The Marvel Cinematic Universe reached its zenith in 2019 with the release of Avengers: Endgame, which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Earning over $2 billion at the worldwide box office, Endgame set a high bar that all future Marvel films have struggled to surpass.
As the MCU endeavors into the Multiverse Saga, the franchise has released ten films since Endgame. According to the box office aggregator The Numbers, some of these films have done quite well while others have fallen flat in the MCU's search for its next big hit.
10 Black Widow - $379,751,131
After a string of delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Widow finally hit theaters in 2021, marking the MCU's first theatrical release in Phase 4. The film acted as a swan song for Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff and ultimately earned $379 million at the worldwide box office.
Unfortunately, Black Widow didn't perform as well as other MCU movies, marking a lukewarm return to theaters for the franchise. However, unlike certain later films that disappointed financially, Black Widow had several good reasons for its shortcomings. Among these was an increased hesitancy on behalf of audiences to return to theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Black Widow received a day-and-date release on Disney+, driving down its box office and initiating a falling-out between Disney and Johansson.
9 Eternals - $401,731,759
Eternals is a part of Phase 4 of the MCU, with Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao stepping aboard to deliver one of the most unique films in the franchise. The film introduces the eponymous group of immortal beings who have been guiding Earth's development from the shadows for thousands of years. Eternals went on to earn just over $400 million worldwide.
Eternals is one of the lowest-earning films in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Released to lukewarm reviews from critics and audiences, the film simply didn't have the support it needed to become Marvel's next big success. The film's financial failings have cast doubt on whether the MCU will continue the Eternals' story in the future.
8 Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings - $432,224,634
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was the MCU's first superhero origin story in the Multiverse Saga. Starring Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, the film finally introduced the threat of the Mandarin, portrayed by Tony Leung, who was first teased in 2008's Iron Man. Shang-Chi went on to earn $432 million in the worldwide marketplace.
While Shang-Chi's box office was lower than many other Marvel movies, it also cost less to make. Moreover, the film actually surpassed expectations, going on to be considered a major success for the studio. Audience reactions to Shang-Chi's premiere film had wide ramifications on the MCU as a whole, with director Destin Daniel Cretton signing on for multiple projects, including a sequel, a Ten Rings spinoff, a Wonder Man Disney+ series, and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
7 Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania - $463,635,303
Released in early 2023, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was the first entry in Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film introduced one of the MCU's strongest characters and the villain of the Multiverse Saga, Kang the Conqueror, portrayed by Jonathan Majors. In its theatrical run, Quantumania earned a worldwide total of $463 million.
Given its larger-than-average budget of $236 million (via The Numbers), which doesn't include promotion or other studio expenses, Quantumania is considered a major box-office disappointment. The film's failure can largely be attributed to its poor reviews from critics and audiences, who failed to connect to Quantumania's characters and story. Intended to kick off Kang's reign in the MCU, Quantumania's failure is very concerning for the franchise's future.
6 Thor: Love And Thunder - $760,928,081
Thor: Love and Thunder is the fourth entry in Chris Hemsworth's solo MCU franchise. With Ragnarok director Taika Waititi returning, Love and Thunder also introduced Natalie Portman's Mighty Thor and Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher to the franchise. During its run, Love and Thunder earned a total of $760 million.
Thanks to its mixed reviews, Love and Thunder's box office story wasn't the success it should have been. The film managed to outearn the first two Thor movies but fell short of 2017's Ragnarok. Moreover, with an egregiously massive budget of $250 million (via The Numbers), Love and Thunder needed to earn far more than it did in order to be considered an unmitigated success.
5 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 - $837,909,022
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marked the final outing of James Gunn's eponymous team in the MCU. Facing off against Chukwudi Iwuji's High Evolutionary, the Guardians delivered an emotionally resonant third adventure that remains one of the best-received entries of the Multiverse Saga. During its worldwide box office run, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 earned $837 million.
Despite its large budget, which was comparable to Thor: Love and Thunder (via The Numbers), the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie is considered to be a moderate financial success. The sequel outearned the original 2014 film but still fell just short of its 2017 predecessor. Nevertheless, with mostly glowing reviews for its most recent theatrical release, the MCU can learn from Guardians 3's success.
4 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - $853,985,546
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was the much-troubled sequel to 2018's Black Panther. Put on its back foot following Chadwick Boseman's death in 2020, Wakanda Forever still managed to deliver a worthy sequel to the beloved original film, going on to earn just short of $854 million worldwide.
With mostly positive reviews, Wakanda Forever went on to become one of Marvel's more successful post-Endgame films. However, the film fell far short of the original Black Panther's box office total, which was over $1 billion. With less enthusiasm for Wakanda Forever than its predecessor, the Black Panther franchise will need to find another way to get audiences' attention if it ever produces a third installment.
3 Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness - $952,224,986
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the long-awaited sequel to 2016's original Doctor Strange film. With Spider-Man director Sam Raimi directing, Multiverse of Madness pits Benedict Cumberbatch's eponymous sorcerer against Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch in an epic battle across universes. The 2022 film went on to earn $952 million at the worldwide box office.
Despite early mixed reactions to the film, Multiverse of Madness is generally considered to be one of Marvel's better-received multiverse movies. The film is also one of Marvel's highest-grossing films in the Multiverse Saga. Despite being a box office success, Multiverse of Madness was expected to earn far more money than it ultimately did, given that it was a major step in Phase 4's storyline.
2 Spider-Man: Far From Home - $1,132,107,522
Spider-Man: Far From Home was the first Marvel film released after Avengers: Endgame in 2019 and acted as the epilogue to the Infinity Saga. The second solo outing for Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Far From Home earned a total of $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office.
Far From Home was the third MCU movie in a row to earn over $1 billion, following Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame. Much of the film's success can be attributed to the fanbase's excitement over Endgame, which was still in theaters when Far From Home was released. The success of Far From Home also further established Holland's Spider-Man as one of the MCU's biggest money-makers.
1 Spider-Man: No Way Home - $1,910,048,245
Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third film in Tom Holland's solo franchise and the MCU's final theatrical offering in 2021. Garnering massive excitement at the return of Tobey Maguire's and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man variants, No Way Home went on to earn $1.9 billion at the worldwide box office.
No Way Home was an unmitigated financial success, leading to its extended re-release the following year. Currently, it is the MCU's third highest-grossing film, with only the latest two Avengers films earning more. No Way Home is also Sony's highest-grossing film of all time, as well as the second highest-earning film post-COVID, following Avatar: The Way of Water. The film's widespread success led Marvel to greenlight a second Spider-Man trilogy starring Holland.