10 Best Live-Action Marvel Performances (Not Just in the MCU)

While Marvel began adapting its properties effectively in the late 90s, it wasn’t until X-Men in 2000 that the Golden Age of Marvel movies began. The MCU is certainly referred to when discussing the greatest stretch of Marvel releases, but in the years prior to Iron Man, Marvel Entertainment released quality films that are still discussed today. The overall Marvel run, which includes multiple studios and cinematic universes, was mostly successful because of casting.

While many fans love to dissect various studio decisions involving the casting of their favorite characters, it’s worth noting how great it can be when the studio absolutely nails it. Robert Downey Jr. certainly paved the way for MCU success which was sustained for a decade. The character of Peter Parker would be different if Tobey Maguire didn’t put on the tight red and blue spandex. Sometimes, comic book movie performances are perfect and exactly what fans need in order to fall in love with a live-action iteration of their favorite characters.

10 Alfred Molina Humanized an Iconic Spider-Man Villain

Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus

When Spider-Man was released in 2002, it became instantly beloved for portraying the origin story of one of the most iconic superheroes in Marvel Comics. Peter Parker became a fan favorite among kids and adults all over the world. His journey from nerdy kid to super-powered web-slinger will forever make Sam Raimi’s original film a classic in superhero cinema. However, his Spider-Man films wouldn’t be the same without the perfect villains to complement Spider-Man. Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin was perfect, and yet somehow, the villain that followed him managed to do an even better job.

Alfred Molina’s portrayal as Doctor Otto Octavius a.k.a. Doctor Octopus was not only riveting to witness but emotionally resonant as well. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films are great at exploring the origins of not only the hero but the villains as well. Doc Ock is iconic for being empathetic in comparison to other superhero villains on screen. A man corrupted by his own tech, Doc Ock was a good man who did bad things. His journey moved the audience and his sacrifice was one of the most powerful parts of Spider-Man 2. Alfred Molina was exceptional at bringing that journey to life on screen.

9 Chadwick Boseman Ignited a Deeper Fandom for the MCU

T’Challa/Black Panther

When the protagonist, Black Panther, uttered the words “Wakanda Forever,” it shook audiences in a way that had not been expected. Black Panther is one of the best films in the MCU’s amazing “Infinity Saga” that ran from 2008-2019, and it was Chadwick Boseman’s performance that propelled the film. The deeper exploration of T’Challa after losing his father and inheriting the throne of Wakanda moved audiences and ignited a deeper obsession for fans of the MCU.

One of the most emotional sequences in the film also highlights Boseman’s understanding of how best to portray the character. When T’Challa is nearly killed after being defeated in combat by his estranged cousin Killmonger, his mother and sister use the heart-shaped herb to try and bring him back. At this moment, T’Challa meets with his father for the second time in the ancestral plane. This time, T’Challa’s new understanding of purpose, responsibility and leadership forces him to challenge his father’s perspectives. It’s a powerful moment that expresses a character’s ability to grow beyond the sins of a father. Boseman’s performance will forever stand out.

8 Ian McKellen Proved There Are Many Sides to a Supervillain

Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto

One of the most iconic characters in superhero cinema is the metal-wielding mutant Magneto. The leader of the extremist group The Brotherhood of Mutants proved time and again that he was always more than just a villain. Ian McKellen knew the perfect way to balance the character’s philosophies and show multiple sides of the complicated character. A villain on the one hand and an ally on the other, there were many sides to Magneto throughout the Fox X-Men films.

As a believer in the inevitable threat humanity will always pose to mutant-kind, Magneto approached that threat with extreme measures. Believing that the only way to save mutants was to eliminate the biggest threat to them, Magneto was certainly a villain in multiple films. Ian McKellen knew that his beliefs went deeper than evil intent as the person Erik Lehnsherr cared greatly for the people around them. McKellen portrays these conflicting qualities perfectly in almost every scene involving Charles Xavier. Despite their differences, the two characters always shared a bond that sometimes baffled their followers. The layers of Erik Lehnsherr will always make him one of the best characters in Marvel cinema, and that’s thanks to Ian McKellen.

7 Chris Evans Encapsulated the Best Way to Be a Leader

Steve Rogers/Captain America

When Chris Evans was initially cast in the role of Captain America, it confused fans at first because the versatile actor had recently portrayed another Marvel character, the Human Torch. Versatile is what Chris Evans quickly proved to be, as he managed to embody everything that makes Steve Rogers a leader. With a character arc that goes through more twists and turns than most MCU heroes, Steve Rogers remains the perfect version of himself despite the adversity.

Chris Evans’ ability to capture the essence of the person behind the shield always made him the perfect choice for the role of the star-spangled man. Even when differences would arise among his allies, Steve Rogers remained steadfast in upholding qualities of honor, loyalty, sacrifice and selflessness that made him one of the most inspirational superhero characters in cinema. Chris Evans portrayed these qualities consistently for a decade, making his performance one of the best in any Marvel movie.

6 Tobey Maguire Made Every Kid Want to Be Just Like Him

Peter Parker/Spider-Man

One of the earliest Marvel adaptations involved one of the most popular characters in the history of the comics. Spider-Man inspired children and adults all over the world when it introduced the idea that anyone could be a hero, even a nerdy kid from Queens. For children, the iconism of Spider-Man will always be incredibly impactful. Since Spider-Man, other actors have been able to uphold this trait in Spider-Man movies. However, none did it better than Tobey Maguire.

