existed.
12 Marvel Movies You Forgot Existed
Captain America (1944)
For approximately 40 years, only Captain America from Marvel Comics was featured on the big screen, with his own series debuting in 1944. Interestingly, this version of Captain America wasn’t Steve Rogers but “Grant Gardner,” a dedicated district attorney. His origin story involving the Super-Soldier Serum and his iconic shield-throwing abilities were not part of this portrayal. Instead, Captain America combated “The Scarab,” a typical 1940s villain seeking out various high-tech plot devices, or MacGuffins. The first such device was a “thermodynamic vibration engine” capable of causing skyscrapers to crumble – though the characters referred to it repeatedly as a “vibrator.” Yes, they were referring to a machine, not the household item.
Spider-Man Strikes Back (1978)
The 1970s live-action TV series of Spider-Man was compiled into movies, which were screened in foreign theaters and released on VHS tapes during the early days of home video. One of these quickie films, titled “Spider-Man Strikes Back,” came second in a trilogy (with “Spider-Man” and “Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge” being the other two). In this movie, Spidey attempts to retrieve stolen plutonium from a group of arrogant graduate students who aim to demonstrate the simplicity of creating and detonating a nuclear bomb. Although it’s not necessary viewing, I find the ending appealing, as Spidey battles the villains in an old Western town with minimal reasoning behind the setting, likely due to easy access to a backlot.
The 1970s live-action Spider-Man TV series was combined into films and shown overseas in theaters, as well as released on VHS tapes when home video first became popular. One of these films, called “Spider-Man Strikes Back,” is the second installment in a trilogy (with “Spider-Man” and “Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge” being the other two). In this movie, Spidey tries to recover plutonium that was stolen by conceited graduate students who wanted to prove they could easily make a nuclear bomb. Although it’s not essential viewing, I appreciate the ending where Spidey fights the bad guys in an old Western town for reasons that seem to be related to easy backlot access.
Dr. Strange (1978)
In the past, long before Benedict Cumberbatch faced off with Dormammu, CBS (which was already broadcasting a Spider-Man series and a well-liked Incredible Hulk TV show) attempted to produce a Dr. Strange series. They developed a pilot featuring Peter Hooten as a unique take on Stephen Strange – this time a psychiatrist instead of a surgeon, who ascends to the role of Sorcerer Supreme (in this version, wearing more necklaces than Mr. T seems to be part of the job). Unfortunately, the pilot failed and a Dr. Strange show was never made. However, several years later, the pilot was released on VHS, making it the first Dr. Strange movie ever distributed for home viewing.
Captain America (1979)
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my disbelief – yes, you’re right, that indeed looks like Captain America. However, this fashion faux pas made its debut in a 1979 CBS movie where Steve Rogers, portrayed by Reb Brown, was transformed into a hero via a “super-steroid” and donned a suit of his own creation. This Cap spends an unusual amount of time cruising on a flashy motorcycle, so his uniform came equipped with an oversized bike helmet. To make matters worse, this guy already looked preposterous even before you saw what he was wearing from the neck down – a patriotic bodysuit adorned with red and white stripes along the sides, resembling a man in a blue turtleneck with a vest made out of the American flag. To add salt to the wound, the usually opaque segments of this Cap’s indestructible shield were transparent – because the shield also served as the windshield for his motorcycle. When this Captain America returned for a sequel film the following year, “Captain America II: Death Too Soon,” his costume was revamped to resemble the traditional Jack Kirby design (still featuring the large motorcycle helmet). By then, the harm had already been done.
Howard the Duck (1986)
Growing up, I recall that Howard the Duck was infamously maligned due to factors such as it being Marvel’s first big screen adaptation and hardcore fans of the comic disliking the movie. Over time, perhaps this negative image has softened a bit, given the proliferation of Marvel films today. The film no longer stands out quite so starkly, and its flaws seem less personally offensive, though it remains undeniably peculiar – after all, we’re talking about a human-duck love scene here!
The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989)
Five years following the conclusion of my favorite TV series, “The Incredible Hulk,” it was brought back to life through a series of TV films, later released on home video. These included “The Incredible Hulk Returns,” “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk,” and “The Death of the Incredible Hulk.” While these may not be as well-known today, I had the chance to watch them all on VHS during my youth.
“The Trial of the Incredible Hulk” holds a special place in memory because it marked Daredevil’s live-action TV debut, portrayed by Rex Smith. In an added bonus, Indiana Jones regular John Rhys-Davies played the Kingpin! While Daredevil’s costume in this film may not have been strictly comics accurate, it still serves as a fascinating snapshot of a time when Marvel blockbusters were merely a dream in Stan Lee’s mind.
