The Worst Performances in Marvel Movies

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It’s undeniable that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has delivered numerous impressive performances spanning more than 35 films. Given their longevity, which extends over a decade on both the big screen and TV, it’s hard to imagine that each actor in every movie within this franchise hasn’t given at least a decent performance.

However, it’s important to note that the top baseball player still strikes out about two times out of three. Similarly, among the gifted actors who traversed the Marvel timeline, several have given subpar performances compared to their work outside of the Marvel universe.

Some actors seemed out of place amidst the elaborate special effects and green screens of a high-budget movie set. Others opted for strange and disconcerting accents. In certain instances, the script or significant alterations to their character’s storyline in post-production also played a part. Regardless of the cause, the end result was subpar acting performances.

Today we’re examining the following performances, unfortunately, as they represent some of the poorest acting jobs ever seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Many of these are from movies that fans generally agree are among the worst in the MCU. It’s reasonable to expect this because poor films often feature subpar performances. However, a few of these lackluster performances can be found in otherwise well-liked Marvel movies as well. Just as the occasional failure is an unavoidable part of the universe, it seems that even Thanos couldn’t prevent the odd stinker from appearing.

The Worst Performances in Marvel Movies

Zawe Ashton, The Marvels

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I must acknowledge that portraying a complex character like Dar-Benn, the vengeful alien leader from Captain Marvel, would have presented a challenge even for the legendary Laurence Olivier. This character is essentially defined by her bitterness over the destruction of her home planet and her powerful cosmic bracelet. To be honest, she’s not particularly deep; she’s more like a cliché than a fully-fleshed out character.

However, despite Dar-Benn’s superficial and formulaic motivations in the film, Zawe Ashton managed to avoid falling into the trap of rehashing a stock character type we’ve seen numerous times in Marvel movies. She brought something unique to her performance, even if it was subtle and hidden beneath the layers of bitterness and vengeance.

Gemma Chan, Eternals

In the film “Eternals,” the tumultuous relationship between Gemma Chan’s character Sersi and Richard Madden’s Ikaris is intended to be the emotional heart, but their connection lacks the expected spark. Even in their highly anticipated love scene, which made headlines as a Marvel Studios first, the portrayal of intimacy was disappointingly devoid of life. (I’m struggling to find an explanation for this, and the best I can come up with is that perhaps ancient space gods like the Eternals are unfamiliar with romantic encounters?) The overall tone of “Eternals” might be best described as lifeless, and unfortunately, both performances from the lead actors leave something to be desired.

Russell Crowe, Thor: Love and Thunder

As a follower, I can’t help but draw parallels between the enduring tales of Thor, the Norse god, and the distinctive accent Russell Crowe used to portray Zeus in this movie. In time, stories will be told about it, with some finding it hard to believe it was real. It seems that Crowe was determined to embody Zeus with a broad Greek accent, despite director Taika Waititi’s initial reservations. To ensure flexibility, Crowe recorded his scenes twice: once with the eccentric Greek accent and once using a more conventional British tone. According to an interview, test audiences appreciated the Greek accent, and Waititi expressed satisfaction with the final product. While I respect his viewpoint, I found Crowe’s accent performance so over-the-top that it made the Cheezborger! Cheezborger! characters from the old Saturday Night Live sketch appear remarkably understated by comparison.

Christopher Eccleston, Thor: The Dark World

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but express my disappointment with “Thor: The Dark World.” Often criticized as one of the weaker entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this film suffers from a notably underdeveloped villain. Malekith, the Dark Elf antagonist who seeks an Infinity Stone, might be Thor’s adversary, but he fails to captivate audiences like other villains in the franchise.

If watching the movie felt tedious for you, just imagine the ordeal it must have been for those involved in its production. Christopher Eccleston, who portrayed Malekith, was so disenchanted with the entire experience that he likened it to pointing a gun at his own mouth. In an interview with The Guardian, Eccleston admitted, “I really paid for being a whore during those times.” It seems the audience wasn’t alone in their feelings of frustration.

