27 Marvel Cinematic Universe stars, ranked from least to most successful

Gabbi ShawSep 3, 2021, 23:07 IST

The Avengers in their first MCU film.Disney

We ranked 27 different Marvel stars from least to most successful based on a number of factors.
The list features titular characters, like Iron Man, Thor, and all of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Predictably, the top spot went to Robert Downey Jr., but the rest of the list isn't as predictable.

The Marvel stars were ranked on a number of factors.

The original six Avengers. MTV/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

UNRANKED: Simu Liu's first foray into the MCU debuts on September 3, but we're already expecting big things from him.

Simu Liu attends the "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" premiere on August 16, 2021. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Michael Rooker was mainly a character actor before his role as Yondu in "Guardians of the Galaxy," and he remains one now - albeit a highly successful one.

Michael Rooker attends the premiere of Marvel's "Guardians Of The Galaxy" on July 21, 2014. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

After a decade in the MCU, Sebastian Stan finally got to be a (co)star of a show with "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

Sebastian Stan attends the premiere of Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" on April 12, 2016. Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Evangeline Lilly's the Wasp was the first woman to have a titular role in the MCU, but she's still probably best known for her role in "Lost."

Evangeline Lilly attends the "Ant-Man and the Wasp" premiere on July 17, 2018. Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Paul Bettany's voice has been in the MCU since the beginning, but his first leading role as Vision was in 2021's "WandaVision."

Paul Bettany attends the premiere for "Avengers: Infinity War" on April 23, 2018. Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Edward Norton was only in one Marvel movie as the Hulk before getting re-cast, but his career hasn't suffered much.

Edward Norton arrives at the premiere of "The Incredible Hulk" on June 8, 2008. Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

Jeremy Renner was already an Oscar-nominated actor when he began playing Hawkeye, but it took a decade to secure his own starring role in the MCU.

Jeremy Renner attends the premiere of "Avengers: Endgame" on April 23, 2019. Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Brie Larson was already highly successful before "Captain Marvel," but she hasn't followed up the billion-dollar smash with much since.

Brie Larson attends the European Gala screening of "Captain Marvel" on February 27, 2019. David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage/Getty Images

Josh Brolin might not technically be a title-level MCU character, but Thanos was the biggest threat of the entire MCU to date and, arguably, the main character of "Infinity War," so we're bending the rules.

Josh Brolin attends Marvel's press line during San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, 2014. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Josh Brolin might not technically be a title-level MCU character, but Thanos was the biggest threat of the entire MCU to date and, arguably, the main character of "Infinity War," so we're bending the rules.

Anthony Mackie is the next Captain America after years of playing sidekick Falcon.

Anthony Mackie at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20, 2019. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Dave Bautista, aka Drax, is already the face of a new franchise with Zack Snyder's "Army of the Dead" on Netflix.

Dave Bautista arrives at the premiere of "Guardians Of The Galaxy" on July 21, 2014. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Karen Gillan has been one of the most low-key Marvel success stories, but since getting cast as Nebula, she's become a movie star.

Karen Gillan arrives at the premiere of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" on April 19, 2017. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Elizabeth Olsen was easily the biggest star of "WandaVision," and Wanda is a character everyone is looking forward to seeing in the future.

Elizabeth Olsen arrives at the premiere of "Avengers: Age Of Ultron" on April 13, 2015. Barry King/Getty Images

Tom Hiddleston's Loki has been one of the most popular MCU characters, but it took until 2021 for him to get his own series.

Tom Hiddleston attends a screening of Marvel Studios' series "Loki" on June 8, 2021. John Phillips/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK

Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange looks like he's going to be one of the big players of the MCU's Phase 4.

Benedict Cumberbatch in front of the "Doctor Strange"-inspired 3D Art at a fan screening on October 24, 2016. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney

Don Cheadle received an Emmy nomination for his brief role as James "Rhodey" Rhodes in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," but his first real starring MCU role will be the upcoming "Armor Wars."

Don Cheadle attends the photo call for "Iron Man 2" on April 23, 2010. Michael Buckner/WireImage/Getty Images

Don Cheadle received an Emmy nomination for his brief role as James "Rhodey" Rhodes in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," but his first real starring MCU role will be the upcoming "Armor Wars."

Zoe Saldana, who plays Gamora, is the second highest-grossing actress of all time, only behind one of her fellow MCU stars.

Zoe Saldana arrives at the premiere of "Guardians Of The Galaxy" on July 21, 2014. Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images

Tom Holland, aka Spider-Man, is going to be one of his generation's biggest movie stars.

Tom Holland poses during the "Spider-Man: Homecoming" event on June 6, 2017. Ore Huiying/Getty Images for Sony Pictures

Chris Evans' performance as Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, was one of the mainstays of the MCU for almost a decade.

Chris Evans attends the premiere of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" on March 20, 2014. Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

No one thought "Ant-Man" was going to be great - its surprising success has everything to do with Paul Rudd.