Peter Parker is a smart kid and great person. However, when audiences meet him, he’s also an awkward teenager with girl troubles and self-esteem issues. Tobey Maguire brilliantly captures these traits and makes Peter Parker a more relatable character than most superhero figures. Fans, therefore, invest wholeheartedly in his journey from nerdy teen to inspirational superhero. From there, Maguire keeps audiences invested as his story continues to evolve and the stakes continue to rise. Through it all, he remained a much-needed friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

5 Patrick Stewart Embodied a Caring Figure Unlike Any Other

Charles Xavier/Professor X

One of the most amazing things about how intense Magneto’s perspectives are is that they are counteracted by Charles Xavier’s beautiful personality. For a man who has been persecuted, paralyzed and abandoned at various different moments in his life, Charles Xavier remains one of the most caring and kind individuals on screen. Patrick Stewart’s exemplified these traits extensively throughout the course of the X-Men films.

Able to be a brother, friend and father to multiple other characters, Charles Xavier is a constant symbol of hope, protection, and support that audiences can look up to. Even when things get incredibly difficult for himself or his students, he finds a way toward guidance. While Charles Xavier will always care for his friend Erik, he knows how to oppose him and his tactics. Patrick Stewart’s performance will always be a highlight of Marvel’s live-action existence in cinema.

4 Tom Hiddleston Gave Incredible Depth to a God-Like Figure

Loki

Even though the MCU is often criticized for crafting multiple one-dimensional villains throughout its films, one of its best characters ever is one of its longest-running villains. Loki has possibly one of the best arcs in Marvel movies. From disgruntled son and sibling to resentful supervillain and shifty anti-hero, Loki changes more than most characters in the MCU. Tom Hiddleston deserves so much credit for being able to embody Loki at these various points in his life.

Even when Loki is underutilized at times, the character is incredibly layered and audiences often wonder what he’ll do next. With ambiguous loyalties, goals and tactics, it is always a thrill to see Loki’s next move. Tom Hiddleston made audiences love and hate the same character at different points throughout the MCU run, and that’s not easy to do. His greatest turn yet was as a fully-fledged hero with sacrificial acts at the end of Loki season two. The impact of the performance and the character continue to make Loki a character fans always want to see again on screen.

3 Ryan Reynolds Was Born to Be Deadpool

Wade Wilson/Deadpool

When the test footage for 2016’s Deadpool was released, fans went wild with excitement to see a character that had been misused or underrated in cinema to that point. Ryan Reynolds is the only person fit to express Wade Wilson’s uniquely identifiable traits. The merc with the mouth was always going to need to be portrayed perfectly in order to work, and Ryan Reynolds was born to do it.

Deadpool’s fourth wall breaks, overwhelming use of profanity, defensive humor and borderline offensive expressions are things no audience thought they would see coming from a Marvel superhero. Ryan Reynolds successfully captured the character, which is a big reason why the films’ sequels have been just as successful as the original. The fact that the character continues to be one of the best every time he returns is a credit to Ryan Reynolds. Fans already can’t wait for when that next return will be.

2 Robert Downey Jr. Changed Everything for Superhero Cinema

Tony Stark/Iron Man

It almost goes without saying why Robert Downey Jr. is on a list of the greatest Marvel performances, but it can’t hurt to praise the man once more. When Iron Man was announced, it was a huge risk for Marvel Studios’ first-ever feature production. When Robert Downey Jr. was cast in the titular role, it was even more risky. The fact that Robert Downey Jr. embodied every detail of Tony Stark and heightened them is one thing, but the fact that he re-ignited his entire career with the role is something else entirely. He made Iron Man one of the most beloved characters in superhero cinema.

Robert Downey Jr. not only paved the way for one of the greatest film franchises in history with his leading performance as Tony Stark/Iron Man, but he also proved to be one of the best actors in recent memory. While he may not always get the ultimate praise for his performance in the greater conversation of cinema, some of his best work as a performer is in scenes as the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist. To say that the performance is iconic would be an understatement. Robert Downey Jr. is the MCU.

1 Hugh Jackman Does It Best

Logan/The Wolverine

While Robert Downey Jr. changed everything in 2008, Hugh Jackman changed everything in 2000 when he was cast as the iconic superhero Wolverine. Not only does he capture the character brilliantly, but he has been growing and evolving with the character for more than two decades. While he may be in a similar number of films to some other actors who play superheroes, the amount of time he’s been doing it for is unmatched. Hugh Jackman started playing the character of Logan in 2000.

The fact that Jackman agrees to return to the role time and time again just proves how beloved his performance is. Everyone wants Hugh Jackman to unleash the claws whenever he can, and there’s no sign of him slowing down just yet. Exploring various versions of the same person, Hugh Jackman has impressed every single time. Playing one of the most complicated characters in Marvel Comics isn’t easy, and Hugh Jackman has embodied the various phases of Logan’s life better than anyone could have. Watching Hugh Jackman play the same role for a quarter-century and effectively develop Logan’s arc has been one of the greatest gifts to audiences and fans of superhero cinema.