Richard Madden, Eternals

As a passionate cinephile, I must confess that in Marvel’s Eternals, the character Ikaris appears to be the bravest and most steadfast hero on the team. However, beneath this brave facade lies a betrayer, working covertly against his comrades to facilitate the birth of a Celestial child, which would ultimately lead to the destruction of all life on Earth.

Even the archetype of the secret villain can be revitalized by outstanding acting; but unfortunately, Richard Madden’s portrayal of Ikaris seems more like a lifeless statue capable of shooting laser beams. One might speculate that this character’s wooden performance was perhaps an intentional choice that ultimately failed to resonate effectively?

In the matter of mere five scenes, Ikaris attempts to thwart his teammates, kills one in a flashback, then decides to assist them, only to end his own life by crashing into the sun. Throughout these scenes, Madden’s expression remains as unchanging as the stone statue he portrayed. And to add to my disappointment, there was no evident chemistry between him and Gemma Chan. No spoiler alert is required for this observation, as it’s painfully obvious.

Guy Pearce, Iron Man 3

Some enthusiasts of Marvel Comics were upset that filmmaker Shane Black transformed the character who seemed to be the MCU’s Mandarin, Iron Man’s main villain in the comics, into a laughable buffoon, an unemployed actor portraying a loosely Middle Eastern terrorist stereotype. I found this an intelligent twist; why not surprise the audience by presenting them with something they least anticipate? The larger issue was the genuine Mandarin, played by Guy Pearce, was exactly what we had come to expect from past Iron Man villains: A money-grubbing capitalist seeking revenge on Tony Stark for thwarting his plans. Additionally, instead of one of the comic’s intriguing Mandarin designs, they made Pearce’s Mandarin a muscular man in trousers with grotesque chest tattoos. Despite being one of my favorite actors, it seems like Pearce himself is expressing his discontent through those poorly designed tattoos.

Bill Murray, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

As a film critic, I found myself questioning whether Bill Murray has ever watched a Marvel movie in his entire life. His portrayal of the character Krylar in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was so far removed from the Marvel Universe that it felt like he was an alien who stumbled onto the set by mistake, rather than a resident of the Quantum Realm as the storyline suggests. Murray’s performance was more reminiscent of a quirky, flirtatious oddball than a crucial character in the film.

After a brief appearance on screen, Krylar mysteriously disappeared from the movie without any explanation. This left me wondering if there were other scenes involving Krylar that were edited out due to their irrelevance or because Murray didn’t quite grasp the role he was supposed to play. In any case, it seems unlikely that we will be seeing Krylar return for Ant-Man 4: No, But This Time He Gets Really Small.

Will Poulter, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

In the cast of “Guardians” Volume 3, the character generating the most buzz and media attention – if we’re measuring “major” in terms of anticipation – was Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter. Known for his exceptional performances, fans expected a significant role for Warlock, given his pivotal position in Marvel’s comics, particularly during the original “Infinity Gauntlet” series. However, comic book enthusiasts hoping for Warlock to shine were left underwhelmed as he was relegated to a minor character in “Guardians Vol. 3”, primarily serving as a humorous prop and, unfortunately, not delivering many laughs due to his somewhat unclear portrayal by Poulter.

Mickey Rourke, Iron Man 2

Mickey Rourke leveraged his career resurgence and Oscar nomination from “The Wrestler” to land the prominent role of Whiplash in “Iron Man 2”. However, the profound psychological depth and somber melancholy he embodied as Randy the Ram were noticeably absent when Rourke appeared as Whiplash. This character was marked by a exaggerated Russian accent, numerous quirks, and a fondness for birds, which seemed more like a caricature than a complex villain. Despite Whiplash’s alleged hatred towards Tony Stark’s father for stealing the original arc reactor idea, Rourke portrayed his quest for revenge with about as much emotional intensity as someone awakening from a long nap.