Paul Rudd attends the premiere for "Ant-Man And The Wasp" in 2018. Jesse Grant/Getty Images

Mark Ruffalo has secured two Oscar nominations, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe since he was cast as the Hulk.

Mark Ruffalo attends a press conference for "Avengers: Infinity War" on April 5, 2018. Victor Chavez/Getty Images

Chris Hemsworth has been at the center of many big-budget films, including the "Thor" franchise.

Chris Hemsworth attends the "Thor: The Dark World" premiere on January 26, 2014. Jun Sato/WireImage/Getty Images

Chris Pratt might not be everyone's favorite Chris, but we'd argue he's the one with the most success after playing Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord.

Chris Pratt attends the premiere of "Guardians Of The Galaxy" on July 21, 2014. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Bradley Cooper is so good at voicing Rocket the Raccoon that you might forget it's him sometimes.

Bradley Cooper attends the premiere of "Guardians Of The Galaxy" on July 21, 2014. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson, star of "Black Widow," is both the highest-grossing actress in the world and the highest-paid.

Scarlett Johansson attends the "Avengers Endgame" photo-call on April 11, 2019. Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

You might be surprised to find Vin Diesel all the way up here, but when you think about how he's not even best known for playing Groot in the MCU, his high placement is undeniable.

Vin Diesel attends the premiere of "Guardians of the Galaxy" on July 24, 2014. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

You might be surprised to find Vin Diesel all the way up here, but when you think about how he's not even best known for playing Groot in the MCU, his high placement is undeniable.

Could it be anyone else in the No. 1 spot? Robert Downey Jr.'s performance as Tony Stark is the reason we have the MCU at all.

Robert Downey Jr. attends Marvel Studios' "Iron Man 3" panel during San Diego Comic-Con on July 14, 2012. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

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27 Marvel Cinematic Universe stars, ranked from least to most successful

The Marvel stars were ranked on a number of factors.

UNRANKED: Simu Liu's first foray into the MCU debuts on September 3, but we're already expecting big things from him.

Michael Rooker was mainly a character actor before his role as Yondu in "Guardians of the Galaxy," and he remains one now - albeit a highly successful one.

After a decade in the MCU, Sebastian Stan finally got to be a (co)star of a show with "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

Evangeline Lilly's the Wasp was the first woman to have a titular role in the MCU, but she's still probably best known for her role in "Lost."

Paul Bettany's voice has been in the MCU since the beginning, but his first leading role as Vision was in 2021's "WandaVision."

Edward Norton was only in one Marvel movie as the Hulk before getting re-cast, but his career hasn't suffered much.

Jeremy Renner was already an Oscar-nominated actor when he began playing Hawkeye, but it took a decade to secure his own starring role in the MCU.

Brie Larson was already highly successful before "Captain Marvel," but she hasn't followed up the billion-dollar smash with much since.

Josh Brolin might not technically be a title-level MCU character, but Thanos was the biggest threat of the entire MCU to date and, arguably, the main character of "Infinity War," so we're bending the rules.

Anthony Mackie is the next Captain America after years of playing sidekick Falcon.

Dave Bautista, aka Drax, is already the face of a new franchise with Zack Snyder's "Army of the Dead" on Netflix.

Karen Gillan has been one of the most low-key Marvel success stories, but since getting cast as Nebula, she's become a movie star.

Elizabeth Olsen was easily the biggest star of "WandaVision," and Wanda is a character everyone is looking forward to seeing in the future.

Tom Hiddleston's Loki has been one of the most popular MCU characters, but it took until 2021 for him to get his own series.

Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange looks like he's going to be one of the big players of the MCU's Phase 4.

Don Cheadle received an Emmy nomination for his brief role as James "Rhodey" Rhodes in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," but his first real starring MCU role will be the upcoming "Armor Wars."

Zoe Saldana, who plays Gamora, is the second highest-grossing actress of all time, only behind one of her fellow MCU stars.

Tom Holland, aka Spider-Man, is going to be one of his generation's biggest movie stars.

Chris Evans' performance as Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, was one of the mainstays of the MCU for almost a decade.

No one thought "Ant-Man" was going to be great - its surprising success has everything to do with Paul Rudd.

Mark Ruffalo has secured two Oscar nominations, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe since he was cast as the Hulk.

Chris Hemsworth has been at the center of many big-budget films, including the "Thor" franchise.

Chris Pratt might not be everyone's favorite Chris, but we'd argue he's the one with the most success after playing Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord.

Bradley Cooper is so good at voicing Rocket the Raccoon that you might forget it's him sometimes.

Scarlett Johansson, star of "Black Widow," is both the highest-grossing actress in the world and the highest-paid.

You might be surprised to find Vin Diesel all the way up here, but when you think about how he's not even best known for playing Groot in the MCU, his high placement is undeniable.

Could it be anyone else in the No. 1 spot? Robert Downey Jr.'s performance as Tony Stark is the reason we have the MCU at all.