Over the MCU And the larger world of Marvel movies, there were plenty of underrated performances that deserve more credit. While the MCU movies may have brought Marvel characters to a higher level of prominence than ever before, the history of Marvel movies goes much deeper than just one franchise. Over multiple franchises and continuities spanning several decades, Marvel movies have brought a plethora of comic book heroes to life on the big screen.
The MCU’s movie timeline alone has featured countless great performances, but there are many examples of great acting in Marvel movies that are often overlooked. The reasons for this are often complex and not a reflection of the audience’s appreciation of the character, but rather evidence that even the best performances can go a little unnoticed in a genre that is often packed with larger-than-life action. Here are 10 underrated Marvel movie performances that don’t get enough credit.
10
Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler
First Appearance: X2 (2003)
Despite their less than stellar reputation, Fox’s X-Men Movies helped pave the way for modern superhero cinema, and one particular performance in the franchise’s earlier days is especially underrated. X2The 2003 sequel to 2000’s X-MenIntroduced a handful of new mutants to the big screen, including the blue-skinned teleporter Nightcrawler. Over two decades later, Alan Cumming’s performance as Nightcrawler still stands out as the most underrated in Fox’s original trilogy of X-Men Movies.
Cumming’s performance brought Nightcrawler to life in live-action in a way that very few people would have considered possible. It’s not just that the effects hold up remarkably well, but also that The depth Cumming was able to imbue his performance with Nightcrawler felt incredibly substantial Despite limited screentime. Even alongside some of the most celebrated actors in the world, Cumming’s performance stands out, and it certainly doesn’t get enough credit.
9
Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Although several actors have played Spider-Man in live-action, one in particular stands out as the most underrated. Andrew Garfield first appeared in the role in 2012 The Amazing Spider-ManAnd played it for just two short years before the role was recast for the MCU. Despite undergoing a more favorable reappraisal in the years since, Garfield’s performances in The Amazing Spider-Man And its sequels are still incredibly underrated in some ways.
Comparing Garfield with the other two modern Spider-Man actors, it is clear that he has the balance of the two. He perfectly delivers comedic quips while also communicating an air of deep-seated tragic drama, encapsulating the spirit of the character With a detailed strong performance. Considering the huge success of the MCU and the beloved status of Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy, it’s fair to say that Garfield’s own performance seems distinctly overlooked in comparison.
8
Josh Brolin as Cable
First appearance: Deadpool 2 (2018)
When it comes to the members of the X-Men to appear in live-action, Cable has never been at the forefront of Fox’s franchise. The character made his first live-action appearance in 2018 Deadpool 2Played by Josh Brolin. While the film adaptation of the hero may not have been perfect by some standards, Brolin’s performance was one that did Deadpool 2s cable the film’s true star.
Brolin’s growling dialogue and grouchy demeanor throughout his performance give the film some much-needed consistency. The actor’s approach to the role evoked the cable of the 90s: The edgy, deadly mutant time traveler with a tragic past and deeply conflicted sensibilities. It’s something Brolin brought to life so incredibly well, and considering he was forced to take a back seat to Ryan Reynolds’ fast-talking Deadpool, Brolin’s cable deserves much greater recognition.
7
Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Emma Stone has delivered many incredible performances in her career, and although Gwen Stacy is not often listed among them, it deserves to be. Starring in both The Amazing Spider-Man And The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Along with Andrew Garfield, Stone’s performance as the hero’s main love interest was one of the franchise’s greatest strengths. The chemistry between the two actors was excellent, and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy stands out as the best live-action version of the character to date.
In her performance, Emma Stone captures both the strength and the vulnerability of Gwen. She is both Peter’s greatest supporter and most honest critic, and She manages to become the voice of reason without ever seeming inorganic To the world of the franchise. Stone’s impressive acting talent is generally known, but her role as Gwen Stacy is often overlooked when it comes to incredible performances in Marvel movies.
6
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes
First Appearance: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
It’s no secret that Bucky Barnes’ MCU story has been one of the franchise’s most tragic. His transition from Steve Rogers’ caring best friend to brainwashed supervillain and eventually to a reformed hero was filled with twists and turns, even though Bucky was never really more than a supporting character in the franchise. Even so, Sebastian Stan deserves much more credit than he gets for his performance as Bucky.