Sylvester Stallone, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

In his time at Marvel Studios, James Gunn directed some outstanding performances across the entire MCU, including both human and raccoon actors. However, occasionally, the secondary or even tertiary characters in the Guardians films seemed like they were added just for the sake of inclusion, such as Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock. For instance, Guardians Vol. 2 introduced an entirely new team of Guardians without a clear purpose other than their comic book existence, including Sylvester Stallone as Starhawk. One might wonder what Rocky Balboa was doing in outer space and how he contributed to the film. Like Bill Murray’s appearance in Quantumania, Stallone’s recognizable face amidst a fantastical cosmic journey felt more distracting than enriching. This cameo embodied the concept of “more is less.

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The Weirdest Marvel Comics Ever Published

2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking science-fiction film sparked a peculiar Jack Kirby comic book series with the same title. The comic adapted elements from the movie such as the Monolith and early man’s encounter with tools and aggression, but added unique twists and distinctively surreal visuals by Kirby. In later editions, the character Machine Man appeared, who was not present in the original 2001 movie, yet has remained a part of Marvel’s ongoing storyline.

The Champions

In the 1970s, Marvel assembled an unusual team consisting of Ghost Rider, Hercules, Black Widow, Iceman, and Angel from X-Men. There wasn’t any significant connection between these characters, but Marvel felt like they would make a good fit for a team book at that time. The reasons behind this specific lineup differ depending on who you ask, but in one version of events, writer Tony Isabella primarily wanted to focus on Angel and Iceman, yet his editors insisted he include a female character, a strong male figure, and at least one superhero with an ongoing series – which resulted in the addition of the other three members. Unfortunately, this team never really took off, or found a solid reason for their existence within the Marvel universe, and the book was discontinued after 17 issues.

Fast forward to the mid-2010s, Marvel introduced a new group called the Champions – this time a team of teenage superheroes with no connection to the original one.

Coneheads

Originating from France, they were featured in their inaugural issue filled with humor! In this miniseries, titled “First Flark-Filled Issue!”, the Coneheads received a Marvel Comic. Unlike an adaptation of the 1993 movie, this comic series served as a continuation of the story for characters Beldar and Prymaat Conehead, functioning as a pseudo-sequel to the film. It’s uncertain if there was immense demand for serialized comics featuring the Coneheads, but they indeed received one, at least for several months.

Deadpool Corps

As Deadpool grew more prominent in Marvel comics, they started featuring him in various titles, some quite unusual. “Deadpool Corps” resembles the animated film “Into the Spider-Verse,” but with Deadpool replacing Spider-Man. In this series, multiple versions of Deadpool from different universes join forces for a critical mission. The team consists of Deadpool, Lady Deadpool, Pandapool, Dogpool, Kidpool, and Grootpool. I didn’t invent those nicknames myself.

As the popularity of Deadpool soared in Marvel’s collection of characters, they began to incorporate him into a variety of titles, some rather peculiar. “Deadpool Corps” is similar to “Into the Spider-Verse,” except it features Deadpool instead of Spider-Man. In this comic, various iterations of Deadpool from across the multiverse unite for an extremely significant objective. The members include Deadpool, Lady Deadpool, Pandapool, Dogpool, Kidpool, and Grootpool. I didn’t create those nicknames myself.

Fantastic Force

In the ’90s, the comic “Fantastic Four” experienced a slight decline in sales. To boost its popularity, the editors introduced shocking events like Mr. Fantastic’s death, but these constant changes sparked rumors about Marvel planning to replace it with “Fantastic Force.” Interestingly, Marvel didn’t have such plans initially, but the buzz around this rumor intrigued them. Instead of canceling “Fantastic Four,” they decided to create a spinoff titled “Fantastic Force,” featuring Franklin Richards, the grown-up son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, as the leader of an unconventional superhero team. However, despite appearances by the original FF and Black Panther, the comic didn’t gain traction. This is perhaps due to the anticipation surrounding a book that would supposedly replace “Fantastic Four.” Yet, it’s important to note that “Fantastic Four” was never canceled, and the Fantastic Force team were essentially unknown characters, though I must apologize to the many Devlor fans out there.