Captain America (1990)
The 1990 low-budget Captain America film is a unique type of stupidity, characterized by the use of title cards like “WHITE HOUSE – WASHINGTON D.C.” without any hint of irony, even for almost identical shots later labeled as simply “WASHINGTON D.C.” The initial sequences set in the 1930s are acceptable, and surprisingly closer to the Captain America portrayal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe than one might assume. However, once Captain America wakes up in the early 1990s, the film’s quality plummets dramatically, reaching the cheapest and most synthesized musical score you can imagine. Matt Salinger’s costume for Cap is decent for the time, but he rarely wears it, instead spending a significant portion of the movie stealing cars by acting sickly, and then seizing control when the car owner steps out to check on him.
Generation X (1996)
In the ’90s, I was thrilled as Saturday mornings came alive with “X-Men: The Animated Series” on Fox. Eager to test Marvel’s mutants on the big screen, they ventured into a live-action spinoff titled “Generation X”. This comic series essentially reimagined “The New Mutants”, featuring veteran characters like Banshee and Emma Frost molding a new crop of mutant recruits. In this TV movie, both these iconic figures made an appearance alongside Jubilee, Skin, and Mondo.
However, fan favorites such as Chamber were absent due to the high cost associated with their elaborate powers. Instead, the production introduced fresh mutants like “Refrax” to fill the void. Regrettably, the pilot didn’t resonate well with viewers, and “Generation X” was ultimately canceled for good.
Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998)
Swap Samuel L. Jackson with David Hasselhoff, once renowned for his role in Baywatch, starred as Marvel’s super-spy in a TV movie. In contrast to the grandiose blockbusters that currently showcase Jackson’s Nick Fury, this TV movie was remarkably economical. The special effects (if you can call them that) resemble unfinished video game graphics. Sandra Hess, portraying the villainous Viper, dons a German accent so over-the-top it makes Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat sound like a genuine Kazakh. The storyline involves globe-trotting adventures as Fury and his team race to prevent the dissemination of a lethal new virus; however, no matter where S.H.I.E.L.D. travels (Berlin, New York, etc.), they always seem to find themselves in the same dilapidated factory filled with dimly lit corridors and catwalks shrouded in shadows. To describe Nick Fury as budget-friendly is an insult to moderately priced accommodations.
Man-Thing (2005)
The enigmatic character, Man-Thing, takes center stage in an unusual film production. Unlike typical leads, Man-Thing doesn’t utter a word and instead is a sentient mass of swamp matter. In the comic books, his unique attribute lies in causing people who fear him to burst into flames upon contact. Given these peculiarities, it’s no surprise that the movie version of Man-Thing has minimal screen time. The film primarily focuses on a sheriff probing a series of murders occurring in the swamplands. (Caution: There’s a spoiler ahead – Man-Thing does make an appearance, as long as the budget allows it.) Initially intended for theatrical release, the movie underperformed, leading Marvel to opt for a direct-to-cable premiere instead. The film premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2005.
Inhumans (2017)
* The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most criticized and disliked installment, “Inhumans,” was actually a television miniseries co-produced by Marvel and IMAX. IMAX contributed to the budget in exchange for premiering the first two episodes exclusively in their theaters.
* Unfortunately, these initial episodes flopped at the box office, partly because IMAX audiences expect grand spectacle and special effects from Marvel movies, while “Inhumans” was merely a high-budget television series. Additionally, the show itself was quite dull, which certainly didn’t help its cause. Anson Mount reprised his role as Black Bolt in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” giving “Inhumans” a slight boost in visibility. However, the impact was minimal.
Men in Black International (2019)
Essentially, the film “Men in Black” was initially inspired by a standalone comic series that eventually fell under the ownership of Malibu Comics, a smaller independent company. Later on, Malibu Comics was purchased by Marvel in 1994. This makes “Men in Black” one of the early films to showcase the surge of comic-book adaptations during the late ’90s, thanks to advancements in digital technology at that time. The original “Men in Black,” starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, is quite iconic, along with its two sequels. These movies are more widely recognized than the unsuccessful reboot from a few years back. Interestingly, this reboot features Chris Hemsworth, known for his role as Thor, and Tessa Thompson.