The range that Stan has to show in a relatively small amount of screen time is noteworthy on its own, but the depth of Bucky as a character goes beyond that. Sebastian Stan had an incredibly fine line to perfectly establish Bucky’s tentative place in the MCU, and he consistently delivered. With every appearance. Compared to the praise of some of his co-stars, it’s only fair to consider Sebastian Stan one of the MCU’s most underrated actors.
5
Chris Pratt as star-lord
First Appearance: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
It’s all too easy to dismiss Star-Lord as one of the MCU’s silliest heroes, thanks in no small part to James Gunn’s overall comedy. Guardians of the Galaxy Trilogy. However, closer inspection reveals Peter Quill to be one of the franchise’s most complex figures, especially where it relates to his place as a hero. With Terran roots and semi-celestial physiology, the characterization of Star-Lord is far from simple, and this is very subtly communicated by Chris Pratt’s performance.
Pratt’s comedic abilities are generally brought to a peak in his MCU appearances, but every and Every performance he has given in the franchise is layered with so much more. There’s a deep-rooted pathos to the character that Pratt is good at, and he’s just as at home delivering dramatic or emotional scenes as he is comedic or action-based. As such, Chris Pratt is another Marvel movie actor whose performance deserves much more credit.
4
Karen Gillan as Nebula
First Appearance: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Despite boasting one of the most interesting character arcs in the entire MCU, Nebula is constantly overlooked among the heroes of the franchise. Her journey from ​​being a villain to becoming a prickly hero has been excellently handled throughout various movies, and this has helped give Nebula a deeply interesting backstory and a decidedly sympathetic aspect. What’s more, Karen Gillan’s performance in the role was absolutely stellar from her first appearance.
As Gillan plays the role buried and under makeup and prosthetics, it’s remarkable that she’s able to put so much personality into a decidedly non-human character. The physicality Gillan brings has become a key part of Nebula’s characterization In the MCU, as well as the robotic mannerism and deadpan delivery of dark comedic lines. Again, Gillan is rarely as praised for her MCU role as some of her co-stars, which makes her seem incredibly underrated.
3
Evan Peters as Quicksilver
First Appearance: X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014)
The timeline of Evan Peters’ Quicksilver is interesting, especially since he’s one of Fox’s few characters. X-Men franchise to have repaired in the MCU. Peters’ stint at Fox’s X-Men Prequels, starting with 2014s Days of Future PastDelivered one of the best interpretations of the character to date. Despite the creative license taken with the character, Evan Peters’ performance remains one of the most underrated aspects of Fox’s prequel movies.
Peters is able to imbue his performance with an irritable but lovable energy. The frenetic nature of the character is somewhat dull, and Quicksilver is instead effortlessly cool, utilizing Peters’ ability to use his own charm and charisma while also delivering a nuanced emotional performance. Evan Peters’ Quicksilver is one of only a handful of examples of things that the X-Men franchise was better than the MCU, and the actor deserves much more credit for that.
2
Michael Fassbender as Magneto
First appearance: X-Men: First Class (2011)
Michael Fassbender as Magneto is one of those incredibly rare examples of a time when an actor is perfect for a role. The actor’s German roots and unique acting talents work perfectly for the character of Magneto, and it’s hard to disagree with Fox’s choice of casting. Regardless, the brilliance of Fassbender’s performance as Magneto is often overlooked, and the actor deserves so much more credit than he gets.
Fassbender’s Magneto is constantly torn between loyalty to his friends and fellow mutants, and his burning desire for revenge that all too often tempts him into outright villainy. Magneto is one of the most complex X-Men characters there is, and Fassbender’s tortured performance as the emotional but calculating mutant is absolutely pitch-perfect. It’s hard to fathom exactly why Fassbender’s excellent turn as Magneto is so consistently underrated, as he stands out as such a compelling figure.
1
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff
First appearance: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Standing in the MCU is increasingly difficult for actors, as the pool of characters continues to grow with each new release. It’s hardly surprising that one or two excellent performances might fly under the radar, although just how Elizabeth Olsen can be so often overlooked is truly baffling. Olsen first appeared as Wanda Maximoff in Captain America: The Winter Soldiers post-credits scene, making her full debut in 2015s Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Elizabeth Olsen’s performance throughout Wanda’s MCU arc has many highs, contributing to an overall depth that most other heroes in the franchise simply don’t have. The unique blend of unimaginable power and inherent vulnerability required to play Wanda is something that Olsen makes look almost effortless, and it’s a huge part of what makes her such an incredible character in the franchise. For this reason, Elizabeth Olsen stands out as one of them MCUs most underrated performances.