Franken-Castle

In Marvel comics, the Punisher is one of the most believable characters, yet his storyline has taken some unexpected turns. During a peculiar phase in his career, the Punisher was killed and dismembered by Daken, Wolverine’s wicked son (Did you know Wolverine has an evil son? It’s true!). After being stitched back together and brought back to life, he became “Franken-Castle,” a monster similar to Frankenstein’s creation who continued his crusade against evil with aid from various supernatural beings. The Punisher will make additional appearances on this list as well.

Hulkverines!

In the initial edition of “Hulkverines”, the cover succinctly presents the premise: “Hulk combined with Wolverine equals Weapon H.” The title is followed by the remark, “(Come on, you know you love it)”, suggesting an acceptance of the absurdity of this idea. Over three issues, these two characters clashed against a being that possessed their unique powers. Regrettably, we never saw a follow-up series, “Wolverulks”.

Marvel Apes

In the mid-2000s, the success of the Marvel Zombies franchise was so immense that the company contemplated expanding the idea by considering what other kinds of beings they could transform their superheroes into. This line of thought led to the creation of Marvel Apes, a story set in an alternate reality that combines elements of Marvel and Planet of the Apes. In this world, apes rule the Earth, some of which possess abilities similar to those in the Marvel Universe. Naturally, these heroes are referred to as the Ape-Vengers. Although it didn’t achieve the same level of popularity as Marvel Zombies (can you imagine that?!?), it did manage to produce at least one sequel book, where the characters interacted with the Marvel Zombies.

No-Prize Book

For several decades, Marvel has been rewarding fans who found inconsistencies in their comics and provided creative solutions for these discrepancies with something called “No-Prizes.” These rewards were essentially empty envelopes, hence the name. By the early 1980s, the No-Prize had gained such renown within Marvel lore that it even starred in its own comic, showcasing some of the company’s most notable errors. Unlike other companies who might try to hide their mistakes, Marvel capitalized on them by selling a comic filled with blunders to their readers.

Marvel: The Lost Generation

The peculiar character depicted on the cover is merely a minor aspect of the unusual nature of “Marvel: The Lost Generation,” a 12-part miniseries published in the early 2000s. Although the premise wasn’t entirely bizarre, the series claimed to chronicle the escapades of a group of forgotten heroes who safeguarded the Marvel Universe during the period between World War II and the Silver Age.

What made this series peculiar was its narrative structure. The issues were published backwards, with the final issue (#12) appearing first in stores, followed by #11, #10, and so on. The storyline itself unfolded out of sequence; the last (first) issue depicted the characters’ downfalls, followed by a journey back in time to their earliest days. This is an intriguing endeavor, but the fact that Marvel has not revisited this concept since then suggests it may not have been met with great enthusiasm.

Marville

If you’re not familiar with Bill Jemas, it suggests that you might have missed out on Marvel Comics during the 2000s. During that time, Jemas held a significant role as the company’s executive vice president and was quite noticeable in their promotional materials. One of his more unusual attempts to boost the company’s profile was a stunt called “U-Decide.” In this, Marvel published three distinct books: a new Captain Marvel, a series titled Ultimate Adventures, and a third book authored by Jemas himself named Marville. The sales determined which would continue as an ongoing series. Unfortunately, Jemas’ Marville was nearly incomprehensible; it combined satire, industry jokes, and shameless cheesecake. It ran for only six issues before becoming infamous.

Mort the Dead Teenager

Title of this book, “Mort the Dead Teenager,” is not symbolic or figurative; it’s a grimly humorous tale about a youth named Mort who perishes but comes back to life as an undead entity, possessing a few vague supernatural abilities. (For instance, he can separate his head since he was beheaded in the accident that claimed his life.) Despite the oddity of “Mort the Dead Teenager,” here’s something even more astonishing: A film adaptation nearly came to fruition many years before “Iron Man” and “The Avengers” – with Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino both being involved in different phases during its protracted and unsuccessful production process.