The 10 Best Franchises of the Last 10 Years (2016-2025)
10. Happy Death Day
Movie Titles: “Happy Death Day” (2017), “Happy Death Day 2U” (2019)
The idea of a character stuck in a repeating time loop is perfect for sequels, as each scene essentially becomes a new sequel. This could be why the slasher movie adaptation of the “Groundhog Day” concept, titled “Happy Death Day“, smoothly continued into the entertaining “Happy Death Day 2U.” Actress Jessica Rothe portrays Tree, a young woman who is forced to re-live the day of her murder repeatedly, unless she can uncover the identity of her masked killer and put a stop to him. In the second film, the time loops become even more intricate. “2U” also hints at a third film, but we’re still waiting for it after six long years. I hope they release that movie before my own personal time loop resets!
9. Bad Boys
8. Planet of the Apes
7. Mission: Impossible
Movies: Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023), and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)
While the Mission: Impossible series might not have ended on its highest note over the past decade, it did manage to release three blockbuster hits during that period. One of these was the outstanding Fallout. Even the less impressive installments in the franchise provided plenty of action; the biplane sequence in The Final Reckoning is arguably the best visual spectacle found in any of these films.
6. The Avengers
Discussing Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, let me remind you of two groundbreaking films: “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019). The former was a daring move to intertwine multiple ongoing franchises, along with an assortment of characters, into one colossal crossover film. Despite the risk, it turned out to be a success, and Marvel continued the experiment three more times. “Avengers: Endgame” served as a climactic finale that left audiences breathless, making it challenging for the studio to develop subsequent Avengers movies that can surpass its grandeur. Perhaps future sequels will manage to meet expectations, or else they may necessitate removing “The Avengers” from this list.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy
Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
While the Avengers films have been fantastic over the past decade, I personally found the Guardians of the Galaxy series to be superior. This is largely due to their smaller casts, which allowed writer/director James Gunn to delve deeper into his motley crew, particularly the complex and humorous character of Rocket Raccoon. From a one-dimensional oddball, Gunn has crafted Rocket into one of the most emotionally resonant heroes in the Marvel Universe.
The Guardians of the Galaxy movies have been my favorite among those released by Marvel over the past decade. This is primarily because their smaller casts gave director James Gunn more freedom to explore each character, especially the complex and funny Rocket Raccoon. What was once a one-dimensional character has now become one of the most emotionally moving characters in the entire Marvel Universe.
4. Knives Out
2019 marked the rebirth of an everlasting movie genre by Rian Johnson – the classic drawing-room mystery, featuring a star-studded cast of suspects questioned by the clever and peculiar detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig). This formula has already resulted in two exceptionally engaging detective films. The fourth, titled “Wake Up Dead Man,” is set to premiere on Netflix soon. Johnson expressed his intention to continue making “Knives Out” movies as long as Craig is willing to reprise the role. These films are so enjoyable that it remains a mystery to me why he would ever consider stopping.
3. Dune
Movies: Dune (2021), Dune: Part Two (2024)
In this context, while both films are part of the same story drawn from a single book, they can be considered distinct due to the production timeline. Director Denis Villeneuve filmed the first movie, released it, and subsequently received funding for the second installment. Both movies offer an impressive blend of science fiction, action, drama, world-building, stunning visuals, intricate costumes, and a captivating narrative, making them standouts in the franchise genre.
In addition to the elements mentioned above, Dune features Stellan Skarsgård adorned with disturbing prosthetics, submerged in a vat of black oil reminiscent of The X-Files’ mysterious substance – all adding to its allure.
2. The Spider-Verse
In the past decade, the Spider-Man series has been one of the comic book franchises that most successfully translated its source material to the big screen. The two films in the animated Spider-Verse saga, specifically, stood out due to their impressive team of directors, writers, and producers who delved deep into Marvel and Spider-Man comics for inspiration. They skillfully combined iconic characters with top-notch animation, stunning character designs, and clever dialogue.
While it’s up to personal preference, if you consider these Spider-Man movies as a whole from the last ten years, including those featuring Tom Holland, then they are certainly worth watching. Fans of Spider-Man are currently enjoying a golden age, particularly in terms of cinema.
1. John Wick
For the past ten years, the John Wick franchise has been unmatched in its success, producing four films that range from good to exceptional. Even the much-anticipated spinoff film Ballerina, which faced delays due to rumors of reshoots, did not disappoint when it finally hit theaters. The creators, director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves, are reportedly working on a fifth John Wick installment, but I must confess that I’m both excited and apprehensive about it. Given the exceptional run they’ve had over the past decade, it seems hard to believe they could surpass themselves once more. However, I felt the same way after watching John Wick: Chapter 3, so I’m glad to see you back, John. Long live your quest for revenge over the loss of your cherished puppy!
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2025-07-21 23:28