Charlie Cox roaring as Matt Murdock in new Daredevil Born Again season 2 poster
The Marvel Cinematic Universe built up a reputation over the Infinity Saga for rarely missing the mark with a project. Marvel Studios built an empire on well-received movies that were big hits with audiences, who more or less loved each new blockbuster.
The cracks in the MCU's armor started to show more frequently after Avengers: Endgame, with an expanded production slate on the big and small screens a primary culprit. The up-and-down nature of the MCU's releases has been especially felt in recent years. For every Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and X-Men '97 season 1 that got rave responses, there were releases like Secret Invasion, Captain America: Brave New World, and Marvel Zombies that received more mixed results. This is especially evident in how the MCU's projects are scored on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregator is not the end-all, be-all when it comes to determining the reception to a movie or show, but it is a strong data point. And after a few turbulent years, the MCU is now heating up and restoring hype. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 & Wonder Man Are Marvel's First Back-To-Back Hits In 4 Years 2026 has gotten off to the best start imaginable for Marvel. After sparking lots of discussions with Avengers: Doomsday's four trailers, the MCU has carried forward that momentum with two of its biggest hits in years: Wonder Man and Daredevil: Born Again season 2. Wonder Man really captured the attention of viewers with its meta story and mostly standalone MCU adventure. Add in the strength of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley's performances, and its no surprise that it received a lot of praise from critics and fans. Wonder Man sits at 91% with critics and 87% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, Daredevil: Born Again season 2 is off to a very strong start. General audiences have only seen the first episode, but most critics have seen all eight episodes. In both cases, viewers have praised the strength of its characters and how it builds on the strengths of the original series. As of this writing, Daredevil: Born Again season 2 has 95% and 93% scores on Rotten Tomatoes. That makes Wonder Man and Daredevil: Born Again season 2 the first time the MCU has had consecutive releases with 85% or better RT scores with critics and the public since the start of 2022; Spider-Man: No Way Home and Moon Knight were the last back-to-back hits. In fact, since Moon Knight, only four of 26 MCU projects have achieved 85% or better RT scores before Wonder Man and Daredevil: Born Again season 2 did it consecutively. While the general reception to most of these projects has been positive, the scores reflect a lack of overwhelming adoration that accompanied most releases during this time. But that has not been the case to start 2026. Wonder Man was so successful that Marvel has confirmed season 2 is happening. Born Again season 2 reactions suggest the remaining episodes are even better, so its RT score could go higher. This puts Marvel in the midst of its best stretch in at least four years. The MCU's Heater Is Strongly Positioned To Continue Throughout 2026 To make matters even better for Marvel Studios, the wave of positivity might not end anytime soon. The MCU's upcoming slate is jam-packed with exciting projects for 2026: The Punisher: One Last Kill, X-Men '97 season 2, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, VisionQuest, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2, and Avengers: Doomsday. Jon Bernthal's Punisher special will look to extend the MCU's hot streak to three projects. Given the affection for his anti-hero and the history of these Special Presentations, faith in it is high. VisionQuest will look to have a similar reception as WandaVision , with showrunner Terry Matalas inspiring further confidence; his season of Star Trek: Picard topped the 85% RT benchmarks. Second seasons of X-Men '97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man are slated to come later this year. The former already hit this benchmark in season 1, so a similarly fantastic reception is expected. Meanwhile, the animated Spider-Man show could be in line for a greater audience response now that the series' alternate Peter Parker story is established. And as for the movies, the two major blockbusters look to fully solidify the MCU's return to glory. It's worth noting Marvel is on a hot streak here, too, as Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are the studio's first back-to-back films with over 85% RT scores since 2019, Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home . Confidence in Brand New Day stems from the strength of Holland's previous three movies . Destin Daniel Cretton's direction is also key here, as his prior MCU projects, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Wonder Man, were widely praised. ScreenRant.com | Web Archives Interactive Quiz ScreenRant/ Marvel/ Spider-Man/ Trivia Friendly Neighborhood Assessment · MCU Era Tom Holland's Spider-Man Trivia 🏠Homecoming2017 ✈️Far From Home2019 🌌No Way Home2021 😈VillainsSinister… 🤖MCUAvengers THWIP! LET'S GO → QUESTION 1 / 8MCU 01 Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man? AAvengers: Age of Ultron BCaptain America: Civil War CSpider-Man: Homecoming DAvengers: Infinity War ✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War , where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming . He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments. NEXT → QUESTION 2 / 8HOMECOMING 02 In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he? AThe Vulture BThe Shocker CThe Scorpion DThe Tinkerer ✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises. ✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture . The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene. NEXT → QUESTION 3 / 8HOMECOMING 03 Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI? AFriday BEdith CKaren DJocasta ✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming. NEXT → QUESTION 4 / 8FAR FROM HOME 04 In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name? AWilliam Ginter Riva BAldrich Killian CJustin Hammer DQuentin Beck ✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe. NEXT → QUESTION 5 / 8FAR FROM HOME 05 In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world? AThat Spider-Man killed Mysterio in cold blood BThat Spider-Man is Peter Parker CThat Spider-Man is a Skrull impersonator DThat Spider-Man commanded the drone attack on London ✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson , exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage. ✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson. NEXT → QUESTION 6 / 8NO WAY HOME 06 With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell? AWong BWanda Maximoff CDoctor Strange DKarl Mordo ✓ Correct! Doctor Strange casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here. NEXT → QUESTION 7 / 8MCU 07 Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend? ANed Leeds BFlash Thompson CHarry Osborn DMiles Morales ✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.” NEXT → QUESTION 8 / 8NO WAY HOME 08 At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do? AIt sends Peter to an alternate universe where no one knows him BIt erases Spider-Man from existence entirely CIt removes Peter’s spider powers permanently DIt makes everyone in every universe forget who Peter Parker is ✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment. ✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all. REVEAL MY SCORE → Assessment Complete Your Spider-Sense Rating / 8 Are you an Avenger — or just a friendly neighborhood bystander? ↻ SWING AGAIN Doomsday has history on its side, too. Three of four previous Avengers movies hit this threshold. All four of the Russo brothers' prior MCU movies did as well. Assuming the movie can overcome some concerns about being overly reliant on nostalgia and deliver the right amount of expected spectacle, Doomsday could make the directing duo five for five. While there's reason to believe that each of these projects could receive the same level of reception as Daredevil: Born Again season 2 and Wonder Man season 1, it's unlikely that all eight of the MCU's releases in 2026 are this well-received. There's bound to be at least one that has a less enthusiastic response. The MCU has never had more than five consecutive releases of this magnitude, with Captain America: Civil War through Thor: Ragnarok marking the longest stretch. Whether 2026 can get close to that record could really depend on how Marvel rolls out its remaining TV shows. Subscribe to our newsletter for MCU momentum analysis Hungry for sharp, context-rich MCU coverage? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused analysis of Rotten Tomatoes trends, why certain releases are resonating again, and clear breakdowns of which upcoming projects matter to the franchise. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Even if the record doesn't fall, 2026 could go down as one of the MCU's best years ever. And with Avengers: Secret Wars coming in 2027, the quality of each project remaining high as audiences rediscover a love for the franchise could not come at a better time. It'll provide the MCU with incredible momentum heading into the culminating event of nearly 20 years of Marvel movies. Marvel Cinematic Universe Created by Kevin Feige First Film Iron Man Upcoming Films Blade, Avengers: Doomsday , Avengers: Secret Wars First TV Show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Upcoming TV Shows Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, Vision Quest Cast Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors
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