NFL SuperPro

Indeed, NFL SuperPro – a unique superhero character derived from a sports league – was known for his outlandish costume that resembled an enhanced football uniform. He teamed up with heroes like Spider-Man and Captain America to combat crime. The villains in this series included Quick Kick, a transformed field-goal kicker who gained ninja skills, and Instant Replay, possessing the ability to travel through time. It might astound you to learn that NFL SuperPro is often criticized as one of Marvel’s most disappointing publications.

Obnoxio the Clown

Lo and behold, what you see isn’t an illusion. It’s the X-Men going head-to-head against a fellow named Obnoxio the Clown. This character was initially designed as Marvel’s version of Alfred E. Neuman for their satirical magazine, Crazy. Following the cancellation of this magazine in 1983, Obnoxio finally got his chance to shine in the limelight of comic books. His debut was a one-off story where he crossed paths (and even teamed up) with the X-Men. The selling power of the X-Men’s comics was never challenged as fiercely as it was here.

The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe

In this grim and exceptionally violent comic book, the narrative unfolds as if it were the grimmest “What If…?” tale imaginable. The story revolves around Frank Castle, whose family is tragically killed during a skirmish between superheroes. Rather than pursuing vengeance against the mafia, this Punisher embarks on a mission to eliminate the Avengers, X-Men, and other costumed figures. Remarkably, he manages to accomplish this gruesome task in most instances. This comic is unique as it eliminates virtually every hero within the Marvel Universe, a rarity that has contributed to its cult status over the years.

The Punisher Meets Archie

At the complete opposite spectrum from “The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe” lies “The Punisher Meets Archie”, an outlandish idea for an intercompany crossover that Marvel has ever produced. In this story, the Punisher tracks a drug smuggler to Riverdale, where he unexpectedly teams up with Archie and his friends. The book turned out to be a surprise success, partly due to its unique and creative art; “Archie” penciler Stan Goldberg drew the Riverdale characters while Marvel’s John Buscema handled the Punisher. Despite its seemingly contradictory premise, it was a hit and served as the inspiration for several more odd “Archie” crossovers throughout the years, such as the legendary “Archie vs. Predator”.

Star Trek / X-Men

Talking about unusual combinations, a few years following Archie’s collaboration in crime-fighting with the Punisher, the X-Men mysteriously found themselves in space, in the future, where they joined the Starship Enterprise crew, encountering Kirk, Bones, and Spock. During this journey, they faced a creature that bore traits of both the Star Trek character Gary Mitchell and the X-Men villain Proteus. Marvel held the Star Trek license for a brief period, but during that time, they also produced a crossover between the X-Men and the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew. Can you imagine if Jean-Luc Picard recognized his striking similarity to Professor X?

Steeltown Rockers

As a die-hard Marvel fan, I stumbled upon an unusual comic titled “Steeltown Rockers” that stands out from the usual superhero tales. Unlike the typical Marvel universe filled with iconic characters and superhumans, this one is a heartwarming story about a small-town rock band. To this day, it remains an intriguing anomaly in their collection, offering a refreshing change of pace.

U.S. 1

In the early ’80s, Marvel fans united in request for a series centered around a tenacious superhero trucker. Marvel complied with the release of U.S. 1, an enigmatic series inspired by toy trucks, following the escapades of Ulysses Solomon Archer (a nod to USA). What made this series even more peculiar was the inclusion of rare artwork from the elusive Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, who returned to Marvel in the ’80s.

WCW World Championship Wrestling

The vibrant characters and dramatic storylines found in professional wrestling share similarities with comic books. Consequently, different publishers have attempted to blend the two mediums over time. However, none of these attempts were particularly successful, and some border on the bizarre. Marvel Comics’ foray into this genre, titled WCW World Championship Wrestling, is difficult to explain – it’s something you just need to experience to understand its surreal insanity (Yes, you genuinely need to immerse yourself in its raw absurdity).

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2025-05-01 23:57